Invasion of Abyssinia (later known as Ethiopia) by Italian forces in October 1935. Abyssinia lay between two existing Italian colonies, Eritrea and Somaliland, and was rich in mineral reserves. It was also a member of the League of Nations, but the League failed to respond adequately when appealed to for help by the Abyssinian emperor, Haile Selassie. Abyssinia was rapidly conquered by Mussolini's army and became part of the Italian East African Empire.