Learning Curve
HEROES & VILLAINS
Mussolini & Abyssinia > Why invade Abyssinia?
Why did Mussolini invade Abyssinia?
On 2 October 1935, Emperor Haile Selassie stood outside his palace in Addis Ababa and
addressed the people of Abyssinia. He warned them that the time had come to fight - 100,000
Italian troops had invaded Northern Abyssinia that morning.
The Italians had been planning an invasion for some time. A year earlier Mussolini had sent a
memo to his generals calling for "the Total conquest of Abyssinia". The excuse for the attack
came in an incident during December 1934 between Italian and Abyssinian troops at the
Wal-Wal oasis on the border between Abyssinia and Italian Somaliland. Mussolini demanded
an apology. He also prepared his army.
Events both inside and outside Italy convinced Mussolini that this action was the right one.
Italy, like many other countries in the early 1930s, had economic problems. Mussolini's
economic policies did not fix the situation. A war might unite the Italian people behind their
leader and make them forget their domestic problems. Plus Abyssinia's resources could be
used to benefit the Italian economy.
Rome had once led an empire that dominated the world. But that was long ago and now other
European powers had empires (Britain, France) or wanted them. Hitler came to power in 1933,
begun to rearm Germany and looked to re-unite Germany with Austria. Mussolini looked for a
way to show Italy's strength to the rest of Europe.
Italy had tried and failed to conquer Abyssinia in 1896. Italians also felt that they didn't get their
fair share of territory after World War I when the Treaty of Versailles (1919) made peace and
decided who would rule Germany's former colonies. The invasion of Abyssinia would make up
for these disappointments. Abyssinia and the territories Italy already held in East Africa would
join together to make a new Italian empire in the region. Abyssinia had the support of the
League of Nations, but did not have an army to match the Italians.
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Learning Curve
HEROES & VILLAINS
Mussolini & Abyssinia > Why invade Abyssinia?
Examine these sources to find out more:
Map showing the
Roman Empire, c.
200 A.D.
Photo of Italian
slogan: "Believe,
Obey, Fight"
Mussolini's speech on
economic problems,
1932
Map of European
colonies in East
Africa, c.1935
Mussolini's plans to
change WWI peace
terms, 1932
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HEROES & VILLAINS
Mussolini & Abyssinia > Why invade Abyssinia?
Source 1
Map showing the Roman Empire at the height of its power, c. 200 A.D.
Questions
1. What does this map tell you about ancient Italian history?
2. Why would the fact that this empire once existed encourage Mussolini to attack other
countries?
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HEROES & VILLAINS
Mussolini & Abyssinia > Why invade Abyssinia?
Source 1
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HEROES & VILLAINS
Mussolini & Abyssinia > Why invade Abyssinia?
Source 2
Photo showing Italian slogan: "Believe, Obey, Fight"
(Catalogue ref: INF 2/1 part 3, photo not dated, but this copy reprinted in British
propaganda leaflet in 1941-2)
Questions
1. From this photo, what can you say about the kind of people Mussolini wanted in his
country?
2. Would people be more likely to believe in and obey Mussolini if he led a successful war
against another country? Explain your answer.
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Mussolini & Abyssinia > Why invade Abyssinia?
Source 2
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HEROES & VILLAINS
Mussolini & Abyssinia > Why invade Abyssinia?
Source 3
Sections of a speech by Mussolini to the Fascist Grand Council, 7 April 1932, on Italy's
economic problems
(Catalogue ref: WO 204/948, translated from a document found in Mussolini's villa by
Allied troops in 1945)
Questions
1. According to this source, what problems did Italians face?
2. Mussolini does not mention war in this speech, but he does want to find a political solution
to Italy's problems. In what ways might a successful foreign war help solve these problems?
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Mussolini & Abyssinia > Why invade Abyssinia?
Source 3
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Mussolini & Abyssinia > Why invade Abyssinia?
Source 4
Map showing European colonies in East Africa, c.1935
Questions
1. Which two European countries controlled most of North and East Africa?
2. How did the Italian empire compare to these empires?
3. Look at the position of the colonies Italy already controlled. In what way would the location
of these two colonies make an invasion of Abyssinia seem like a good idea?
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Mussolini & Abyssinia > Why invade Abyssinia?
Source 4
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HEROES & VILLAINS
Mussolini & Abyssinia > Why invade Abyssinia?
Source 5
Sections of a speech by Mussolini to the Fascist Grand Council, 7 April 1932, on plans
to change the peace terms agreed after World War 1
(Catalogue ref: WO 204/948)
5a
5b
Questions
1. Which countries does Mussolini see as Italy's rivals?
2. Why might Mussolini believe that there is no advantage for Italy to stick with the way peace
was settled at Versailles after World War I?
3. What is Mussolini talking about when he refers to the "colonial clauses" of the peace treaty
after World War I?
4. What is Mussolini's opinion of the League of Nations?
5. What is stopping Mussolini from leaving the League of Nations?
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HEROES & VILLAINS
Mussolini & Abyssinia > Why invade Abyssinia?
Source 5a
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HEROES & VILLAINS
Mussolini & Abyssinia > Why invade Abyssinia?
Source 5b
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