12 December : After the failure of Franco's offensive on Madrid, Mussolini decided to send regular army forces to Spain. Mussolini made this decision after consulting with Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Galeazzo Ciano and General Mario Roatta. Ciano and Roatta were two of the most influential men in Italy at the time. Roatta was made the Commander-in-Chief of the Italian "expeditionary force." General Luigi Frusci became his Deputy Commander.