Second Italo-Ethiopian War

Quick Facts: Who was Second Italo-Ethiopian War?

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Second Italo-Ethiopian War

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The aggressive Italian campaign (1935-1936) against the independent Kingdom of Ethiopia.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Second Italo-Ethiopian War, also referred to as the Second Italo-Abyssinian War, was a war of aggression waged by Italy against Ethiopia, which lasted from October 1935 to May 1936. In Ethiopia it is often referred to simply as the Italian Invasion (Amharic: ጣልያን ወረራ, romanized: Ṭalyan warära), and in Italy as the Ethiopian War (Italian: Guerra d'Etiopia). The war is regarded as the largest colonial campaign in history. On 3 October 1935, two hundred thousand soldiers of the Regio Esercito (Royal Army) commanded by Marshal Emilio De Bono attacked from Italian Eritrea without prior declaration of war. At the same time a smaller force under General Rodolfo Graziani attacked from Italian Somalia.

Career & Major Achievements

On 6 October, Adwa was conquered, a symbolic place for the Italian army as it was the site of their defeat at the Battle of Adwa during the First Italo-Ethiopian War. On 15 October, Italian troops seized the town of Aksum, and its famous obelisk was torn from its site and sent to Rome to be placed symbolically in front of the building of the Ministry of Colonies. Exasperated by De Bono's slow and cautious progress, Benito Mussolini replaced him with General Pietro Badoglio on 14 November. Ethiopian forces launched a counterattack in December 1935 that achieved some gains and temporarily halted the Italian advance. Frustrated, Mussolini authorized the use of mustard gas, with the Regia Aeronautica (Royal Air Force) dropping 330 tons over the next four months, violating the 1925 Geneva Protocol.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The Italians resumed the offensive in early February, decisively defeating the Ethiopian armies at Amba Aradam, Tembien, and Shire. On 31 March 1936, the Italians won a decisive victory at the Battle of Maychew, which nullified any possible organized Ethiopian resistance. Emperor Haile Selassie was forced to flee into exile on 2 May, and Badoglio's forces arrived in the capital Addis Ababa on 5 May. Mussolini then announced the annexation of Ethiopia on 9 May and the colony of Italian East Africa was formed. Hostilities did not cease with the end of conventional war operations and Ethiopian resistance to Italian rule continued until the country was liberated in 1941.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1925: 1925 Milestone — Frustrated, Mussolini authorized the use of mustard gas, with the Regia Aeronautica (Royal Air Force) dropping 330 tons over the next four months, violating the 1925 Geneva Protocol.
2. 1935: 1935 Milestone — The Second Italo-Ethiopian War, also referred to as the Second Italo-Abyssinian War, was a war of aggression waged by Italy against Ethiopia, which lasted from October 1935 to May 1936.
3. 1936: 1936 Milestone — On 31 March 1936, the Italians won a decisive victory at the Battle of Maychew, which nullified any possible organized Ethiopian resistance.
4. 1941: 1941 Milestone — Hostilities did not cease with the end of conventional war operations and Ethiopian resistance to Italian rule continued until the country was liberated in 1941.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Second Italo-Ethiopian War

True or False: “Did the League of Nations successfully prevent Italy's invasion of Ethiopia in 1935?”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The inability of the League of Nations to prevent the invasion significantly discredited it internationally on the eve of World War II.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• 14th Dalai Lama — Historical peer (Born in 1935) (1935): Spiritual leader of Tibet and head of Tibetan Buddhism since 1940.
• Abdou Diouf — Historical peer (Born in 1935) (1935): Senegalese politician who served as President of Senegal from 1981 to 2000.
• A. E. Housman — Historical peer (Died in 1936) (1936): English classicist and poet, renowned for his scholarship and melancholic verse.
• A. S. Byatt — Historical peer (Born in 1936) (1936): Acclaimed English novelist, poet, and critic known for complex literary works.
• Albert Bandura — Historical peer (Born in 1925) (1925): Pioneering psychologist known for Social Cognitive Theory and self-efficacy.
• Alexander Shulgin — Historical peer (Born in 1925) (1925): Pioneering biochemist known for synthesizing and exploring over 200 psychoactive compounds.
• Adam Kuper — Historical peer (Born in 1941) (1941): Influential British social anthropologist known for research in Southern Africa.
• Adnan Khayr Allah — Historical peer (Born in 1941) (1941): Iraqi military officer and Minister of Defense, closely associated with the Ba'ath regime.

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