Rome was so powerful, why was Italy so weak in World War II?

First, the ethnic composition of the two sides is different.

The main people in Rome are Romans (Greek immigrants, according to legend, the remnants of Troy in Cyprus), not Apennines or Italians.

According to Roman orthodoxy, only residents near Rome can be regarded as real Romans. Farther places such as Naples and Aruhetin are just colonies, not to mention Milan Apollonia and even Gaul, Carthage and Egypt in Asia Minor. Italians cannot simply be equated with Romans. Rome experienced several massacres at the end of the empire and after its demise, and was occupied by papal countries for more than 1000 years. It has recruited believers and missionaries from all corners of the country to enrich its population, which is different from Rome.

Second, the richer people are, the more afraid they are of death. For a long time (about 1000), Italy was the richest place in Europe. Because the Pope, such a rich Italy, got the honor of military rubbish matching its economic status in the Middle Ages of Europe. Except Milan, which is a little stronger, can play a situation of losing more and winning less with God, France and Spain, the record of other foreign wars is simply bitter. For a long time, Italians were too rich, lacked martial spirit and desire to expand (afraid of occupying a bunch of rural areas and helping the poor), but they would rather spend money to buy mercenaries to fight proxy wars.

Third, on the other hand, the greater tragedy in Italy is that his teammates are too fierce, not only the soldiers are fierce, but also the generals are more fierce, which makes him particularly embarrassed. After all, people need comparison to distinguish flowers from grass. If he is not the head of state but Franco, you will find that Spain is the funniest in all kinds of programs, while Italy is a fireman.