A British success during the Abyssinia crisis could push Mussolini toward another confrontation or persuade him that Italy could not afford one. British naval expansion and stronger French capital ships would make joining the Pact of Steel a more costly decision. Germany would also need to spend more to reach the strength required to fight France and Britain. Earlier Polish purchases from expanding Allied production lines could raise the cost of German aggression further. Germany's need to finance rearmament would still exert pressure toward war, leaving the outcome uncertain.
Notable Point · 1:45:16-1:47:49
The Pact of Steel and the cost of catching stronger rivals
Stronger British, French, and Polish forces could raise the price of aggression while making Italy's alliance choice harder to predict.