Abyssinia Crisis

Question 1

Italy tries to conquer Abyssinia

Answer 1

1896 - embarrassingly defeated at the Battle of Adowa losing 6000 men

Question 2

Mussolini comes to power

Answer 2

1922 - He is a fascist and promises to return Italy to its former Roman Empire glory - starts to build up armed forces

Question 3

Treaty of Friendship

Answer 3

1928 - between Italy and Ethiopia. Mussolini + generals secretly prepare for war

Question 4

Italy store weapons

Answer 4

1934 - and ammunition in Eritrea and Somaliland

Question 5

League is nervous

Answer 5

January 1935- doesn’t want to clash with Italy over Ethiopia

Question 6

Stresa Pact

Answer 6

March 1935 - Italy promises to help Britain/ France achieve its aim of stopping Hitler from Anschluss. Mussolini knows that Britain/ France will look away from Ethiopia to keep him sweet.

Question 7

“Border Incident” in Ethiopia

Answer 7

3 October 1935 - Italy launches massive invasion with 500 000 troops and modern weapons e.g. tanks, planes, gas

Question 8

League imposes economic sanctions on Italy to stop trade of steel, gold, grain, textiles.

Answer 8

November 1935 - Sanctions fail. USA wasn’t member and Britain/France didn’t want to provoke Mussolini so they refused to stop oil trade. Britain refused to close the Suez Canal

Question 9

Hoare-Laval Pact

Answer 9

December 1935 - British/ France Foreign Minsters came p with secret plan to split up Ethiopia, giving Italy the best land and resources. Idea is leaked and both men resign. Demonstrates that Britain/ France are willing to put own interests above the League

Question 10

Italy invades Ethiopia for the second time

Answer 10

May 1936 - Italian troops enter the Addis Ababa. before this, Haile Selassie is forced to leave the country

Question 11

Haile Selassie speaks to the League in Geneva

Answer 11

30 June 1936 - Protests its inaction