THE ETHIOPIAN WAR

October 3, 1935 Italian troops invaded the independent African nation of Ethiopia

• facist onslaught
• Ethiopian army poorly equipped and not prepared for this intruision along Etritrean border 100,000 Italian troops in columns of three crept into Abyssinian (Ethiopian) territory
• troops crossed muddy stream called Mareb River

September 1935 Mayor of Bombay had a public meeting and the result was to make a

committee that would handle the collection of money for the Ethiopian Red Cross

Calcutta 15,000 rupees and a lot of medicine was sent to the fallen Ethiopia from here

May 1936 black monarch formally annexed to Italy's African empire

• the royal family had been driven into exile
• Emperor Haile Selassie was ruler in Ethiopia before invasion
• Ethiopia's regular forces had been routed

• Americans were ignorant about what was going on in Africa moreless Ethiopia controversy between Ethiopians distinguishing themselves from African-Americans
• do not know whether rumors that Ethiopians did not want to be linked to Blacks in America
• Ethiopian crisis drastically changed American perception of Ethiopia

• Emperor of Ethiopia
• name became widely known in American
• seen to some in America as a fallen hero
• incorporated into America's folk songs

• helped organize council (ERC) with Ethiopian students and African-American scholars
• helped introduce Ethiopia to America
• stated that the kingdom in Africa was unkown to American public
• ". . . knowledge of the black empire was rare despite its long histor and Christian
• heritage. But Ethiopia's recent conflict with Italy had finally centered world
• attention on the ancient black state."

• Italy lost Ethiopia colony in Africa at 1896 Battle of Adua
• one of the worst disasters of modern history where approximately 25,000 Italians were defeated by four times as many Ethiopians under Menelek, who had accepted an Italian protectorate in 1889 Treaty fo Ucciali to become king.
• according to black public in their essays, Italy wanted its place in history
• Italy was a much weaker state then France or Germany
• by taking over Ethiopia, Italy could claim its glory and have its revenge
• turn into Roman empire
• Italian prestige and power

• news of war stunned Americans
• news swept quickly through the African-American communities
• strong black reaction to the news of Ethiopia

• wrote tht he had not met one African-American who did not wnat to do something to preserve Ethiopia's freedom
• ncrease in pro-Ethiopian activity throughout black communities
• Ethiopia's survival was the talk in taverns, poolrooms and street corners in black communities

• commented athat the African conflict "had heightened 'race consciousness and solidarity in the whole colored world.'"
• said colored people demanded justice for Africans and themselves
• felt many were fearful that incident would lead to further deterioration of colored rights

• emperor was persuaded to go into exile by the Imperial Council MID 1936 Italian Victory
  • widespread rumors about Abyssinians rejection of black identity
  • rumors that they (Ethiopians) considered themselves dark-skinned caucasians
• such rumors was spread by white American media

May 2, 1936 Empeoror left with royal entorage on a special train for jibuti

1936 Harlem formes Menilek Club (United Aid for Ethiopia)

• named after Ethiopia's warrior king
• active group saw itself as the catalyst for integrating the nations remainin Ethiopian societies into one officially recognized by Ethiopian authorities