Learning Curve
HEROES & VILLAINS
Mussolini & Abyssinia > Victory for Italy?
Was the Abyssinian campaign a great victory for Italy?
Abyssinia had been an independent country for many centuries. It was the only African nation
to successfully resist European invasion in the nineteenth century. It took the Italians nine
months to defeat the Abyssinians.
On 2 May 1936, a special train left the Abyssinian capital for the port of Djibouti. On board
were Haile Selassie and the Abyssinian royal family, heading for England. They left behind a
nation torn apart by war, many of its towns and villages destroyed.
Abyssinia, Eritrea and Somaliland became known as Italian East Africa. Mussolini proclaimed
that the Italians had won "the greatest colonial war in history". How accurate was this view?
The Italians demonstrated their military skills, deploying everything from armoured vehicles to
mustard gas, and they won the war. Many Italians shared Mussolini's pride, though there was
a cost in soldiers' lives.
However, the international community were astonished by Mussolini's aggressive behaviour.
The League of Nations imposed economic sanctions upon Italy. Some historians argue that the
impact of these sanctions meant the war was a failure for Mussolini. Others argue the
sanctions were not so effective because not all countries supported them and because vital
supplies such as oil were not included. The fact that the League of Nations imposed sanctions
on Italy (in a half-hearted way) encouraged Italy to look for other international allies - such as
Hitler's Germany.
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Learning Curve
HEROES & VILLAINS
Mussolini & Abyssinia > Victory for Italy?
Examine these sources to find out more:
Film of the
Italian film on the
anniversary of Italian Abyssinian war,
victory, 1937
1936
British despatch on
Italian people's
opinions, 1935
Figures showing
effects of trade
sanctions, 1936
British report from
Naples, 1936
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Learning Curve
HEROES & VILLAINS
Mussolini & Abyssinia > Victory for Italy?
Source 1
Film of Italians celebrating the first anniversary of victory in Abyssinia, 1937
(Courtesy of the Imperial War Museum: COI 47)
1a
1b
Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
What is happening in source 1a?
Why would Mussolini give medals to war widows?
What words would you use to describe the attitude of the families towards Mussolini?
What is happening in source 1b?
How would you describe the attitude of these people towards Mussolini?
What messages is the film maker trying to communicate? Consider his use of music and
images.
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Learning Curve
HEROES & VILLAINS
Mussolini & Abyssinia > Victory for Italy?
Source 1a
http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/heroesvillains/
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Learning Curve
HEROES & VILLAINS
Mussolini & Abyssinia > Victory for Italy?
Source 1b
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Learning Curve
HEROES & VILLAINS
Mussolini & Abyssinia > Victory for Italy?
Source 2
Scenes from a 1936 Italian documentary, showing events in Abyssinia
(Courtesy of the Imperial War Museum: COI 36)
2a
2b
Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
In source 2a, what is being transported?
Why do you think they had to do this?
Why do you think the film maker shot this to show Italians back home in Italy?
Source 2b shows scenes of fighting. If you were an observer at the time, would you have
been impressed by the might of the Italian army? Explain your answer.
5. The Abyssinian War was an opportunity for Mussolini to show the world the strength of the
Italian army. What images are used in this film to show that strength?
6. How accurate was it for Mussolini to claim that Italy had won “the greatest colonial war in
the history of the world”?
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Learning Curve
HEROES & VILLAINS
Mussolini & Abyssinia > Victory for Italy?
Source 2a
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Learning Curve
HEROES & VILLAINS
Mussolini & Abyssinia > Victory for Italy?
Source 2b
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Learning Curve
HEROES & VILLAINS
Kennedy & Cuba > Why didn't this lead to nuclear war?
Source 3
Statement made about Cuba by the Soviet leader, Nikita Khrushchev, to the United
Nations in September 1960
(Catalogue ref: FO 371/151930)
Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
According to Khrushchev, why are there bad relations between Cuba and the USA?
What words does Khrushchev use to describe Cuba and the Cuban people?
What is his attitude towards the United States and its actions?
Compare this source with the viewpoint in source 4. Which viewpoint do you find most
persuasive?
5. Is this source biased? Is it of value to historians? Explain your answer.
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Learning Curve
HEROES & VILLAINS
Kennedy & Cuba > Why didn't this lead to nuclear war?
Source 3
http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/heroesvillains/
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Learning Curve
HEROES & VILLAINS
Mussolini & Abyssinia > Victory for Italy?
Source 4
Memo from the Acting Governor General of Sudan on the effects of sanctions on trade
with Italy, October 1936
(Catalogue ref: T 160/678)
4a
4b
4c
Questions
1. What impact did Italian preparations for war have upon Sudan's trade with Italy and its
empire in 1935? Why?
2. What impact did the League of Nations sanctions have on trade with Italy and its empire
in 1936?
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Learning Curve
HEROES & VILLAINS
Mussolini & Abyssinia > Victory for Italy?
Source 4a
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Learning Curve
HEROES & VILLAINS
Mussolini & Abyssinia > Victory for Italy?
Source 4b
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Learning Curve
HEROES & VILLAINS
Mussolini & Abyssinia > Victory for Italy?
Source 4c
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Learning Curve
HEROES & VILLAINS
Mussolini & Abyssinia > Victory for Italy?
Source 5
Report from a British diplomat in Naples to the British Ambassador in Rome, 4 February
1936
(Catalogue ref: BT 11/386)
Questions
1. When this report was written, the war had been going for five months without many Italian
victories. How happy do the Italian people appear to be?
2. What factors have made matters worse?
3. According to this letter, did sanctions have a large impact on Italy?
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Learning Curve
HEROES & VILLAINS
Mussolini & Abyssinia > Victory for Italy?
Source 5
http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/heroesvillains/
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