In 1930, Italy built a fort at Walwal, an oasis in the Ogaden. The fort was in clear violation of the Italo–Abyssinian Treaty of Friendship. The Italians built the fort as part of a gradual encroachment into what was clearly Ethiopian territory.[citation needed]
On September 29, 1934, Italy and Abyssinia released a joint statement refuting any aggression between each other.
[edit] The Walwal incident
On November 22, 1934, a strong force of 1,000 Ethiopian militia with three fitaurari (military - political Ethiopian commanders) materialized near Ual Ual and requested the Dubats garrison (about 60 men) to withdraw.[1] The Somali NCO leading the garrison refused to withdraw and notified the fact to the captain Cimmaruta, commander of the garrison of Uarder (20 km from Ual Ual.[2] The day after, while surveying the border between British Somaliland and Ethiopia, an Anglo–Ethiopian boundary commission arrived at Walwal. The commission was confronted by an Italian force already at Walwal. The British members of the boundary commission protested but withdrew to avoid an international incident. The Ethiopian members of the boundary commission stayed at Walwal.[3]
Between December 5 and December 7, for reasons which have never been clearly determined, there was a skirmish between the garrison of Somalis who were in Italian service and a force of armed Ethiopians. According to the Italians, the Ethiopians attacked the Somalis with a strong fire of rifles and machine guns.[4] According to the Ethiopians, the Italians attacked them. The Ethiopians claimed the Italians were supported by two tanks and three aircraft.[5] In the end, approximately 107 Ethiopians[nb 1] and 50 Italians and Somalis were killed.[nb 2] Neither side did anything to avoid confrontation; The Ethiopians repeatedly menaced the Italian garrison with the threat of an armed attack, and the Italians sent two planes over the Ethiopian camp with some machine-gun fire[8].
[edit] International response and subsequent actions
On December 6, 1934, Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia protested Italian aggression at Walwal. On December 8, Italy demanded an apology and, on December 11, followed up this demand with a demand for financial and strategic compensation.
On January 3, 1935, Ethiopia appealed to the League of Nations for arbitration in the Walwal incident. But the League's response was inconclusive. The following analysis of an Arbitration Committee belonging to League of Nations absolved both parts from any charge[9]. In actuality, many nations were working independently of the League in order to keep Italy as an ally. Shortly after Ethiopia's initial appeal, Minister of Foreign Affairs Pierre Laval of France and Foreign Secretary Samuel Hoare met with Italian dictator Benito Mussolini in Rome.
On January 7, 1935, a meeting between Laval and Mussolini resulted in the "Franco–Italian Agreement". This treaty gave Italy French Somaliland (now Djibouti), redefined the official status of Italians in French-held Tunisia, and essentially gave the Italians a free hand in dealing with Ethiopia. In exchange for this, France hoped for Italian support against German aggression.
POD
January 9th
At a meeting of the Grand Council, Ciano & Balbo with backing from the King, convince Mussolini that the chance to get French Somaliland, along with the lifting of Restrictions of Italian Business in Tunisia, is more important than Ethiopia.
[In Fact they point out Ethiopia isn't going anywhere -- after they occupy the Port at Djibouti, then they can come back to Ethiopia]
January 20
Italy withdraws from the Fort at Walwal & agrees to Negotiations with Ethiopia.
OTL
On January 25, five Italian askaris were killed by Ethiopian forces near Walwal.[10]
On February 10, Mussolini mobilized two divisions.[11]
On February 23, Mussolini began to send large numbers of troops to Eritrea and Italian Somaliland. These were the Italian colonies that bordered Ethiopia to the northeast and southeast respectively. There was little international protest to this build-up.
On March 8, Ethiopia again requested arbitration and noted Italian military build-up. On March 13, Italy and Ethiopia agreed on a neutral zone in the Ogaden. On March 17, Ethiopia again appealed to the League due to continued Italian build-up. On March 22, the Italians yielded to pressure from the League of Nations for arbitration into the Walwal incident. But on May 11, Ethiopia again protested the ongoing Italian mobilization.
Between May 20 and 21, the League of Nations held a special session to discuss the crisis in Ethiopia. On May 25, a League council resolved to meet if no fifth arbitrator had been selected by June 25, or if a settlement was not reached by August 25. On June 19, Ethiopia requested neutral observers.
From June 23 to 24, the United Kingdom attempted to quell the crisis and sent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Anthony Eden to broker peace. It was a failed mission though, as Mussolini was bent on conquest. Following that, Britain declared an arms embargo on both Italy and Ethiopia on July 25. Many believe that this was a direct result of Italy's decree that supplying Ethiopia would be perceived as an act of unfriendliness. Britain also cleared its warships from the Mediterranean, further allowing Italy unhindered access.
On June 25, Italian and Ethiopian officials met in the Hague to discuss arbitration and these discussions fell apart by July 9.
On July 26, the League confirmed that no fifth member has been selected. On August 3, the League limited arbitration talks to matters except for the sovereignty of Walwal. The League met again on September 4 to examine relations between the two countries.
On August 12, Ethiopia pleaded for arms embargo to be lifted. On August 16, France and Britain offered Italy large concessions in Ethiopia to avert war and Italy rejected these offers. On August 22, Britain reaffirmed its embargo on armaments.
On September 4, the League exonerated both Italy and Ethiopia of the Walwal incident[12] since both nations believed Walwal was within its territorial borders. On September 10, Pierre Laval, Anthony Eden, and Sir Samuel Hoare agreed on limitations to Italian sanctions.
On September 25, Ethiopia again asked for neutral observers. On September 28, Ethiopia began to mobilize its large but poorly-equipped army.
ATL
March 13, Italy and Ethiopia agreed on a neutral zone in the Ogaden.
On March 22, the Italians yielded to pressure from the League of Nations for arbitration into the Walwal incident.
On September 4, the League exonerated both Italy and Ethiopia of the Walwal incident since both nations believed Walwal was within its territorial borders.
On Novembre 23, Mussolini began to send large numbers of troops to Eritrea.
1 January 1936
Italian Troops begin moving into French Somalialand as per the Treaty. However they don't move into the port.
15 January
Italian Troops reach the British Somalialand Border.
21 January
French Troops begin leaving French Somalialand.
30 January
First Italian Troops enter Djibouti, as France continues withdraw.
1 February
French Flag Lowered at Government House in Djibouti, Italian Flag raised as Formal transfer takes Place.
2 February
Italy Formally annexes Djibouti to Eritrea.
28 March
Italy unveils a Master Plan for the Development of Roads & Railroads, Tieing Djibouti to Eritrea.
While this is intended to make Djibouti the Main Italian port for Eritrea, It will be a lot less expensive than OTL's development Plan for Ethiopia.
Part of this savings will go into development of Improved Roads and Railroads in Libya.
14 July
Mussolini and Laval meet in Paris to discuss stronger ties between the two Nations.
OTL
On October 3, 1935, shortly after the League exonerated both parties in the Walwal incident, Italian armed forces from Eritrea invaded Ethiopia without a declaration of war. In response, Ethiopia declared war on Italy and the two nations were at war.
On October 7, the League of Nations declared Italy the aggressor and started the slow process of imposing sanctions. However, these sanctions did not extend to several vital materials, such as oil and were not carried out by all members of the League. Specifically, the United Kingdom and France did not take any serious action against Italy (such as blocking Italian access to the Suez Canal).
Even actions such as the Italian use of some chemical weapons did little to change the League's passive approach to the situation.
In December 1935, Hoare of Britain and Laval of France proposed the secret Hoare-Laval Plan which would end the war but allow Italy to control large areas of Ethiopia. Mussolini agreed to the plan, but it caused an outcry in Britain and France when the plan was leaked to the media. Hoare and Laval were accused of betraying the Abyssinians, and both resigned. The plan was dropped, but the perception spread that Britain and France were not serious about the principles of the League. After the plan was dropped, the war continued and Mussolini turned to German dictator Adolf Hitler for alliance.
All sanctions placed by the League were dropped after the Italian capture of the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa on May 5, 1936. Ethiopia was then merged with the other Italian colonies to become Italian East Africa (Africa Orientale Italiana, or AOI).
Ethiopia never officially surrendered. Italian control of AOI was never total (because of guerrilla, later used by the British in WWII), but in 1940 was complete in 3/4 of Ethiopia.
Note that both British Foreign Secretary Samuel Hoare and French Prime Minister Pierre Laval are still in Office, and Italy has no reason to turn to Germany.
In Fact Italy is slowly increasing it's ties to France.
16 July
British Foreign Secretary Samuel Hoare, Joins the discussion in Paris.
Mussolini jokes about Purchasing British Somaliland Next. While everyone Laughs, it ends with several lower echelon Minions reopening the 1920's talks about this.
What is agreed is that Britain will work on extending Egypt's Coast Railroad west to tie into the Railroad Italy is pushing East from Tripoli.
1937 ~1938
With out OTL's Italian Funds Abba Ababa remains a backward little Town, and Ethiopia's Road System remains in poor shape. Djibouti, had under the French been Ethiopia's Main Port.
However under the Italians, Ethiopian supplies and Equipment begin going Missing. This is along with other Transits problems.
Meanwhile Italy continues pouring Development Funds into Eritrea, Somalia, & Libya.
May 22, 1939
Italy Signs -The Pact of Steel- with France and Britain, In return Britain agrees to sell British Somalialand. [Three years of Back Room talks pay off]
May 25
Hungary signs the Pact of Blood with Germany.
The Pact consisted of two parts: the first section was an open declaration of continuing trust and cooperation between Germany and Italy while the second, a "Secret Supplementary Protocol "encouraged a union of policies concerning the military and economy
It was Italian leader Benito Mussolini who dubbed the agreement "the Pact of Steel", after being told that its original name, "the Pact of Blood", would likely be received poorly in Italy.
Here with Italy pulling towards the Entreate, again, Germany looks for other Allies.
1 Septembre
Germany Invades Poland.
3 Septembre
Britain & France declare War on Germany
4 Septembre
Italy Joins Britain & France in declaring War on Germany
WW 2 BEGINS
