Why Italy

Did you know that Italy lost 2 wars against Ethiopia? 19 Jan 1896 & Jan 1942 (Mussolini)?

on Jan19, 1896 ,8463 Italian soldiers assisted by 10,749 Eriterians,and Arabs were defeated , and captured inthe Great Battle of Adoua under the great Ethiopian General Ras Makkonen. Ethiopian Emperor Melenik Negus accepted Italy's surrender on that date. Italians were so infuriated that they had lost to"Primitive Africans" to the extent that more than 40 yrs later(WW2) Benito Mussolini dispatched over 250,000 italian soldiers to attack Ethiopia. Jan 1942, the Italians were again defeated and captured by Ethiopians with the help of Britain. Thanks to the USA a teaty was signed ,Ethiopia was again a free nation

Public Comments

1. Yes, I did... again.. but Italy never surrendered, actually, a treaty was signed (in Italian it is known as the "Treaty of Uccialli") and it was on the basis of one of its clauses that Mussolini invaded Ethiopia in 1935. Ethiopia was then briefly annexed to the so-called Italian "empire" and then regained independence during WWII.
2. Actually they lost to a country called Abyssinia, Ethiopia didn't exist as a nation then.
3. Yes I did... I also know that the great Adwa battle is celebrated till this day in Ethiopia every year.... and is a symbol for the fact that strength has nothing to do with color and has been an inspiration for the other African states to fight for their freedom against the colonialism....
4. I'm an Ethiopian. This is my history, and we as Ethiopians are brought up being aware of our past. It's told to us almost everyday, both to never forget and always be proud of our nation. While I agree with almost all that has been posted here before me, I'd like to make a few minor corrections: -Simonetta: you're right. Italy was DEFEATED. But you're making it sound like Ethiopia was under Italian rule. The first war was in 1895-96. It was after the signing of the Whichale treaty. Italy intentionally misinterpreted a clause and made it look like Ethiopia had agreed to have all foreign relations channelled through Rome. When Emperor Menilik heard of this he renaged on the treaty. The Italians were looking for just this reason to invade. The problem was they underestimated the average Ethiopian's love for his country.They were defeated at the battle of Adowa. The second war was during WWII. Italy still simmering over the defeat at Adowa tried again. The war was fought between the years 1935-1941. While some might say that Ethiopia was annexed during those years, it is not true. There was a constant fight going all through those five years. Despite the use of mustard gas and mass executions that were supposed to frighten the population into subjugation, guerilla wars were being fought throughout the country and at no single time were the Italians laid back and at peace. In '41 the Italians were defeated by Ethiopian troops with backing and training of British troops, (General Wingate will forever have a special place in the history of Ethiopia), the Italians were defeated. -ledzeppelinben: Abyssinia IS ETHIOPIA. We have been existing as a nation for OVER THREE THOUSAND years. Get your history and geography straight. -Rebecca: Ethio-Pride !!! ONE LOVE !!! ---