The invasion of Abyssinia (October 1935)

Question 1

Context

Answer 1

1) Italy was under control of Benito Mussolini and his Fascist party
2) From 1925, he began to establish a dictatorship in Italy
3) Opposition political parties were banned
4) He used brutal secret police on his opponents

Question 2

Why did Mussolini invade Abyssinia? (3 reasons)

Answer 2

1) Italians wanted revenge on Abyssinia after being defeated in 1896
2) Success would distract people, diverting their attention away from the depression (and help Mussolini gain popularity)
3) He dreamed of making Italy a great empire again, and had witnessed Japan’s successes against the League over Manchuria in 1931.

Question 3

When was the invasion?

Answer 3

October 1935

Question 4

What happened?

Answer 4

1) Mussolini sent troops with heavy artillery and tanks to invade Abyssinia
2) The Abyssinian leader appealed directly to the LoN
3) The League imposed economic sanctions on Italy, but delayed banning oil exports (in case the USA didn’t agree)
4) Supplies got through despite the sanctions (through the Suez canal)

Question 5

When had Italy completely conquered Abyssinia?

Answer 5

May 1936

Question 6

How did the League respond?

Answer 6

1) Members did not want a war with Italy
2) Britain and France were saving their resources to face Hitler and they made a secret agreement called the Hoare-Laval Pact to give Abyssinia to Mussolini in 1935
3) The news got out that they had done this

Question 7

What did this do to Italy?

Answer 7

It made them more confident and they began making pacts with Germany

Question 8

What did this do to the League?

Answer 8

Ruined their reputation because it had been undermined by it’s own members