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Timeline of the Second Italo-Abyssinian War

What follows is a timeline.

Contents

1928

  • August 2nd: Italo-Ethiopian Treaty of Friendship is signed. It declares a 20-year friendship between the two nations and gave Assab to Abyssinia. The two nations would also co-operate to build a road between Assab and Dessie .

1930

  • Italy builds a fort at Walwal , an oasis in the Ogaden.
  • Italy starts to encroach further and further into what is generally considered Abyssinian territory.

1934

  • September 29: Italy and Abyssinia release a joint statement refuting any aggression between each other.
  • November 23: An Anglo-Ethiopian boundary commission discovers the Italian force at Walwal. British members of the delegation soon retire to avoid an international incident.
  • December 5: Tensions result in a border clash at Walwal.
  • December 6: Abyssinia protests Italian aggression at Walwal.
  • December 8: Italy demands apology for Walwal incident.
  • December 11: Italy demands financial and strategic compensation.

1935

  • January 3: Abyssinia appeals to the League of Nations for arbitration into the Walwal incident.
  • January 7: On Pierre Laval's visit to Rome, the French and Italians sign a pact which, among other conditions, allows Italy a free hand in dealing with Abyssinia in exchange for Italian support against German aggression.
  • February 23: Benito Mussolini sends Emilio De Bono to Eritrea and Rodolfo Graziani to Italian Somaliland along with many Italian troops to prepare for invasion.
  • March 8: Abyssinia again requests arbitration and notes Italian military build-up.
  • March 13: Italy and Abyssinia agree on a neutral zone in the Ogaden.
  • March 17: Abyssinia again appeals to the League due to Italian build-up.
  • March 22: The Italians yield to pressure from the League of Nations for arbitration into the Walwal incident.
  • May 11: Abyssinia again protests the Italian mobilization.
  • May 20-21: The League of Nations holds a special session to discuss the crisis in Abyssinia.
  • May 25: League council resolves to meet if no fifth arbitrator has been selected by June 25, or if settlement isn't reached by August 25.
  • June 19: Abyssinia requests neutral observers.
  • June 23-24: Britain sends Anthony Eden to offer concessions about Abyssinia, they are rejected by Italy.
  • June 25: Italian and Abyssinian officials meet in the Hague to discuss arbitration.
  • July 9: The discussions fall apart.
  • July 25: Britain declares an arms embargo on both Italy and Abyssinia.
  • July 26: The League confirms that no fifth member has been selected.
  • August 3: The League limits arbitration talks to matters except for the sovereignty of Walwal. They are to meet again on September 4th to examine relations between the two countries.
  • August 12: Abyssinia pleads for arms embargo to be lifted.
  • August 16: France and Britain offer Italy large concessions in Abyssinia to avert war which are rejected.
  • August 22: Britain reaffirms its embargo on armaments.
  • September 3: The League exonerates both Italy and Abyssinia of the Walwal incident since both powers believed it was within their border.
  • September 10: Pierre Laval, Anthony Eden and Sir Samual Hoare agree on limitations to Italian sanctions.
  • September 25: Abyssinia again asks for neutral observers.
  • September 28: Abyssinia begins to mobilize its antiquated army.
  • October 3: Italy launches its armies from Eritrea into Abyssinia. They are condemned by the League for attacking without formal declaration of war.
  • October 5: The Italian army captures Adigrat .
  • October 6: The Italian army captures Adwa.
  • October 7: The League of Nations declares Italy the aggressor, prepares to set sanctions against it.
  • October 11: League members voted to impose sanctions unless Italy withdraws.
  • October 15: The Italian army captures Axum.
  • October 18: Britain assures Italy it will not take independent action in the Mediterranean.
  • November 6: Due to the cautious approach of De Bono, he is replaced by Pietro Badoglio
  • November 8: The Italian army captures Mekele .
  • November 12: Graziani creates a second front in the war by attacking from Italian Somaliland.
  • November 18: Sanctions go into affect against Italy. They do not include oil or steel.
  • December 8: Hoare-Laval Plan is signed. It concedes two-thirds of Abyssinia to Italy.
  • December 9: Hoare-Laval Plan is made public. It is rejected by Abyssinians and causes large political embarrassment in France and Britain.
  • December 23: Pietro Badoglio orders the use of mustard gas to speed up the invasion.

1936

  • January 3: Selassie protests to League about Italy's bombing of villages.
  • January 20: Neghelli is captured. Abyssinia asks for stronger sanctions against Italy.
  • January 23: The Battle of Tembien , Abyssinian forces take 8,000 casualties compared to Italy's 1,100.
  • February 10: The Battle of Amba Aradam
  • February 27: The Second battle of Tembien , few Abyssinian survivors.
  • March 3: League asks Italy and Abyssinia to open negotiations.
  • March 5: Abyssinia accepts negotiations appeal.
  • March 20: Abyssinia again appeals to the League, stating that nothing effective had yet been enforced.
  • March 21: Selassie protests to the League again, bringing forth Italian atrocities such as chemical weapons, destruction of ambulances and the massacre of civilians.
  • March 29: Harar is firebombed.
  • March 31: The Battle of Maychew, an attempted Abyssinian counter-attack and the last major battle of the war fails.
  • April 1: Abyssinia pleads for removal of arms embargo, financial assistance, and heavier sanctions on Italy.
  • April 17: The League admits failure in the Italo-Ethiopian dispute.
  • April 27: Princess Tsahai of Abyssinia appeals to the League.
  • May 2: Haile Selassie flees into exile.
  • May 5: Addis Ababa, the capital, is captured by Italian forces.
  • May 7: Italy officially annexes Abyssinia.
  • May 9: Victor Emmanuel III is proclaimed Emperor of Abyssinia.
  • June 1: Italy merges Abyssinia with Eritrea and Italian Somaliland, calls the new state Africa Orientale Italiana (Italian East Africa).
  • July 4: The League drops all sanctions against Italy.
  • December: Italy declares the country pacified.

See Also

Second Italo-Abyssinian War

External Links

Timelines

1934 [1]
1935 [2]
1936 [3]


Last updated: 01-09-2005 23:50:02