Second Italo-Ethiopian War
Italy's largest colonial campaign, ending in Ethiopia's annexation.
In Ethiopia it is often referred to simply as the Italian Invasion, and in Italy as the Ethiopian War. The war is regarded as the largest colonial campaign in history.
- belligerents
- Italy vs. Ethiopia
- italian_commander_initial
- Marshal Emilio De Bono
- italian_commander_later
- General Pietro Badoglio
- ethiopian_emperor
- Haile Selassie
- outcome
- Italian victory; annexation of Ethiopia
Lore & Background
On 6 October, Adwa was conquered, a symbolic place for the Italian army as it was the site of their defeat at the Battle of Adwa during the First Italo-Ethiopian War. On 15 October, Italian troops seized Aksum, and its famous obelisk was sent to Rome. Exasperated by De Bono's slow progress, Benito Mussolini replaced him with General Pietro Badoglio. The Italians resumed the offensive in early February, defeating the Ethiopian army at Amba Aradam, Tembien, and Shire. Emperor Haile Selassie fled into exile on 2 May, and Badoglio's forces arrived in Addis Ababa on 5 May. Mussolini announced the annexation of Ethiopia on 9 May, forming the colony of Italian East Africa.
Reader's Guide
The war was a major military success for the fascist regime in Italy, achieved relatively quickly and with considerable propaganda value. However, it placed a significant strain on an already seriously unbalanced budget, weakening Italy's long-term economic position. The Italian aggression had significant diplomatic consequences, leading to the end of the Stresa Front and Italy's rapprochement with Nazi Germany. Simultaneously, the inability of the League of Nations to prevent the invasion discredited it internationally on the eve of the Second World War. Italian troops used mustard gas in aerial bombardments against combatants and civilians, and deliberate attacks against ambulances and hospitals of the Red Cross were reported. By all estimates, hundreds of thousands of Ethiopian civilians died, described by some historians as constituting genocide. Crimes by Ethiopian troops included the use of dumdum bullets, the killing of civilian workmen, and the mutilation of captured Eritrean Ascari and Italians.
Did You Know?
- The famous obelisk of Aksum was torn from its site and sent to Rome.
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