Question

With reference to the aggressive foreign policies of Italy and Japan, explain how the following events made war more likely and worldwide in scope :

 Italy’s invasion of Abyssinia.

Answer 1

Italy’s Invasion of Abyssinia :
Italy, under the leadership of Benito Mussolini, advocated an aggressive foreign policy. It showed an unflagging interest in European diplomacy.

The sole ambition of Italy was to restrict the re-birth of German military power. As a matter of fact, Italy formed nexus with other European powers. Italy supported the Dollfuss government in Austria in 1934 when Austrian Nazis tried to crush the government with the clandestine German assistance.

Subsequently, Italy and France formed a Franco-Italian Alliance in 1935 to guarantee Austrian independence. Union of Austria with Germany (Anschluss) was forbidden in the Treaty of Versailles.

Italy negotiated the Stresa front that was formed in 1935 with the two democratic western powers, France and Britain.

However, there was a change in equations in Italy’s foreign policy. Britain concluded a naval agreement with Germany without the acknowledgment of France and Italy.

In October 1935, Italy invaded Abyssinia with the aim of forming a small African Empire, gaining prestige and trade. By this time, Mussolini made Italy a super imperialist power.

The main reason behind the invasion of Abyssinia was that he aimed to boost the popularity of the regime by providing an outlet for over-population in Italy. Abyssinia was the main target as it was the only independent country. At the same time, Abyssinian forces were poorly equipped and could not resist the Italian attack.

The League of Nations took punitive measures against the unjust invasion of Abyssinia. However, the League could not maintain international collective security, which was one of the aspects of the League. Thus, the League failed to protect Abyssinia as Mussolini could not be deterred.

The second Italo-Abyssinian war was also called the Rape of Ethiopia, which lasted seven months in 1935-36. It is often regarded as the precursor to World War-II and a demonstration of the inefficiency of the League.