Mussolini seems to have had doubts about Nazism even at this late date. If he had stayed out of the war, he could have become a key international figure.
I don’t know if Mussolini had doubts about Nazism, but he did rightfully have many doubts about Italy’s ability to wage war. Mussolini was an opportunist, and he was not about to stick his neck out in an extremely risky venture. Later in June, when it looks like a done deal, he will throw in his lot with Hitler.
Homer, I know you’ve been posting from “Rise and Fall of The Third Reich.” I’m too lazy to consult my copy, so refresh my memory if you will. Was this the conference where Il Duce made unrealistic demands to Germany to supply Italy with raw materials as necessary preconditions to Italy’s entry into the war? It was a deliberate demand for outrageous quantities of things like copper, iron ore and ferro-alloy metals. Mussolini knew full well that on some of the items, Hitler didn’t have any quantity at all. It was a bluff and he knew he wouldn’t be called on it.