Why did Italy attack Countries like Somalia, Ethiopia and libia in WW2?

Answer 1

It's all about power, greed and empire building. Italy was a country without anything very much in the way of territorial possessions. The expansion from Eritrea into neighbouring lands made it a force to be reckoned with. Italy conquered and occupied Ethiopia in 1935 and eventually created Italian East Africa out of newly-occupied Ethiopia and the Italian colonies of Eritrea and Italian Somaliland. Italian troops in Italian East Africa numbered about 250,000, most of them Local East African askaris recruited by the Italian Army.

When Benito Mussolini joined the war against the Allies in 1940, Italian forces became a potential threat to British supply routes in the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. British Commonwealth troops in Egypt and Sudan were outnumbered by Italian forces in Italian East Africa and Libya.

Answer 2

Italy did not attack Libya or Somalia because, at the start of WWII, they were Italian colonies. The invasion of Ethiopia was done in the 30's to expand the territories already held, such as Eritrea and Italian Somalia and to avenge a shameful defeat suffered by the Italian Army at Adowa in 1896. Further, Libya and Somalia didn't exists as countries at the time. Libya had been a Turkish posses ion for centuries until Italy invaded it in 1906 and Italian Somalia, part of the present Somalia, was invaded or "colonised" by Italy during the latter part of the XIX Century. The other part of Somalia was controlled by the British Empire until 1960 when it became independent and merged with Italian Somaliland.

Answer 3

Well mussolini wanted to get in on the "Imperial" act, following Britain, France, Portugal, Holland and Belgium who all had empires abroad at the time. Mussolini was a fascist leader who basically had delusions of grandeur, and wanted to build Italy up in the image of ancient Rome. He also attacked Greece and Albania. There was no real economic or strategic gains to be had in attacking these countries, except perhaps Libya with its strategic position in the East Meditteranean, unlike the situation with Nazi Germany. Italy had also not that been long united as a single entity, so feelings of nationalism, (and the need to "catch up" with Britain, France etc) was strong, also true of Germany.

Answer 4

Apart from all other reasons it is believed to have been a tactical deployment of the axis forces. The control of teritories in Africa was conidered to be of great significance by the leaders of the Axis and this proved to betrue because later during the WWII there were extensive battles in North Africa(El Alamein, Tobruk siege etc), in order to achieve control of strategic parts of the African desert. Probably Hitler and Mussolini bellieved that by controoling Africa it would be easier to conquer Middle East -and control it's rich natural resources- but also to stop the Allied Forces from supplying their forces in Africa and Middle East. I guess this was a part of a larger strategic plan

Answer 5

Italy did not have the ability to attack anyone else. When the allies landed in Italy, the Italian army layed down its arms and went home.

Answer 6

The people running Ethiopia want more power! They also believe that the Muslim extremists in Somalia will pose a danger to the government of Ethiopia in the near future!

Answer 7

Basically, to extend their territory. They considered themselves to have lost out in the race for colonies in the 18th-19th century.

Answer 8

They wanted to grow spaghetti in the desert. In this way they would conquer the world.

Answer 9

Mussolini was the Duce

Answer 10

Because they COULD!

Increase territorial boundaries and easy folks to beat.