October 2, 1935

Italy attacks Ethiopia

On October 2, 1935, Mussolini addresses a bellicose speech to the Italians and announces his decision to invade Ethiopia.

He wants to offer his country a colonial empire worthy of its rank and has no other solution for this than to attack the only African state that has escaped European colonization.

Also called Abyssinia, Ethiopia is governed by an emperor or negus named Haile Selassie I and has been part of the League of Nations since 1923.

The supranational organization, by condemning the aggression, will push the Italian dictator to get closer to Hitler.