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1896
Italian troops tried to invade Abyssinia but were defeated.
Mussolini wanted revenge, glory and conquest. -
December 1934
Dispute between Italy and Abyssinia inside Abyssinia’s territory.
Mussolini claimed that territory as italian and prepared italian army to invade abyssinia.
Abyssinian emperor asked the League for help. -
December 1934 - January 1935
A ballot is taken by League of nations in Britain.
Most of British supported the use of military forces to defend Abyssinia if necessary. -
January 1935 - October 1935
Mussolini was “negotiating” with the League but really was whipping up war fever among Italy and preparing army.
In the middle, England and France signed an agreement with Mussolini that was called “Stresa Pact” this one was a formal statement against Germany rearmament and Commitment to stay united against Germany. -
September 4
A comité reported to the league that none of the sides was responsible for the wal - wal incident.
The league started a plan to give Mussolini a part of Abyssinia but he rejected it. -
October 1935
Mussolini attacked Abyssinia and defeated it completely. -
December 1935
British and French foreign ministers, Hoare and Laval planned to give Mussolini two thirds of Abyssinia but he had to stop with his invasion attempts.
They never told the League about this.
The French press leaked the plan and France and Britain were seen as traitors for the League.
Sanctions discussions for Mussolini had to wait. -
February 1936
The question to ban or not oil sales to Italy was delayed.
For the League it was a good option to ban them because Italy will run out of oil in just two months but it was already too late and Italy had already taken most of Abyssinia. -
March 1936
Mussolini has already taken Abyssinia’s capital Addis Ababa. -
March 4
Hitler matched his troops into the Rhineland.
Now, it was impossible that France supported sanctions against Italy and now France even was searching Italy’s support and planning to give her Abyssinia. -
May 2
Haile Selassie (Etiopia’s emperor) was forced into exile to Britain -
May 9
Mussolini annexed an entire country -
November 1936
Mussolini and Hitler signed an agreement.
The “Rome - Berlin axis”.