History of Wars Summary 7 - Second Italo-Ethiopian War 4 Fall of Addis Ababa and Italian East Africa

In May 1936, as the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa came under direct threat from Italian forces, Emperor Haile Selassie departed overseas to appeal for support at the League of Nations. On May 5th, Italian troops entered Addis Ababa, making it virtually impossible for the Ethiopian regular army to maintain organized resistance. Mussolini declared the conquest of Ethiopia and established Italian East Africa. Eritrea, Italian Somaliland, and Ethiopia were unified under a single colonial system, granting Italy extensive territory in East Africa. However, the fall of the capital did not mean the complete end of Ethiopian resistance. Armed resistance movements were active in various regions, and the Italian army implemented oppressive policies to maintain control over occupied territories. Notably, in 1937, following an assassination attempt on the Italian governor-general in Addis Ababa, a large-scale reprisal occurred, resulting in many civilian casualties. Resistance against Italy continued in various parts of Ethiopia thereafter.