The Italian Invasion of Abyssinia
Why did Italy invade Abyssinia?In 1896 Italian troops had tried to invade Abyssinia but had been defeated by the African tribesmen. This had hurt the Italians pride and Mussolini wanted revenge. Mussolini also had his eye on the fertile lands and mineral wealth of Abyssinia. Mussolini believed that to be a great leader he needed military victories and lots of glory and conquest. He wanted to expand his empire and he thought that Abyssinia was the perfect place.
What happened?In December 1934 there was a dispute between Italian and Ethiopian soldiers at the Wal-Wal oasis (80 km inside Abyssinia). Mussolini took his chance and he claimed that it was actually Italian territory. He demanded an apology and he began preparing the Italian army for an invasion of Abyssinia. The Abyssinian emperor Haile Selassie appealed to the league for help.
Phase 1 - January 1935 to October 1935Mussolini was supposedly negotiating with the league to settle the dispute, while at the same time he was shipping his army to Africa- he was preparing for a full scale invasion of Abyssinia. At the beginning Britain and France refused to handle the situation seriously. They were desperate to stay on good term with Mussolini, he seemed to be their strongest ally against Hitler. They signed an agreement with him in early 1935 known as the Stresa Pact. The Stresa Pact formalised a commitment to stand united against Germany. When meeting to discuss the Stresa Pact, they failed to even mention Abyssinia. it is thought that Mussolini believed that Britain and France had promised to turn a blind eye to the situation in Abyssinia in return for him joining them in the Stresa Pact. However, as the year wore on, there was public outcry against Italys behaviour. The League of Nations union took a ballot in Britain 1934-35. It showed that the majority of British people supported the use of military force to defend Abyssinia if necessary. They realised it was now time to get tough. At an assembly of the
What happened?In December 1934 there was a dispute between Italian and Ethiopian soldiers at the Wal-Wal oasis (80 km inside Abyssinia). Mussolini took his chance and he claimed that it was actually Italian territory. He demanded an apology and he began preparing the Italian army for an invasion of Abyssinia. The Abyssinian emperor Haile Selassie appealed to the league for help.
Phase 1 - January 1935 to October 1935Mussolini was supposedly negotiating with the league to settle the dispute, while at the same time he was shipping his army to Africa- he was preparing for a full scale invasion of Abyssinia. At the beginning Britain and France refused to handle the situation seriously. They were desperate to stay on good term with Mussolini, he seemed to be their strongest ally against Hitler. They signed an agreement with him in early 1935 known as the Stresa Pact. The Stresa Pact formalised a commitment to stand united against Germany. When meeting to discuss the Stresa Pact, they failed to even mention Abyssinia. it is thought that Mussolini believed that Britain and France had promised to turn a blind eye to the situation in Abyssinia in return for him joining them in the Stresa Pact. However, as the year wore on, there was public outcry against Italys behaviour. The League of Nations union took a ballot in Britain 1934-35. It showed that the majority of British people supported the use of military force to defend Abyssinia if necessary. They realised it was now time to get tough. At an assembly of the