Part 3/10:
During World War I, Italy sided with the Allies, only to later pivot to the Axis bloc during World War II. This shift was not without controversy, as Italy's military performance during the war frequently fell short of expectation. The Allied forces often deemed Italy a liability due to a hesitance to engage fully against the Axis powers, leading to a tarnished reputation. Italy's military setbacks in Greece and North Africa compounded this negative perception, often resulting in mockery from Allied forces, who referred to Italy as the “soft underbelly of the crocodile” for its impotent condition.