In 1938 , at the outbreak of World War II , which had a larger population , the Western Allies ( United Kingdom , France , Poland and British Dominions ) or the European Axis ( Germany and Italy )
Mussolini called for irredentist Italian claims to be reclaimed , establishing Italian domination of the Mediterranean Sea and securing Italian access to the Atlantic Ocean , and the creation of Italian " spazio vitale " ( " vital space " ) in the Mediterranean and Red Sea regions .