Volte-face (vôlt-fäs', vôl'tə-) is a total change of position, as in policy or opinion; an about-face. The expression comes through French, from Italian voltafaccia and Portuguese volte face, composed of volta (turn) and faccia (face). Volte-faces in diplomacy The Diplomatic Revolution. The Soviet-German Pact. Another famous volte-face in diplomacy is the successful manoeuver of Italy in September of 1943, when the Italian Army capitulated immediately after the A… (More on Volte-face)