East African Campaign

The East African Campaign refers to the battles fought between British Empire and Commonwealth forces and Italy in Italian East Africa during World War II. This campaign is often seen as part of the North African Campaign. The vast majority of the Allied forces were from India, South Africa, Nigeria and Ghana.

Allied counter-offensive

After their offensives petered out, the Italians adopted a passive attitude, waiting for the inevitable counterattack. Attention then shifted to the naval sphere. The Italians had a small squadron based at Asmara in Eritrea, which consisted of a small number of destroyers and submarines.

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While the Italian naval squadron was not used aggressively, it was viewed as a threat to Allied convoys heading from the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea. As the Italian supply of fuel decreased, so did their opportunity for action. The squadron made one major attempt to attack a convoy, but was roundly defeated. Following that attack, most of the squadron's surface ships were sunk, with the escaping submarines making an epic voyage around the Cape of Good Hope to return to Italy.

Related Topics:
Gulf of Aden - Red Sea - Cape of Good Hope

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An important aspect of the Allied campaign to retake Ethiopia was irregular forces. Major Orde Wingate, later to gain fame in Burma with the Chindits was a major mover behind the Ethiopian "patriots" as they were known by the British. The irregulars, formed into the Gideon Force, disrupted Italian supply lines and provided vital intelligence to British Commonwealth forces.

Related Topics:
Irregular forces - Orde Wingate - Burma - Chindits - Gideon Force

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Northern front

The Allied push to take Ethiopia began once reinforcements arrived from Egypt. The arrival of an Australian division in Egypt had released the Indian 4th Infantry Division — under Lieutenant General William Platt — from Operation Compass in the Western Desert and it was sent to attack the Italian forces from Sudan. On January 19, 1941, the 4th Division and the Indian 5th Infantry Division advanced into Ethiopia. Within nine days, Platt's forces had advanced 100 miles (160 kilometres) and captured the heavily fortified town of Agordat.

Related Topics:
Egypt - Australia - Indian 4th Infantry Division - Lieutenant General - William Platt - Operation Compass - Western Desert - January 19 - 1941 - Indian 5th Infantry Division - Agordat

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Southern front

On January 24, the Commonwealth's Southern Force, comprised of the South African 1st Division and the 11th and 12th African Divisions (Nigerian and Ghanaian troops under British officers), commanded by Lieutenant General Alan Cunningham invaded Italian Somaliland, capturing most of it by February 25. The Allies' southern campaign received air support from the South African Air Force.

Related Topics:
South African 1st Division - 11th - 12th - Nigeria - Ghana - Alan Cunningham - Italian Somaliland - South African Air Force

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Seaborne assaults

In March, a combined Indian-Free French force was sent by sea from Sudan to northern Eritrea. Following this, in April, an amphibious assault was also made on British Somalialand, staged from Aden.

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The capture of Addis Ababa

The three thrusts converged on the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa, which fell early in 1941; Haile Selassie entered the city on May 5, which afterwards was observed in Ethiopia as Liberation Day, a national holiday. The Italians made a final stand around the town of Golkar, until the Duke of Aosta surrendered on May 16. Nevertheless, some Italian forces continued fighting on in the province of Begemder until November.

Related Topics:
Addis Ababa - Haile Selassie - May 5 - Liberation Day - Golkar - May 16 - Begemder

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