Triumph in Africa: A Second Italo-Ethiopian War/Pan-African TL
- Thread starter Mersechal
- Start date
All the Tigrai
Sure they have won some battles, Benny for this reason had sent a more aggressive commander, authorizated the use of poison gas and sent more material
Unless they also produce aircrafts, anti-tank and AA weapons, gasmask and all the other material necessary to wage modern warfare it will hardly change the endgame; again, Benny had put basically all his political future in such war and he will not lose, stiffer resistance? He will send more men and material, he will use more gas
Industrialization create also social conflict, expecially in a nation like Abyssina that had regular low level civil wars and is not cheap and need coal and oil to goes on and in general road and railway in Ethiopia were not very developed
And here you must explain, why they intervene, risking a war for Abyssinia; even because both Paris and London goverment gave they tacit agreement to the italian invasion as Benny before launching the invasion seek such consensus and the Anglo-French were much more interested in having Italy as an ally in the Stresa Front than save Ethiopia and even less taste to start a war with her (even if preparation were done)
Unless you're referring to Mareb-Mallash (AKA Eritrea), the Italians did not conquer the whole of Tigray province.
They occupied Mekelle, Axum and Amba Alagi, basically almost all the province (and the most important part); after Adwa they retreated in Eritrea and later take it back so to go back again in Eritrea after the signing of the peace treaty
Oh, I thought you were talking about immediately after the signing of the peace treaty in the 1890s.
When I said defeat I basically meant hold out until sufficient outside intervention could be brought in. Obviously a one v. one between Italy and Ethiopia in the mid-thirties with a POD no earlier than the late 1800’s is going to end in Italian victory. Ethiopia in this timeline is already putting itself in a better position to receive outside help and therefore at least has a chance of surviving. I’ll admit my “good shot” outlook was a little hasty.
Ah, just to point out, Ethiopia has exploited oil in the Ogoden region since 1915 both in OTL and ITOL, it's just that the vast majority of it in the 1930s leaves the country for Britain and the US since a subsidiary of Standard Oil has the rights. The main issue is the lack of refineries in the country, not a lack of oil harvesting. There are also substantial (300 million tonnes) coal reserves in the country, that have never really been exploited IRL due to economic (before the Second Italo-Ethiopian war they didn't need it and after they could just import oil from Arabia) and environmental concerns.
The main issue is transport or better the lack of any real transport network, at least at a level necessary to develop such resources; Ogaden not only totally lack any serious infrastructure but is also a contested zone, sure in 1926 signed a treaty that finally delimitated the border but frankly neither side really given a single damn about it
Actually no, the Ogaden came under firmer Ethiopian control in the early 1930s but was still somewhat contested between the Ethiopian government and rebellious Somali chiefs - Italian support for the rebellious ones didn't exactly help with the stability of the region IOTL.
Well first, firmer control in the early 30's don't leave that much for develop anything and second...Italy had forts inside the region so firmer is a little relative
If my memory serves me correctly, the Italian forts never extended beyond the easternmost regions of the Ogaden but this did pave the way for Italy to send arms to figures such as Sultan Olol Diinle who is noted for collaborating with the Italians during the OTL occupation of Ethiopia.
WalWal was 130 km inside Ethiopia and was not the only fort present
Difficult to say exactely, not really strongly advertisated due to being illegal, but Mussolini intention was to increase the general italian military presence in Ogaden so to make the claim more strong (same tattic used in Djibuti earlier), so it's hard to believe that was the only lone outpost left to fend by himself.
Chapter 2: The Great Imperial Railways
(Shorter this time, mostly a lore dump, please critique my half-baked modernization scheme.)
Chapter 2: The Great Imperial Railways
Haile Selesse was tired. It had been a productive meeting, but also a long and somewhat contentious one.
Before Zewditu’s death, Haile Selesse in his capacity as Balemulu 'Inderase (Regent) and later Negus (King) under the Empress had met with several railway firms of both European and American extraction in attempt to expand Ethiopia’s rail networks on several occasions.
Besides the Liberian Dutch-Negro Railroad Partnership’s proposal to expand the existing Franco-Ethiopian Railway line to Jimma, and thus ensure that greater amounts of plantation coffee could reach the Red Sea; there was also a proposal by the Franco-Ethiopian Railway Company (1) itself to construct a line to the southern town of Dilla, in whose vicinity gold had been prospected before (2). English and American companies together had been granted generous concessions to construct railways to Keberi Dehar, where Standard Oil had found oil and natural gas (3); and also to construct a narrow track whose primary purpose would be for military and logistical use linking the capital to the northern city of Mekelle.
These projects together had been put under the direction of a Ministry of Transport, and the collective proposed railways were to be called the Great Imperial Railways. Under Zewditu, some desultory efforts had taken place on the Dilla line, and the Mekelle line had been completed up to Weldiya. The Ministry of Transport had estimated the following, somewhat optimistic… completion dates for railway construction. They argued that since multiple companies were constructing railways at once, that they could be completed faster.
Mekelle Line [Red/Northern] (various Anglo-American companies) Line finished up to Weldiya, completion date estimated late 1932.
Jimma Line [Green] (Dutch-Negro Railway Partnership) completion date estimated 1934.
Dilla Line [Blue] (Franco-Ethiopian Railway Company) completion date estimated 1934.
Kebri Dehar Line [Red/Southern] (various Anglo-American companies) completion date estimated 1936.
The meeting today then, had been to determine the beginnings specifics of the concessions that would be granted in exchange for the constructions of these railroads.
The Dutch-Negro Railway Partnership’s Jimma Line had been by far the simplest, with the Partnership putting up 65% of the startup funds in exchange for a small percentage of the future coffee revenues taxed along the railroad.
The Mekelee Line had already been started, and the associated companies needed only to be reassured by the Emperor that the previously negotiated loan payments for the construction of the line would be paid.
The Dilla Line would be financed in the same fashion as the old Djibouti line. A joint Ethiopian/Anglo/French holding company would put up the money and stock would be sold in Europe to interested investors.
It was the Kebri Dehar line that proved the most continuous. The British and American railway companies, the British government, and Standard Oil all wanted some form of concession. The Emperor had left the Ministry of Transport to negotiate with them. Hopefully they could arrive at some settlement within the next few days.
The Emperor rested in his sitting room, thinking: If the Imperial Railways are completed, it will greatly strengthen our nation. Gold, coffee and God-willing oil flowing out of Djibouti will greatly increase our revenues. The railways themselves will help my armies move to combat any incursion or rebellion. And who knows… Western investment has its dangers, but if I can keep the Liberians/UNIA, the Dutch, the British, the French and the Americans all imterested, they'll have a reason to be financially invested in the Empire, it will keep them more committed to the League, and less willing to tolerate any Italian incursions. And hopefully they’ll be too busy competing with one another to acquire too much economic control over us.
With these plans and hopes whirling about in the Emperor’s mind, he ate a light supper and retired to paperwork, and a few snatched moments with his Bible. Sleep came late for him. And the Emperor had a fitful rest. That night, he had the nightmare again.
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1. This is the OTL railroad.
2. Closest town to Ethiopia's OTL gold mine.
3. Found by Standard Oil in 1920 both OTL and ITTL.
Chapter 2: The Great Imperial Railways
Haile Selesse was tired. It had been a productive meeting, but also a long and somewhat contentious one.
Before Zewditu’s death, Haile Selesse in his capacity as Balemulu 'Inderase (Regent) and later Negus (King) under the Empress had met with several railway firms of both European and American extraction in attempt to expand Ethiopia’s rail networks on several occasions.
Besides the Liberian Dutch-Negro Railroad Partnership’s proposal to expand the existing Franco-Ethiopian Railway line to Jimma, and thus ensure that greater amounts of plantation coffee could reach the Red Sea; there was also a proposal by the Franco-Ethiopian Railway Company (1) itself to construct a line to the southern town of Dilla, in whose vicinity gold had been prospected before (2). English and American companies together had been granted generous concessions to construct railways to Keberi Dehar, where Standard Oil had found oil and natural gas (3); and also to construct a narrow track whose primary purpose would be for military and logistical use linking the capital to the northern city of Mekelle.
These projects together had been put under the direction of a Ministry of Transport, and the collective proposed railways were to be called the Great Imperial Railways. Under Zewditu, some desultory efforts had taken place on the Dilla line, and the Mekelle line had been completed up to Weldiya. The Ministry of Transport had estimated the following, somewhat optimistic… completion dates for railway construction. They argued that since multiple companies were constructing railways at once, that they could be completed faster.
Mekelle Line [Red/Northern] (various Anglo-American companies) Line finished up to Weldiya, completion date estimated late 1932.
Jimma Line [Green] (Dutch-Negro Railway Partnership) completion date estimated 1934.
Dilla Line [Blue] (Franco-Ethiopian Railway Company) completion date estimated 1934.
Kebri Dehar Line [Red/Southern] (various Anglo-American companies) completion date estimated 1936.
The meeting today then, had been to determine the beginnings specifics of the concessions that would be granted in exchange for the constructions of these railroads.
The Dutch-Negro Railway Partnership’s Jimma Line had been by far the simplest, with the Partnership putting up 65% of the startup funds in exchange for a small percentage of the future coffee revenues taxed along the railroad.
The Mekelee Line had already been started, and the associated companies needed only to be reassured by the Emperor that the previously negotiated loan payments for the construction of the line would be paid.
The Dilla Line would be financed in the same fashion as the old Djibouti line. A joint Ethiopian/Anglo/French holding company would put up the money and stock would be sold in Europe to interested investors.
It was the Kebri Dehar line that proved the most continuous. The British and American railway companies, the British government, and Standard Oil all wanted some form of concession. The Emperor had left the Ministry of Transport to negotiate with them. Hopefully they could arrive at some settlement within the next few days.
The Emperor rested in his sitting room, thinking: If the Imperial Railways are completed, it will greatly strengthen our nation. Gold, coffee and God-willing oil flowing out of Djibouti will greatly increase our revenues. The railways themselves will help my armies move to combat any incursion or rebellion. And who knows… Western investment has its dangers, but if I can keep the Liberians/UNIA, the Dutch, the British, the French and the Americans all imterested, they'll have a reason to be financially invested in the Empire, it will keep them more committed to the League, and less willing to tolerate any Italian incursions. And hopefully they’ll be too busy competing with one another to acquire too much economic control over us.
With these plans and hopes whirling about in the Emperor’s mind, he ate a light supper and retired to paperwork, and a few snatched moments with his Bible. Sleep came late for him. And the Emperor had a fitful rest. That night, he had the nightmare again.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. This is the OTL railroad.
2. Closest town to Ethiopia's OTL gold mine.
3. Found by Standard Oil in 1920 both OTL and ITTL.
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An interesting development - if Ethiopia can actually establish a better transportation network early on, it would definitely help with the war.
If they're all finished in time. But the Emperor's goals for the railroad are just as much political and economic as military. Politically he hopes having foreign companies heavily invested in Ethiopia will encourage those nations to protect Ethiopia against any Italian invasions. And economically the benefits of increased gold, coffee and oil revenues don't need to be stated.
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Well, first before the hoped date of endwork there is the 'Great Depression' and second, nothing happen in a vacuum; once Ethiopia start increase so much his railway and communication network and allowing foreign interest there...there will be a lot of diplomatic troubles, as the italian really not like the fact to be cut off and lose economic influence in the zone and will start to make a an epic fuss, Benny expecially, sure during this period he desire sign a treaty with Ethiopia to stabilize the situation and concentrate in other effort but this big plan will mean that he can't let things slip.
I never said the Great Imperial Railways project will be completed by the projected dates. In fact, I think it unlikely for the same reasons as you. But part of the construction was started under Empress Zewditu, and funding and material have already been collected. As for Mussolini's reactions... you'll just have to wait and see, but I imagine they will not be good.