Abyssinia

Question 1

What were the reasons why Italy invaded Abyssinia in 1935? (8)

Answer 1

• to win imperial status for Italy and prove to the world that Italy was the equal of France and Britain
• To avenge the humiliation Italy faced at the Battle of Adowa in 1896
• To give to the world evidence of the vitality of Italian Fascism and father consolidate Mussolini’s won position.
• Increase Mussolini’s prestige in Europe and prove to Hitler that Italy was a force to be reckoned with
• To exploit the natural resources of Abyssinia. Some thought the country rich in oil
• to tackle the problem of overpopulation by providing territory suitable for settlement by Italian emigrants
• To divert the attention of the Italian people from Mussolini’s unkept promises and the regimes mounting economic problems
• to stir up patriotic fervour that would help guarantee Mussolini the continuing support of the Italian people

Question 2

Give the successes of Italy’s involvement in Abyssinia (8)

Answer 2

• Nazi Germany appeared to give Italian aggression against Abyssinia its tacit approval
• Mussolini succeeded where the old Italy failed. He defeated Abyssinia in addition to the League of Nations
• Italy now associated with the identity of ‘Fascist’
• Mobilised The Italian nation and enhanced the prestige of the regime and raised the cult of the Duce to new heights
• They successfully avenged the humiliation at the Battle of Adowa 1896
• Consolidated it’s territory in ‘Italian East Africa’
• Sanctions rallied the nation. The Queen Mother led the campaign to give gold rings to finance the war effort
• The church praised the civilising mission and Mussolini was at the peak of his popularity

Question 3

Describe the failures of Italy’s involvement in Abyssinia (8)

Answer 3

• Italy’s decision to use chemical warfare in the form of flame throwers and mustard gas horrified many
• General de Bono allowed the campaign to drag on and was indecisive. The conflict dragged on for seven months
• The war received worldwide criticism and was placed before the League of Nations. Sanctions from the worldwide community forced Italy into closer relations with Nazi Germany
• the economic cost was huge; militarily the victory led to complacency. Diplomatically, Italy was left isolated in a hostile world. Britain never forgave Mussolini
• war had been expensive and there was high wastage of weapons and transport. There was almost continuous Guerilla warfare until the British liberated the country in 1941
• Mussolini’s African ventures also led to grandiose schemes for marching to the oceans. This concentration on breaking out of the Mediterranean not only meant confrontation with the Western democracies but also abandonment of other spheres of influence
• Budget deficit rose from 2.5 billion to 16 billion lire and by October 1936 the lira was devalued by 40%
• Caused collapse of the Stresa Front and damaged French and British relations