The Second Italo-Ethiopian War, also referred to as the Second Italo-Abyssinian War, was a colonial war that started in October 1935 and ended in May 1936. The war was fought between the armed forces of the Kingdom of Italy and the armed forces of the Ethiopian Empire (also known at the time as Abyssinia). The war resulted in the military occupation of Ethiopia.
Politically, the war is best remembered for exposing the inherent weakness of the League of Nations. Like the Mukden Incident in 1931 (the Japanese annexation of three Chinese provinces), the Abyssinia Crisis in 1935 is often seen as a clear demonstration of the ineffectiveness of the League. Both Italy and Ethiopia were member nations and yet the League was unable to control Italy or to protect Ethiopia when Italy clearly violated the League's own Article X.
The Italian victory in the war coincided with the zenith of the international popularity of dictator Benito Mussolini's Fascist regime, in a phase called "the age of consensus" during which colonialist leaders praised Mussolini for his actions. Historian James Burgwyn called Mussolini's victory "a capital achievement". However, Mussolini's accolades decreased as he endorsed the Anschluss between Nazi Germany and Austria, beginning a political tilt toward Germany that finally destroyed him and Fascist Italy in World War II.
Two conflicts between Italy and Ethiopia (called "Abyssinia" by Europeans at the time) are known as the Italo-Abyssinian War:
^ The East Africa Campaign of 1940–1941 defeated the Italians and restored the independence of Abyssinia this time with direct assistance from other powers.