The defeat in the First Italo-Abyssinian War (1895-1896) was humiliating for Italy, a country that aspired to be counted among the Great Powers of Europe. The Italians were crushed in the decisive battle of Andoua (March 1, 1896) and were forced to retreat into Eritrean territory. The failure of the Italians in Abyssinia (Ethiopia) was the only instance in the 19th century—a century of massive European expansion—in which a colonial power suffered a military defeat. Abyssinia managed to defend its independence with its own forces.
The wound of Antoine was left unhealed for the Italians. In the 1930s, Benito Mussolini’s Italy, a revisionist power in Europe, attempted to avenge the defeat of 1896. In violation of international treaties, he built a fortress inside Abyssinian territory, at Walwall Oasis, causing international uproar. In the summer of 1935, talks were held at the headquarters of the League of Nations in Geneva between the United Kingdom, France and Italy to find a solution to the Abyssinian question. Mussolini, however, seemed adamant on the issue, seeking to conquer the country at any cost.
On October 3, 1935, Italy launched an attack on Abyssinia, in violation of Article 12 of the Charter of the League of Nations. Despite the fact that the League of Nations and most European powers denounced Italy’s act, it was not possible to impose sanctions against it. Fifty states voted in favor of the sanctions and only three voted against (Austria, Hungary, Albania), contributing to the noticeable reduction in the prestige of the international Organization.
By declaring war on Abyssinia, Mussolini sought to show the rest of the Great Powers of Europe that Italy was no longer a weak country that could not claim its share of the African colonies. It was a major imperial power that could be pitted against the United Kingdom and France, whose power declined over the years. The conquest of Abyssinia was also the first step towards building a new Roman Empire.
The war was particularly cruel. The Italians made extensive use of poison gas to terrorize the population of Abyssinia. The Ethiopians, however, resisted for several months, despite the obvious superiority of the Italians in all kinds of weapons and infrastructure. The war effectively ended with the entry of Italian troops into the Abyssinian capital Addis Ababa in early May 1936. On May 9, Mussolini announced in a speech the conquest of Abyssinia.
“Through the decisions which you will know in a moment and which were cheered under the great fascist council, a great event took place and the fate of Ethiopia was sealed today, May 9, in the 14th year of the fascist period. […] Italy has an end to its Empire, a fascist empire, because it bears the indelible traces of Roman will and power, because this is the goal towards which for 14 years the disciplined energies of the young and brave Italian generations were pushed, an empire of culture and humanity for all the populations of Ethiopia, since this is found in the traditions of Rome, which after the victories united the peoples to its destinies, an empire of peace, because Italy wants peace for herself and for all and decides on war only when he is forced to do so by the imperative necessity of life”, said the Italian dictator, according to “Kathimerini” of May 11.
In parallel with the operation in Abyssinia, Italy further extended its influence in Albania by concluding agreements in March 1936, which effectively turned it into an Italian protectorate. After Mussolini’s son-in-law Galeazzo Ciano took over the Foreign Ministry portfolio, Italy pursued a more aggressive foreign policy in the Balkans.
Column editor: Myrto Katsigera, Vassilis Minakakis, Antigoni-Despina Poimenidou, Athanasios Syroplakis