I ask because I think this may be where Fascists get a lot of their criticism, especially by using mustard gas against combatants and civilians despite being a signatory of the Geneva convention. Do you guys think that Italy never should’ve invaded in the first place, and should’ve just diplomatically compromise with each other by pressuring the Abyssinians into ceding border territories as suggested by the British. Why or why not do you support the invasion?
It seems unusual that Russia would be interested in supporting Ethiopia, especially to the extent they did, and with what little (apparent) interest they had in Africa.
I have been researching this conflict for a few weeks, and occasionally, I have read references to German support, including arms, for Ethiopia when it was fighting against Italy at the time. The reason given is often because of German resentment of Italy's opposition to the Anschluss, and the boycott of arms to both sides of the conflict by Britain and France. However, most of my most reliable sources do not mention this, and the less reliable sources appear to be pulling from page 64 of Robert Leickie's 1987 book "Delivered from Evil: The Saga of World War 2", a book I do not have access to at the time.
Is this accurate? Did Germany supply weapons to Ethiopia? If so, how much and of what type? And are their any sources I can read for a more in depth explanation?
Apologies to any Italians reading this. I just really like this scenario. Now first for this scenario, we would have to find a way for Ethiopia to win the war. And just using the reasoning "Italian Incompetence" doesn't give a free pass here. Italy won against Ethiopia for a variety of reasons:
-Modern weaponry
-An air force
-The league of nations being completely idiotic
-Chemical weapons
But what it boils down to is Italy being modern, and Ethiopia not. There is no easy way to solve that problem. But something that could happen, is outside support. Let's say that Ethiopia receives funding from other countries. Germany is one that could lend a hand. In our world, Italy didn't respect Germany's claims on Austria, and in response, Germany sent arms to Ethiopia, let's say that they devoted more to Ethiopia. Maybe going as far as too supply them with things like Radios or AA cannons? Probably not, but still, let's say they send Ethiopia some modern weaponry, and for good measure some modern radios to communicate with. Great, Ethiopia now has modern weapons to fight with. This doesn't yet solve the problem of Italy's Air force, however. But something that could happen, is Italy's violations being addressed. I suppose that when Italy starts to face resistance much like in our world, they resort to chemical weapons. If Italy were condemned for this it could turn the tides even a little bit. Let's say Britain and France diplomatically intervene, Italy, France, and Britain all had some pretty bad memories from the last time the powers of Europe went toe to toe. So it's likely Italy would back down. Especially considering Germany, the only other fascist power wouldn't be backing them up. Italy is shut down HARD. For theoretical purposes let's say that Italy is forced out of east Africa. With international condemnation for their use of chemical weapons, Ethiopia having modern weapons, and for good measure let's say they're leaders make a couple of slips-ups, Ethiopia wins. Great what now?
Ethiopia is landlocked, it's likely at a peace conference Ethiopia would definitely be taking home some war reparations and a sweet looking coastline. I could see them taking Eritrea, but not Somalia. Why not? If Ethiopia won, even under these circumstances, the losses for both would be heavy. Even with Britain and France condemning Italy, it's unlikely that Ethiopia would push past the limits of what they can demand. Furthermore, Ethiopia saw the Eritreans as trait
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Our history teacher once told us that during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War, Ethiopian soldiers would from time to time manage to capture some Italian soldiers, but they would release the captured soon after. I am wondering if this is true, and if it is indeed true, why would Ethiopians set their enemy free?
Also, I might be wrong, but I remember our teacher telling us that those Italian soldiers that got captured and set free would not want to fight the Ethiopians anymore. I am pretty sure he said something among those lines however I am unsure.
Could anyone elaborate on those two statements of our teacher as I cannot really understand the reasoning behind them (if they are true of course)?
Thank you in advance!
Welcome everyone, I am Baduld, the Italy Dev, and and today I will be showing you the first Progress Report on Italy! Sit down and prepare your popcorn for this PR....
The Kingdom of Italy was part of the winning camp at the end of the Great War, but the many promises that the Triple Entente had made to Italy in 1915 were not kept. In addition, Italy was hit by a major political, economic and social crisis after the war, which subsequent governments had failed to correct. In 1922 the fascist Benito Mussolini, with the help of veterans and paramilitary movements, became Prime Minister.
Mussolini made many reforms, but this is not the subject of the PR. So let’s instead talk about the situation in Italy in 1933. Despite Mussolini's many economic reforms, Italy was hit hard by the economic crisis of 1929. Italy must therefore manage this situation by creating the “Istituto per la Ricostruzione Industriale” - The “Institute for Industrial Reconstruction” in English. But that's not enough! You must choose a region to invest in (the north, the south or somewhere in between) and finish industrialization projects to restore the economy.
But Italy has another problem: the Italian general staff. The General Staff showed incompetence during the Great War, and this did in the years leading up to 1933. Since the coup d'état in 1922, the general staff had begun to interfere in Italian political life and continue to use old doctrines. The influential commanders are also protected by the king himself.You need to reform the general staff for delete this idea.
Speaking of the King, the King was very influential, despite Mussolini’s coup. He could at any time, with the help of the Gran Consiglio del Fascismo (Grand Council of Fascism), change the government. Mussolini therefore had to reform the country, while minding the King’s opinions. So I added a "King's Favor" system. If the favor is low, decisions will be unlocked to get rid of Mussolini.
However: Italy had an advantage over its neighbours: its fleet. The Regia Marina was created during the Italian Wars of Unification, and was expanded before the First World War to compete with
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Oral interview with Serge Groussard and Emperor Haile Selassie on 26/03/1959. Written down after the interview.
Transmitted by the French Embassy to the German Embassy.
Serge Groussard: Has there ever been a country, that has provided Ethiopia effective assistance at that time?
Haile Selassie: None. With one exception. We are now very much surprised. The only nation that has given us a concrete support, that has provided us with secret crews and parachute drops of arms and ammunition, and that has continued after the end of organized resistance, to the guerrillas of our plateau - a little support; this was - Germany. We give you experience of something improbable, do we not?
Serge Groussard: Yes, Your Majesty.
Haile Selassie: However, it was so. While he made the company, a good face to Mussolini, Hitler did his utmost to destroy it. It is certain that the material which we received from Germany, was an extension of the fighting, and later supplied the guerrillas, to the great detriment of the occupiers.
Serge Groussard: What were the motives of Hitler?
Haile Selassie: Back then, the German-Italian relations were not very favorable. Mussolini has proved it, as he had several divisions at the port in March 1938, contracted at the burner.
Serge Groussard: Yes, but the same fascist divisions fought together with the tanks and planes of the Nazis against Spanish republicans.
Haile Selassie: It is proven that it secretly helped. Of course, it was not a big help in scale, as you can imagine. And whatever they did, the Nazis and the Fascists had no other determined enemy than us. But still, in those dark years, only one wolf was to help us. Why should we remain silent on this strange fact?
