Italo-Ethiopian << ih TAL oh ee thee OH pee uhn >> War was fought between Italy and the African Empire of Ethiopia (formerly Abyssinia) from 1935 to 1936. Benito Mussolini, Italy’s ruler, started the war in order to turn the attention of Italians away from problems at home. He also hoped to gain a source of raw materials for Italian industry.
The invasion of Ethiopia began in October 1935, and the Italians soon captured many Ethiopian towns. Italian bombs made ruins of the flimsily built towns. Emperor Haile Selassie felt that it was hopeless to continue to wage war against an enemy equipped with such modern weapons, and fled from the country. On May 5, 1936, the Italians under Marshal Pietro Badoglio took control of Addis Ababa, which was Ethiopia’s capital. Mussolini proclaimed Ethiopia Italian territory, with the king of Italy as emperor. Haile Selassie did not return to his throne until 1941.
Italy had acted against the principles of the League of Nations. The League tried to stop the war by cutting off much of Italy’s trade. But the League’s efforts were ineffective.
