March of the Iron Will

March of the Iron Will
Part of the Second Italo-Ethiopian War

Italian colonial troops advance on Addis Ababa
Date26 April – 5 May 1936 (1936-04-26 1936-05-05)
Location
Result Italian victory
Territorial
changes
Occupation of Addis Ababa until 1941
Belligerents
 Italy  Ethiopia
Commanders and leaders
Pietro Badoglio
Strength
  • 12,500 Italians
  • 4,000 Eritreans
Unknown
Casualties and losses
  • 170 Eritreans killed
  • 4 Italians captured
Unknown

The March of the Iron Will (Italian: marcia della ferrea volontà) was an Italian offensive occurring from 26 April to 5 May 1936, during the final days of the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. Its goal was to capture the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, in a show of force for Fascist propaganda. An Italian mechanized column under the command of Pietro Badoglio, Marshal of Italy, advanced from the town of Dessie to take Addis Ababa. The march covered a distance of approximately 200 miles (320 km).