UDC

94(612).1

Authors

Tat’yana I. Ponomareva
Russian State Naval Archives; ul. Millionnaya 36, St. Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation; e-mail: italika@inbox.ru

Abstract

This article examines the issues of military, economic and administrative policies of the Italian government after the conquest of former Ottoman provinces in Libya during the Italo-Turkish War of 1911–1912. Unlike other countries that were interested in the export of capital and considered colonies as a market for their goods, Italy needed a colony to resettle Italians and provide them with jobs. The new settlers were supposed to work in farming, but these plans had been drawn up without taking into account the real situation in Tripolitania and Cyrenaica. After the formal end of the war, Italians got a poor country with hostile population, failed to gain control over it and to form a management system that would address current issues. This allowed the people of Tripolitania to attempt to create their own state. It was proclaimed, but the initial confusion, lack of management experience, and the continuing intertribal struggle soon put an end to the state’s existence. In 1915, when Italy entered into World War I as a member of the Triple Alliance, the Libyan national liberation movement was supported by Germany and the Ottoman Empire. During World War I, Italy practically lost control over the situation in most of its colonies. Italian power there quickly became nominal. In 1917 in Akram, Italy and the United Kingdom concluded an agreement with the head of the Senussi Order and future King Idris, which was a new step towards an independent state.

Keywords

Italo-Turkish War of 1911–1912, Treaty of Ouchy, Italian colony of Libya, Italian colony of Cyrenaica, Italian cоlony of Tripolitania, Libyan national liberation movement

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