People, Locations, Episodes

Thu, 10.03.19353

The Second Italo-Ethiopian War Begins

Ethiopian forces

*The Second Italo-Ethiopian War began on this date in 1935.  Also referred to as the Second Italo-Abyssinian War, it was a colonial war fought between the armed forces of the Kingdom of Italy and those of the Ethiopian Empire (also known as Abyssinia).  

Italy and Ethiopia were members of the League of Nations. Yet, the League could not control Italy or protect Ethiopia when Italy violated Article X of the Covenant of the League of Nations. The Abyssinia Crisis of 1935 is often seen as a clear demonstration of the ineffectiveness of the League.  Ethiopia was defeated, annexed, and subjected to military occupation.

The Ethiopian Empire became a part of the Italian colony of Italian East Africa. Ethiopian resistance movements in the colony continued until the Italian defeat in East Africa in 1941, during the East African Campaign of the Second World War. The Italian victory coincided with the zenith of the dictator Benito Mussolini and the Fascist regime at home and abroad. Ethiopia was consolidated with Eritrea and Italian Somaliland into Africa Orientale Italiana (Italian East Africa).  The Second Italo-Ethiopian War lasted until May 5, 1936.  

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Poetry Corner

I kissed a kiss in youth Upon a dead man's brow; And that was long ago- And I'm a grown man now. It's lain there in the dust, Thirty years and more- My lips that... SCINTILLA by William Stanley Braithwaite.
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