Retro Raunch Revisit

H A P P Y  B I R T H D A Y  T O
OCT 3, 1935: Known as the Second Italo-Abyssinian War (the First being from Jan 1895 to Oct 1896 which derived from a Treaty territorial dispute & imperialistic ambitions) Italy invades Ethiopia as part of its fascist expansionist policy. Without a declaration of war, 200,000 soldiers attacked from the colonial possessions of Eritrea and Italian Somaliland to which the poorly armed Africans were no match against modern/mechanized weaponry. As Italian progress was initially slow & cautious, ironically, Nazi Germany had sent Ethiopia arms & munitions over their frustration of Italy's then-objections to Adolf Hitler's attempt to integrate Austria. When the Ethiopians counterattacked in Dec 1935, Italian resources were sapped and as they depended on German economic aid, they dropped their blocking position on Austria which would pave the way for Hitler's Anschluss in Mar 1938. In Mar 1936 as the Italians resumed their offensive they won decisive victories and their bombings brought world criticism for their use of poison mustard gas -- which was authorized by Benito Mussolini -- dropped on civilians, in clear violation of the Geneva Convention laws against the targeting of non-combatants. As the Emporer Haile Selassie went into exile, the capital of Addis Ababa was captured in May, and the provinces of Eritrea, Italian Somaliland & Abyssinia (Ethiopia) were united to form the singular Italian province of East Africa. After sailing to Djibouti, Gibraltor and then Britain, Selassie addressed the League of Nations in Jun where he appeared on newsreels throughout the world condemening the military aggression and criticizing the international community for its non-intervention. He finished his speech warning, "It is us today. It will be you tomorrow". With imposed sanctions lifted, the fighting ended in Feb 1937 with some 200,000 estimated casualties and rebel guerilla activity (the Arbegnochs) continuing resistance until 1941. As the Italians had committed massacres and war crimes such as destroying hospitals & churches (alongside the Ethiopians using banned dumdum bullets), the aftermath saw their next invasion against Albania in Apr 1939.