The Year of Development
Part 3: Technology, January – June, 1937
As usual, representatives of many Italian companies and industries were frequent visitors of Mussolini’s offices in the first half year of 1937. Italian technology was furthering itself at a gallop, though its triumphs were spread further out over the first six months than in the previous year. This led to a relatively steady distraction for Mussolini from waiting for news of the front in Abyssinia, rather than incredible spikes of concentrated work surrounded by extended periods of lesser activity. These six months saw many important advances in both naval matters, as usual, and also industrial affairs. It also saw Mussolini begin to lessen his commitment to technological advancement in favor of preparing for a greater Italian role in Europe.
In mid-January, Italian industry announced that it had achieved economies of scale with supply production, resulting in a five percent increase in the production of supplies. To continue improvement on the supply situation, Mussolini passed a directive down to the general staff to examine possibilities to improve Italy’s supply organization. Soon after, Macchi came in with the news that they had developed a basic single engine airframe. Mussolini switched tracks after this advancement and ordered the development of a mechanical computing machine, whose industry-wide effects would be immense. Cantieri reported another advance in naval engineering theory, and were given a contract to improve light cruiser main armament yet again. However, the main advance of the first two months came on the 28th of February as the army staff concluded its study of marine infantry with a resounding endorsement of the concept. Pleased with this success, Mussolini immediately awarded Cantieri another contract, for light cruiser anti-aircraft armament.
The general staff endorsement of the marine infantry concept.
With the arrival of March Macchi returned, having completed further theoretical study of aeronautical engineering. The succeeding contract went to Cantieri for light cruiser engines. The only other and most important advance came a week later as Cantieri, Caproni and Macchi arrived with a jointly-designed, functioning radio. Mussolini immediately ordered as many sets as required to fully fit out all three branches of Italy’s armed forces. At the same time, the general staff received orders for another logistical study, relating to the transportation of supplies.
Another great success with radios!
Starting with late April, Italian industry returned good results on the advancement initiatives set forth by Mussolini. Firstly, there was another increase in industrial efficiency, an initiative that Mussolini immediately renewed. Soon after came an increase in industrial production, an initiative which Mussolini did
not renew. This interesting turn of events was because he was becoming worried about Italy’s stockpiles of strategic resources, which had begun dropping precipitously again. Instead, he ordered that radio detection equipment be developed. In the last week of May, an entire slew of improvements were announced by Italian industries. Coal processing, coal to oil conversion, and steel production techniques were improved. Mussolini forwarded another contract to Cantieri, to develop light cruiser armor further, and ordered an initiative to better the techniques for rare materials refining. However, instead of awarding a third contract he instead ordered that more resources be directed into Italy’s espionage services. Highest priority was Italy itself. Second highest priority was Spain.
A great increase in efficiency in certain industrial fields.
The final technological advance of the first six months of 1937 was Cantieri’s completion of the design of anti-aircraft ordnance for aircraft carriers, of both the escort and fleet variety. Though pleased with Cantieri’s work, Mussolini decided against developing aircraft carrier attributes further, at least until Cantieri had some real practical experience with those unique naval vessels. Instead, he ordered that the standard infantry rifle be modified to be shorter without any adverse drawbacks in performance. Despite his naval focus and increasing emphasis on industry, he had not forgotten the army.
Cantieri’s development of aircraft carrier anti-aircraft armament.
As can be seen, Mussolini’s naval focus did not diminish at all during this time. Cantieri representatives were regular visitors of his offices. Cantieri was quickly becoming the single most important Italian company. Cantieri was also on the road to developing the most advanced light cruisers Europe had yet seen. The technologies and designs that they had begun developing with this latest round of contracts they estimated would not become widely used in Europe until 1938, and Mussolini seemed to have no intention of slowing them down. Mussolini was also lavishing attention on Italian industry generally, largely in a quest to make it more efficient without using more resources, a hope first explicitly expressed by his refusal to order another initiative on increasing industrial production. Mussolini was now focusing on resource efficiency. Finally, Mussolini was beginning to show signs that he believed Italy would soon be asserting itself in Europe. Italian espionage services were growing, and thus building on their mission assigned the year before of reducing the Italian population’s desire for neutrality. Additionally, the Italian intelligence services, which had in 1936 begun building Spain up as a threat to Italian national security, began devoting more resources to that task as well.
