 Modern analysts believe that the Italian campaign failed because Mussolini and his generals initially allocated insufficient resources to the campaign ( an expeditionary force of 55 @,@ 000 men ) , failed to reckon with the autumn weather , attacked without the advantage of surprise and without Bulgarian support . Elementary precautions such as issuing winter clothing had not been taken . Mussolini had not considered the warnings of the Italian Commission of War Production , that Italy would not be able to sustain a full year of continuous warfare until 1949 . 
