Access to History: Italy: The Rise of Fascism 1896–1946 Fifth Edition
Summary of the key content relating to Mussolini and Foreign Policy 1922-40. Includes key facts and statistics as well as historian opinions (quoted where relevant).
Mussolini and foreign policy, 1935-40
War in Ethiopia 1935
Mussolini’s aims
Mussolini believed that Italian colonies should be developed and expanded because a
growing empire would enhance Italy’s claim to be a Great Power.
The possession of new African territories would provide another benefit: large numbers of
colonial troops to enhance Italy’s military might.
Furthermore, this offered the prospect of securing military glory on the cheap, impressing
the Great Powers and propping up the regime’s prestige at home. With the corporate state a
state a disappointment, and the ‘battles’ for grain and births losing momentum, Mussolini
needed a new adventure to restore dwindling public confidence.
Ethiopia was an ideal target for Mussolini’s ambitions. It was a large country uncolonized by
Europeans, but lacked the means to fight a modern war.
The neighbouring Italian colonies of Eritrea and Somaliland provided convenient avenues of
attack.
A successful conquest would also avenge Italy’s humiliating defeat by Ethiopia in 1896.
The pretext for war
In December 1934, the incident occurred that gave Mussolini an excuse for war.
At the oasis of Wal Wal, a skirmish took place between the Italian and Ethiopian troops, in
which 30 Italian soldiers were killed.
Mussolini immediately demanded a full apology and hefty compensation. The Ethiopian
government replied by requesting a League of Nations investigation. The League agreed and
set up an inquiry.
Mussolini had no interest in waiting for the results of such an investigation. A huge army,
together with civilian support, totalling half a million men, was transported to Africa.
Military victory
In October 1935, Italian armies attacked Ethiopia.
The Ethiopian forces were disorganised and armed with antiquated weapons.
The Italians used aerial bombing and poison gas in their campaigns.
In April 1936, the Ethiopian army was heavily defeated at Lake Ashangi and, in the following
month, the capital, Addis Ababa, was occupied.
The Ethiopian Emperor, Haile Selassie, fled to Britain and organised opposition ceased.
Italian public opinion
As the war began, the mood of the public was uncertain. Many remained unenthusiastic.
However, it was the condemnation of the invasion by the League of Nations that caused the
public to rally around the regime in order to defend the honour of Italy.
When the war was won quickly and with only around 1000 Italian casualties, Mussolini’s
popularity soared.
For many Italians, Italy was now indisputably a Great Power: it had proven military strength
and a sizeable colonial empire, and demanded to be considered an equal to Britain and
France.
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