CHAPTER 1 – UNREST AT HOME AND ABROAD
The End of an Ancient Empire
Italian aggression in East Africa
In the mid- to late-1800’s when Europe was carving up and colonizing Africa amongst themselves, increasing their overseas empires, Ethiopia remained the only independent nation, an ancient empire. However, wanting to capture Ethiopia since the 1890’s, Italy would soon take it’s chance. On October 3, 1935 Italy declared war upon Ethiopia under the pretext that Ethiopia was threatening the territory of Italian Somaliland. The League would spend the next few months trying to find out the most effective way barring military means, to bring peace again to the region.
Italian troops invade Ethiopia
The initial fighting didn’t take place until early 1936. Italian forces under Marshals Badoglio and Bastico numbered over 250,000 men and could count on numbers of reinforcements. Haile Selassie could only count on 100,000, most of them militia. It seemed his only hope was in the League of Nations.
Field Marshal Bastico invaded northern Ethiopia from Eritrea. FM Badoglio initially commanded the invasion of the south from Italian Somaliland. During the initial campaigning the Italian air forces under Air Marshal Balbo began a general bombardment of the Ethiopian forces. FM Cavallero would arrive during the month of February to command the attacks on Addis Abeba.
After some initial progress in the north and the south by the Italian invaders, they began to bog down. The defenders clung to the favorable high ground tenaciously while the Italian high command sent divisions piecemeal into doomed offensives. The objective was to secure the capital and end the war.
Badoglio relocated his headquarters from Mogadishu to Asmara, letting Cavallero take command of the southern forces. Due to the unsuccessful attacks, Bastico and Badoglio decided to re-evaluate their strategy. First, it was decided to link the northern army group with the southern. Ethiopians still held the key city of Harar. This assault was made from both directions, quickly pushing out the outnumbered and outgunned defenders. Immediately following this victory, Bastico ordered Cavallero to capture Addis Abeba with his newly reinforced units. This time the Italians were better prepared and coordinated.
Addis Abeba fell at midnight on August 4 after a desparate defensive stand that lasted almost a week. The situation for the defenders was worsened by the Italian air units. Although the Ethiopian Army was disorganized and all but destroyed, units remained faithful and would fight on if Selassie but commanded it. However, Emperor Selassie was cut off still within the capital with some of his officials. Italian security units immediately began clearing resistance within the city. Ethiopians were rounded up and "demilitarized." Selassie had no choice, that he could see, but to make a gamble. He fled with a few loyal officers and men, not to the west, but to the east. From a port in Djibouti, Haile Selassie go into exile in London, arriving on the 7th. On the same date, United Kingdom decides to enforce sanctions on Italy to stay in place until they restore Ethiopia. After the emperor fled, all resistance disintegrated. Ethiopia was annexed on the 4th into the new Italian Empire built by Mussolini.
-The American Perspective
The American public has mixed feelings over hostilities in East Africa. On the one hand, agression by any nation can't be tolerated. On the other hand, "Where's Ethiopia?" Approximately 97% of those polled didn't know where it was. Roosevelt wanted to assist in some way, but had his hands tied by peaceful diplomatic treaties such as the Kellogg-Briand pact and had no intention of risking public concern that he was worried more about foreign policy than domestic. After all, the depression wasn't really over yet. So, the United States stayed officially neutral regardless of British requests to assist in the sanctions "enforced" by the League of Nations. Also, it was assumed by most politicians that if the Europeans themselves couldn't settle it, why should they get involved?
Several ships, including two Yorktown class aircraft carriers, are under construction early 1936. Research is allocated throughout the armed forces and industrial sector. But Roosevelt has extra put into the naval arm (his strongsuit, as he was once the secretary of the navy). Progression is coming along during the year as certain technologies are implemented in increased capital ship discipline. Another key advance is a very basic computer system to be implemented immediately. Overall, the military feels the need for more assets, but is hindered by Roosevelt's policy to keep his New Deals and high government spending on the public sector in terms of welfare and other such social programs top priorities. Due to capital ship limitations set forth by the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922, signed by the major nations of United States, United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Japan, Roosevelt decided to move forward with new battleship designs that would fit in the limits, with the maximum possible yield. The result was the North Carolina-class battleship design.
Example of the newly developed North Carolina-class battleships with camouflage paint scheme.
Regarding the election of 1936, Roosevelt carries immense popularity coming into the year due to his social programs. During 1935 and 1936, the easing of the depression causes the public to give him the credit. However, his policies also bend towards foreign involvement. Alf Landon, the Republican candidate, displays his idea of isolationism with renewed vigor using the slogan "America First". He also puts down the New Deals as unconstitutional and favors other public programs to build the economy. The public seems to approve his campaign as his ratings continue to rise throughout 1936.
Franklin Roosevelt, 1936
Alf Landon, 1936
About the pictures, I was going to have even more (division patches and armed force branch flags), but the forum would only allow so many img's, so I narrowed it down to the ships which I determined most important.
