Italian forces strike the Ethiopian cities of Seru and Meki before striking the nation at its heart:
Addis Ababa. It isn't long before Ethiopia crumbles under the Italian might, leading to the surrender of Ethiopia to Italian forces and the capture of
Haile Selassie I. The decision is made to keep Haile Selassie I as a prisoner of war, and appoint an Italian Puppet Leader to control the Ethiopian territory for the time being.
Mussolini then demanded what remained of the Ethiopian Army to be inducted into the Italian Army; after the required training was completed, of course. He promised to restore Haile Selassie I as a puppet emperor of Ethiopia once again, if they served the Italian cause well. Leaving 100,000 men and five tanks to occupy and train Ethiopia, Mussolini moved 500,000 Italian Men, 40 Tanks, 30 Artillery, and 4 Anti-Aircraft Guns towards the Northwestern Ethiopian border.
Along with sending 300,000 men with 6 Anti-Tank Guns and 6 Anti-Aircraft guns towards the Northern Italian Border as a defensive precaution; another 200,000 men along with 15 Tanks, 4 Anti-Tank Guns and 4 Anti-Aircraft Guns, are sent to Libya (where Haile Selassie I is being kept) and are pushed towards the southeastern Libyan border. There, the 20 newly produced X Macchi C.205 are rolled out and ready for use. Production continues as more factories are set up in the isle of Sicily for the production of battleships.
As the month continues, another 100,000 men are sent towards the Northern Italian Border, setting up a defensive line a ways farther back than the one at the actual border to fall back on. Italy accepts the German invitation to the Axis Powers and forms the
Pact of Steel.
