The Invasion of Abyssinia

Italy was ruled by Mussolini's Fascists

1. Italy was under control of Benito Mussolini and his Fascist Party.

2. Mussolini had been made Prime Minister in 1922 after threatening to take power by marching on Rome. He used his new position to change the voting rules, and in the 1924 election the Fascists swept to power.

3. From 1925, he began to establish a dictatorship in Italy.

4. Opposition political parties were banned. He used his harsh secret police against opponents.

In the early 1930s, Mussolini was on the side of France and Britain. He joined them at the Stresa Conference in 1935 to stand against a possible German invasion of Austria.

Mussolini Invaded Abyssinia for 3 Reasons

• Italy had been defeated by Abyssinia in 1896 and the Italians wanted revenge.
• Success would divert people's attention from the Depression and …