ROME IN THE WORLD: ITALO-ETHIOPIAN WAR
Imperial Ambitions and World Reactions
On October 2nd, 1935, Mussolini addressed the Italian people and all of Europe, “We have been patient with Ethiopia for forty years. It is enough now.” Redressing the humiliating defeat of Italy at Adua during the first Ethiopian war was the first matter of business in recreating imperial Rome. For Mussolini, the Second Italo-Ethiopian War was a means to not only erase Italy’s earlier attempt at African colonial conquest but also mark Italy has a world military power. Alongside expanding Italian control over Libya and Somalia, Mussolini set his sights on expanding Italy’s colonial holding.
International Pressure
The rest of Europe was not as eager for war as Mussolini. Working through the League of Nations, Britain and France sought to pressure Mussolini into abandoning his plans to invade Ethiopia.
France and Britain held that an Italian invasion of Ethiopia would mean the violation of four treaties: a 1906 pact that read action must be taken by all three, a 1928 treaty that states a commercial agreement and a non-aggression clause between Italy and Ethiopia, the Covenant of the League, and the Briand-Kellogg Pact.
While the League of Nations spoke out against the invasion, and issued sanctions against Italy, its actions were ineffectual. Global opposition to Mussolini was muted by the growing threat of German militarism.
LINK, ABOVE: Article, "Italian War Atrocities," PDF. Click to view.
The War Begins
Preparations for the war began in 1934 when the government began amassing troops and material in Italian Somaliland, and mounting a propaganda campaign in support of the war back home.
At first, the Italian people felt they had no quarrel with Ethiopia and loathed the idea of going to war. However, playing off of Italian nationalism, the Fascist government used all forms of propaganda to shift public opinion. As the New York Times reported in August of 1935:
“The press, radio, public meetings and all those subtler means that a dictatorial government possesses for influencing the people’s minds have played parts in transforming war from a thing to be hated into a thing to be welcomed.”
Six months after war was declared, in May 1936, Italian troops marched into Addis Ababa. The war was brutal. It served as a testing ground for new weapons, including air power and poison gas.
Over 250,000 Ethiopians lost their lives in the war. Approximately 3,000 of the 500,000 Italians called into service died during the campaigns.
Sources, this page:
• "The Beginning: The Week in the Italo-Ethiopian Conflict." The New York Times, 6 Oct. 1935: 59.
• Frederick T. Birchall, "British Are Ready to Let Italy Take Land in Ethiopia." The New York Times, 16 Aug. 1935, Wireless sec.: 1, 6.
• "Britain, France Aid Il Duce in Ethiopia: Betrayers of Czechs Set to Help Italians." The Chicago Defender, 15 Oct. 1938, National ed.: 24.
• Arnaldo S. Cortesi, "Italians Hoping for Tax Cut." The New York Times, 28 June 1936, Special Correspondence sec.: E34.
• Arnaldo Cortesi, "War Propaganda Buoying Italians." The New York Times, 18 Aug. 1935, Wireless sec.: E4.
• "Ethiopia Princess Sees a World War." The New York Times, 14 July 1935: N7.
• "Ethiopian in Rome Stabs Italian Officers." The Chicago Defender, 25 June 1938, National ed.: 24.
Ferdinand Kuhn Jr. "Baldwin Admits League Is Weak; He Holds Hitler Can Avert War." The New York Times, 19 Apr. 1936, Wireless sec.: 1, 34.
• Ferdinand Kuhn, Jr. "Tighter Sanctions Hinted by Britain." The New York Times 7 Apr. 1936: 15.
• Benito Mussolini, "Mussolini Justifies His Invasion of Ethiopia." Radio Address to the Italian People. Palazzo Venezia, Rome. 2 Oct. 1935. Glencoe. Web. 11 June 2014. <http://www.glencoe.com/vaessentials/gwhmt/solswoa/GWHMT_VA_WHII.11c%20Student%20PDF%20attachment.pdf>.
• "War or Peace?" The New York Times 1 Sept. 1935: E1.
• Ernest Work, "Italo-Ethiopian Relations." The Journal of Negro History 20.4 (1935): 438-47.
VIDEO, ABOVE: "Italian Manoeuvres In The Alto Adige In 1935." Mussolini reviews the Italian Army before troops' departure for the Ethiopian front. The newscaster reports: "With joyous cheering and happy laughter, Italy's troops continue to leave the sunshine of their native land for the swampy dampness of Northen Africa. Another 3,000 men are embarking at Naples [...] en route to Eritrea." Crowds cheer and the departing soldiers wave as they embark for the front. Video via British Pathé, 1935.
Impact of the War
For Mussolini, victory in Ethiopia became symbolic of the ascension and strength of Fascism, and the regime's power to restore pride in the Italian people.
Despite the sharp negative economic impact of the war (a loss of 600,000,000 according to the Wall Street Journal), and the additional cost of maintaining control continued to, the Italo-Ethiopian war marked a high point in fascist propaganda efforts. The Italian victory was celebrated as a fascist triumph throughout Italy.
The war left its mark on the face of Rome – traces of which can still be seen today, like the celebratory murals in the Foro Mussolini (now the Foro Italico), which proclaim "Italy finally has its empire." Monuments like these were intended to remind the Roman people of Italian military strength and inspire pride and confidence in the Fascist Regime.
PHOTO, ABOVE: Mosaics in the Foro Mussolini (now called the Foro Italico) celebrate Italy's victory over Ethiopia in the Italo-Ethiopian war. Soldiers, tanks, aircraft, a victorious Italian flag, and eagles flank the central inscription: "IX Maggio XIV E. F. L'ITALIA HA FINALMENTE IL SUO IMPERO" ("9th May, year 14 Era Fascista. Italy finally has its Empire"). Below, rows of fasces, representing Italy, cage a subdued lion, representing Ethiopia. Photo by Avery Enderle Wagner, 2014.