Why Mussolini wanted to invade Ethiopia in 1936?

[karramella]

I've heard it was because of its rich ressources(oil, raw material..etc) and to avenge Italy's defeat in the earlier war of Adoua. Can anyone provide me with some more support and evidence behind these reasons?

[asiaticus]

to avenge Italy's defeat in the earlier war of Adoua.

this was it. Simple vanityand political showboating.

Ethiopian still has no economic resources anyone wants.

[Davide Pastore]

IMHO it was for the simplest of the reasons: because Ethiopia was both weak and near.

Davide

[spirit.of.sacrifice]

if I recall correctly.. Italy was largely left out in the colonial question. Britain and France had occupied largely the entire rest of world map besides Europe and America, and Italy had come out empty-handed, although being an ally to Britain and France since 1915. When this matter was raised by Mussolini to both France and Britain in off-topic secret discussions, both countries said that if Italy did not wish to occupy anything else but Ethiopia, they wouldn't raise a fist. Mussolini wanted to give his people at least some territory to proclaim the 'return of the Roman empire' in beginning stages. After lobbying for certainty that France and Britain would not intervene, with Austria and France backing his borders with armed assistance might Hitler decide to send troops to Austria for the Anschluss he had long participated and with the Catholic Church behind the idea of "turning the heathen barbaric Ethiopia into a civilised Christian-Catholic country", Mussolini was now free to send his armies to Ethopia.

I recalled this by head, but I read all this in Mussolini - A new Life, an excellent book by Nicholas Farrell.

[benten]

if I recall correctly.. Italy was largely left out in the colonial question. Britain and France had occupied largely the entire rest of world map besides Europe and America, and Italy had come out empty-handed, although being an ally to Britain and France since 1915. When this matter was raised by Mussolini to both France and Britain in off-topic secret discussions, both countries said that if Italy did not wish to occupy anything else but Ethiopia, they wouldn't raise a fist. Mussolini wanted to give his people at least some territory to proclaim the 'return of the Roman empire' in beginning stages. After lobbying for certainty that France and Britain would not intervene, with Austria and France backing his borders with armed assistance might Hitler decide to send troops to Austria for the Anschluss he had long participated and with the Catholic Church behind the idea of "turning the heathen barbaric Ethiopia into a civilised Christian-Catholic country", Mussolini was now free to send his armies to Ethopia.

I recalled this by head, but I read all this in Mussolini - A new Life, an excellent book by Nicholas Farrell.

Good info spirit.of.sacrifice... goede informatie. De diverse politieke opvattingen in Italië destijds zijn een uitgangspunt om Etheopia aan te vallen en tot een kolonie te maken.......The several political statements in Italy were reason to concur Ethyopia.
Thanks,
Benten

[Massimo]

wait wasnt it because in a past war Italy lost to them and so Mussolini wanted to get some revenge.

[Custermen]

wait wasnt it because in a past war Italy lost to them and so Mussolini wanted to get some revenge.

Uh. Yep. That is what karramella said.

to avenge Italy's defeat in the earlier war of Adoua

[JeffreyF]

I'd have to go digging for the thread however there was both natual resources available in Abyssinia and an environment conductive to farming as well. There were beneficial economic factors for taking the territory.

[mirko]

with the Catholic Church behind the idea of "turning the heathen barbaric Ethiopia into a civilised Christian-Catholic country",
.

Ethiopia was a Christian country. En fact it was one of the oldest Christian states of the world. Even today the most part of their population are Chistian. But they are Coptic christians. Coptics did not have always a good relationship with Roman Catholic Church, but I find hard to believe Catholic Church improving a sort of "Crusade" in 1935.

[tigre]

Hello to all ; a little complement............................

Italy's position in Ethiopia.

The XIX century.

The map of Africa is evidence of the cold-blooded partition of this immense continent amongst European powers—with the lion's share going to France and England. France and Britain, at times, were bitter competitors. The partition of Africa proceeded leisurely throughout the nineteenth century. The competitors played both ends against the middle; some areas were acquired by purchase (Kenya), others by intimidation, by setting one tribe against another (the Fanti against Ashantis), by cajoling local chiefs to accept a "protectorate" (Basutos and Bechuana), by outright "punitive expeditions" (Sudan).

Italy came in late for this game of grab and was confronted by powers whose loot had acquired a patina of respectability through the effect of elapsed time. Next, Italy obtained a certain preferential position through the treaty of Ucciali (1889) signed by Menelik, Emperor of Ethiopia. Great Britain entered at once into a secret understanding with Italy (1891) in which each power recognized its relative sphere of influence. The agreements of i8gi were confirmed and amplified in 1894; these agreements very definitely recognized almost all of Abyssinia as an Italian "sphere of influence."

There can be little doubt that the Italian invasion of Abyssinia in 1894 and 1896 was intended to put into effect these agreements with Britain, but Menelik's hordes administered a crushing defeat to the small Italian Expeditionary Force in the Battle of Adua, 29 February 1896.

The XX Century.

In 1906, when it was certain that the redoubtable Menelik was dying, a "new deal" became important. The three powers (France, Britain and Italy) tentatively agreed upon the division of economic exploitation of Abyssinia, without consulting, of course, the latter country.

In April 1915, in order to induce Italy to enter the World War on their side, the Allies promised a considerable share in the prospective loot. The Treaty of London stipulated that Italy should receive "compensations in Ethiopia," if France and Britain acquired Germany's colonies. After Versailles, more than1,000,000 square miles of African (German) territory passed under French and British control, while Italy received only minor and grudging boundary adjustments—a few square miles of British and French Somaliland and 2,500 out of 85,000 shares in the Djibuti Railroad. Italy was never reconciled to this Machiavellan solution; it was a foregone conclusion that a strong government would challenge it. Mussolini represented such a government, and the Italo-Ethiopian claims were kept before the reluctant ex-Allies.

In 1925 a British Conservative Government made a complete volte-face and agreed to the provision of the various previous protocols of 1891, 1894, igo6 and 1915, reaffirming, in principle, Italy's position, provided Britain obtained paramount hydraulic rights on the upper Nile and Lake Tana. Neither in 1906 nor in 1925 were Ethiopian wishes consulted; international morality did not once enter into the picture.

The French, in the meantime, had been lukewarm to these propositions, but on 7 January 1935, an important agreement was reached between Laval, Premier of France, and Mussolini. France, becoming apprehensive of Germany, tried to secure Italian benevolence, as in 1915, through certain concessions.

The shortsightedness of France and Italy in supporting Ethiopian membership in the League of Nations in 1927 puts into strong relief the common sense of England, which expressed serious doubt that Ethiopia could be classed as a modern civilized country; this membership—a boomerang—was invoked against Italy in 1935.

Since 1925, when the tripartite agreement apparently had no visible effect, Italy had been restive; the feeling prevailed that her paramount interest in Ethiopia, clearly implied in the Treaty of Paris, was evaporating. While this situation was being adjudicated by the League, Italy reinforced her African garrisons with a view to war. Italy invaded Abyssinia on October 3 and the League assembly was convened on October 9 and on the eleventh Italy was named as the "aggressor". Under Article XVI, "sanctions" were set up.

Source: FMFRP 12-12. Maneuver in War. Reprint of 1939 Edition. USMC 1990.

Cheers. Raúl M .