Overview
This lesson covers the Italian invasion of Abyssinia (Ethiopia) in 1935-1936, its impact on the League of Nations' reputation, and how it benefited Adolf Hitler.
Background to the Invasion
- Italy failed to invade Abyssinia in 1896, suffering defeat at the Battle of Adowa.
- Mussolini, in power since 1922, sought a foreign war to distract from domestic issues and to get revenge.
- Mussolini was concerned about German rearmament and the potential unification of Austria and Germany.
The Stresa Front and Anglo-German Naval Agreement
- The Stresa Front (April 1935) united Britain, France, and Italy to oppose German rearmament.
- Mussolini believed Britain and France would tolerate his invasion of Abyssinia.
- The Anglo-German Naval Agreement (June 1935) allowed Germany to build a navy, undermining the Treaty of Versailles and the Stresa Front.
The Invasion and League of Nations Response
- Italy invaded Abyssinia in October 1935, bombing and using poison gas.
- Both Italy and Abyssinia were League members; the aggression tested collective security.
- The League imposed trade sanctions but excluded oil, a key resource for the Italian military.
- Oil was only sanctioned after the invasion was nearly complete.
The Hoare-Laval Pact and League's Discredit
- Britain and France secretly negotiated the Hoare-Laval Pact to give Mussolini most of Abyssinia.
- The deal leaked, causing public outrage and resignation of those involved.
- The League's authority and reputation were severely damaged, seen as ineffective against aggression.
Consequences and Benefits to Hitler
- The Abyssinian Crisis showed the League's weakness and inability to enforce peace.
- Hitler saw Western democracies as unwilling to confront aggression, emboldening him to reoccupy the Rhineland.
- The Stresa Front collapsed; Italy moved closer to Germany with the Rome-Berlin Axis (1936).
- The Anti-Comintern Pact (Germany, Italy, Japan) formed to oppose communism.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Abyssinia — Historical name for Ethiopia; invaded by Italy in 1935.
- Stresa Front — 1935 alliance of Britain, France, and Italy against German rearmament.
- Anglo-German Naval Agreement — 1935 deal letting Germany expand its navy.
- Hoare-Laval Pact — Secret plan to partition Abyssinia between Italy and Abyssinia.
- Rome-Berlin Axis — Alliance formed between Italy and Germany in 1936.
- Anti-Comintern Pact — 1936 agreement between Germany, Italy, and Japan against communism.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review key events and their dates (Stresa Front, Abyssinian invasion, Anglo-German Naval Agreement, Rome-Berlin Axis).
- Prepare for discussion or written response on the long-term impacts of the Abyssinian Crisis.