Africa

1935–1936: The Italian invasion of Ethiopia

October 1935 – May 1936 · 1 battle

On 3 October 1935 Mussolini’s troops crossed the border of Ethiopia, which was, with Liberia, the only independent African state, and a member of the League of Nations. The League named Italy the aggressor and imposed sanctions, but without an oil embargo or the closure of the Suez Canal. Using poison gas, the Italians took Addis Ababa within seven months. The failure of collective security drew Mussolini closer to Hitler and persuaded the dictators that the democracies would not fight.

3 October 1935 – 5 May 1936Key battleThe Second Italo-Ethiopian WarBetween October 1935 and May 1936 Mussolini's Italy conquered Ethiopia using poison gas. The League of Nations imposed sanctions but did not stop the aggressor.