Timeline of the Second Italo–Abyssinian War
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/* 1928 */
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.
==[[1928]]==
* [[August 2]]: The [[Italo–Ethiopian Treaty of 1928]] 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]].
==[[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.
==[[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. [[United Kingdom|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]]: Ethiopia appeals to the [[League of Nations]] for arbitration into the Walwal incident.
* [[January 7]]: On [[Pierre Laval]]'s visit to [[Rome]], the [[France|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 [[Germany|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]] – [[May 21|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]] – [[June 24|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.
* Mid-[[December]]: De Bono is replaced by [[General]] [[Pietro Badoglio]] in the north and Haile Selassie launches the "Christmas Offensive" to test the new commander.
* [[December 26]]: Badoglio receives permission to use [[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.
==[[1936]]==
* [[January 3]]: Emperor [[Haile Selassie]] protests to League about Italy's bombing of villages.
* [[January 7]] – [[January 10|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|Sidamo]] province is captured. Ethiopia asks for stronger sanctions against Italy.
* [[January 20]]– [[January 24|24]]: The inconclusive [[First Battle of Tembien]] brings the Ethiopian "Christmas Offensive" to an end.
* [[February 10]]: The Ethiopians under Ras [[Mulugeta Yeggazu|Mulugeta]] counterattack in the [[Battle of Amba Aradam]] southwest of [[Chalacot]], but are defeated with heavy losses.
* [[February 27]]: The Ethiopians are defeated in the [[Second Battle of Tembien]] leaving few survivors from the armies of [[Kassa Haile Darge|Ras Kassa]] and Ras Seyoum.
* [[March 3]]: The League asks Italy and Ethiopia to open negotiations.
* [[March 4]]: The [[Battle of Shire]] ends with the destruction of [[Imru Haile Selassie|Ras Imru]]'s army.
* [[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 [[counterattack]] 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 City|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.
==[[1937]]==
* [[February 19]]: The final battle between the two armies is fought: [[Battle of Gogetti|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.
==See also==
: [[Second Italo–Abyssinian War]]
==External links==
* [http://www.ibiblio.org/pha/events/1934.html 1934 timeline]
* [http://www.ibiblio.org/pha/events/1935.html 1935 timeline]
* [http://www.ibiblio.org/pha/events/1936.html 1936 timeline]
[[Category:Wars involving Ethiopia]]
[[Category:Wars involving Italy]]
[[Category:Timelines of military conflicts|Italo-Abyssinian War, Second]]
[[Category:Chronology of World War II]]