From: "Alberto Monteiro" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > Ethiopia was an independent country - the only one in > Africa that survived the European invasions - until > about 1936 or so, when Italy invaded. After an initial > defeat, Italy had to use chemical weapons to win > the war. >
Absolutely correct. But by 1939 it was an Italian colony. ;-) > The 1939-09-01 date for the start of WW2 is just > a stupid convention; WW2 began _years_ before with > the Japanese invasion of China, the Spanish Civil War, > and this invasion of Ethiopia. > WW2 was really WW1 Part 2. Apart from Italy and Japan, the same basic groups faced off: Britain, France and Russia against Germany and Austria and Hungary. Japan was one of the Allies in WW1, as was Italy, yet both aligned themselves with Germany during the 1930s. Of course, Italy was a combatant on Germany's side only from June 1940 to September 1943 unless you count the puppet Northern Fascist government that fought on until May 45.. > But then I also criticize the "two" in WW2, which IMHO > should be "five" or even more :-) Apart from Alexander the Great, I can't think of any other "world" wars, that is, involving three or more continents. Please list. Brett
