FP Abyssinia Flashcards
when did M start planning the invasion of Abyssinia?
in 1932
what were the economic reasons for the invasion?
- would have boosted war economy (through war related contracts)
- expansion of Autarky as the conquest of more land meant there would be more area for agriculture
- M hoped Italians in the south may move into Abyssinia and ease the pressure on the Italian agricultural sector
- raw materials such as OIL and MINERALS
- cheap labour
what were the political reasons for the invasion?
- expansion of fascism
- PRESTIGE ofc
- revenge for Battle of Adwa
- invasion would be a show of might to Hitler and scare him from Austria
- greater control in Africa with Eritrea and Italian Somaliland now connected
what provoked the invasion?
December 1934
The Wal-Wal incident
Ethiopians fired on Italians who had passed 80 miles into Ethiopia
M demanded an apology but he made preparations for an invasion
what was an important factor which the invasion of Abyssinia was dependent on?
whether the Suez canal would be open or not
it was controlled by the British and the French
what did M expect from the British and French?
as M was helping out with the Stresa Front against Germany he hoped that in return the British and French would not intervene with the invasion
what was the RCC reaction to the invasion?
the Pope was happy with the invasion and believed that the invasion was a ‘crusade against the Coptic Christians in Egypt’
when did the invasion begin?
3 October 1935
when was Adwa taken?
6 October 1935
how long would it take for Italy to take the rest of Abyssinia?
7 months
what did the League of Nations do in reply to the invasion?
they condemned the invasion and imposed sanctions of Italy
however these sanctions excluded oil/steel as the LoN believed it would be too harsh on Italy
sanctions were ended in July
what was fighting like in Abyssinia?
- use of mustard gas
- use of aircraft and tanks
- ancient defences of the Abyssinians were incomparable to the modern weaponry of the Italians
- more Eritreans were used in fighting than Italian troops
- 10 Abyssinians were killed fro every Italian casualty
- gassings of villages
- mass executions
who spearheaded the barbaric Italian regime in Abyssinia?
Badoglio
what was the proposed Hoare-Laval pact?
between Britain and France
secretly offered 2/3 of Abyssinia to Italy in return for keeping the Stresa Front
however once leaked it was withdrawn due to public pressure
Hoare and Laval were sacked
when did Italy take Addis Ababa?
May 1936
political +ve results
- avenged Adwa
- M’s finest hour
- M seen as new Caeser and portrayed as a leader who stood up to the world
- ‘gold for the patria’ movement with Queen Elena donating her wedding ring to be used for the war inspired millions of Italians
economic +ve results
- lots of oil
- limited sanctions
military +ve results
- a military victory
- ruthless annexation which epitomised war tactics at the time
- success of Badoglio as a military leader
intl +ve results
- Italy consolidated its territory in East Africa
- gained closer ties with Germany
political -ve results
- M seen as a less trusted figure in intl politics
economic -ve results
- only 130,000 Italians settled which was not enough for Aurtarky
- oil and other raw materials were not properly harvested
- export markets never developed
- Lira devalued by 40%
- budget deficit 2.5bn to 16bn
military -ve results
- Abyssinia was not fully conquered with remote regions still not taken over
- 250,000 troops were needed to beat tribesmen
intl -ve results
- 500,000 Abyssinians killed made it look like a genocide
- illegal use of chemical weapons
- murder of POWs
- broken ties with French and Britain
future world peace -ve results
- M’s regime seen as future danger to world peace
- lack of proper sanctions showed the weakness of the LoN which would inspire Hitler to expand
