History of Wars Summary 7 - The Second Italo-Ethiopian War 1: Mussolini's Invasion Preparations

In the 1930s, Benito Mussolini, who led Italy's Fascist regime, sought to expand new colonies in Africa. Italy already controlled Eritrea and Somaliland, but aimed to reconquer Ethiopia, which had maintained its independence after a defeat at Adwa in 1896. Mussolini saw this as an opportunity to showcase Italy's national strength and empire. When the Walwal Incident occurred on the border between Ethiopia and Italian Somaliland in December 1934, Italy used it as a pretext for invasion. Ethiopia appealed to the League of Nations about the threat from Italy, but the situation was not easily resolved. Italy amassed large numbers of troops and equipment in Eritrea and Somaliland, preparing for war. By the summer of 1935, the deployment of troops and military supplies was virtually complete, and Italy's invasion was imminent. Finally, on October 3, 1935, the Italian army invaded Ethiopia from the directions of Eritrea and Somaliland, marking the beginning of the Second Italo-Ethiopian War.