Timeline of the Second Italo–Abyssinian War
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The following is a timeline relating to the Second Italo–Abyssinian War to the end of 1936. A number of related political and military events followed until 1942, but these have been omitted.
Contents |
[edit] 1928
- August 2: The Italo–Ethiopian Treaty of Friendship is signed. It declares a 20-year friendship between the two nations and gives a concession at Asseb to Ethiopia. It also calls for the two nations to co-operate in building a road between Asseb and Dessie.
[edit] 1930
- Italy builds a fort at Walwal, an oasis in the Ogaden, as part of their gradual encroachment into what had been generally considered Ethiopian territory.
[edit] 1934
- September 29: Italy and Ethiopia 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.
[edit] 1935
- January 3: Ethiopia 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 Ethiopia 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 100,000 Italian troops to prepare for invasion.
- March 8: Ethiopia again requests arbitration and notes Italian military build-up.
- March 13: Italy and Ethiopia agree on a neutral zone in the Ogaden.
- March 17: Ethiopia 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: Ethiopia again protests the Italian mobilization.
- May 20 – 21: The League of Nations holds a special session to discuss the crisis in Ethiopia.
- May 25: League council resolves to meet if no fifth arbitrator has been selected by June 25, or if a settlement isn't reached by August 25.
- June 19: Ethiopia requests neutral observers.
- June 23 – 24: Britain sends Anthony Eden to offer concessions about Ethiopia, they are rejected by Italy.
- June 25: Italian and Ethiopian 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 Ethiopia.
- 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 4 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 Ethiopia to avert war which are rejected.
- August 22: Britain reaffirms its embargo on armaments.
- September 3: The League exonerates both Italy and Ethiopia of the Walwal incident since both powers believed it was within their border.
- September 10: Pierre Laval, Anthony Eden and Sir Samuel Hoare agree on limitations to Italian sanctions.
- September 25: Ethiopia again asks for neutral observers.
- September 28: Ethiopia begins to mobilize its large, but poorly-equipped, army.
- October 3: Italy launches its armies from Eritrea into Ethiopia. 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 Adowa.
- 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 general 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 effect against Italy. They do not include oil or steel.
- December 8: Hoare-Laval Plan is signed, which concedes two-thirds of Ethiopia to Italy.
- December 9: Hoare-Laval Plan is made public. It is rejected by Ethiopians and causes large political embarrassment in France and Britain.
- December 23: Pietro Badoglio orders the use of airsprayed mustard gas to speed up the invasion. This was in direct violation of the 1899 and 1907 Hague Conventions, which outlawed the use of chemical weapons.
[edit] 1936
- January 3: Emperor Haile Selassie protests to League about Italy's bombing of villages.
- January 7 – 10: In the Battle of Ganale Dorya, General Graziani attacks troops under Ras Desta Damtew, after over three days of slaughter, the Ethiopians break and flee.
- January 20: Negele Boran in Sidamo province is captured. Ethiopia asks for stronger sanctions against Italy.
- January 23: In the Battle of Tembien, Ethiopian forces suffer 8,000 casualties compared to Italy's 1,100.
- February 10: The Ethiopians under Ras Mulugeta Bulli counterattack in the Battle of Amba Aradam southwest of Chalacot, but are defeated with heavy losses.
- February 27: The Second Battle of Tembien, which leaves few Ethiopian survivors.
- March 3: The League asks Italy and Ethiopia to open negotiations.
- March 5: Ethiopia accepts negotiations appeal.
- March 20: Ethiopia again appeals to the League, stating that nothing effective had yet been enforced.
- March 21: Emperor Haile Selassie protests to the League again, reporting Italian atrocities such as use of chemical weapons, destruction of ambulances and the massacre of civilians.
- March 29: Italian planes firebomb Harar.
- March 31: Emperor Haile Selassie personally leads an Ethiopian counter-attack in the Battle of Maychew. This is the last major battle of the war, and a crushing Ethiopian defeat.
- April 1: Ethiopia 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 Tsehai of Ethiopia appeals to the League.
- May 2: Emperor Haile Selassie leaves the capital city of Addis Ababa for Djibouti, whence he travels to Europe to personally address the League. He appoints Ras Imru Haile Selassie as his regent during his absence.
- May 5: Addis Ababa is captured by Italian forces.
- May 7: Italy officially annexes Ethiopia.
- May 9: Victor Emmanuel III is proclaimed Emperor of Abyssinia.
- June 1: Italy merges Ethiopia with Eritrea and Italian Somaliland, calling the new state Africa Orientale Italiana (Italian East Africa).
- June 11: Marshal Graziani is appointed viceroy of Ethiopia.
- June 20: Emperor Haile Selassie addresses the League of Nations. The League officially condemns the Italian actions.
- July 4: The League drops all sanctions against Italy.
- July 28: Two sons of Ras Kassa lead several thousand men in an attempt to recapture Addis Ababa from the Italians, but are driven back by the Italian garrison. Suspected of supporting this action, the archbishop of Dessie, Abuna Petros, is shot by the Italians.
- October: The Italians begin armed campaigns into the two-thirds of Ethiopia still administered by Imperial officials.
- December 18: Ras Imru surrenders to the Italians near the Gojeb River. Italy declares the country pacified.
[edit] 1937
- February 19: The final battle between the two armies is fought: Gogetti. The surviving elements of the armies of Sidamo and Bale are encircled and destroyed by the Italian forces near Lake Shala. Dejazmach Beiene Merid and Dejazmach Gabre Mariam are killed; Ras Desta Damtew although wounded escapes the slaughter, only to be hunted down and killed five days later.
