Battle of Gondar

Battle of Gondar
Part of the East African Campaign of World War II
Date 13–27 November 1941 Location Gondar, Ethiopia Result Allied victory; total Italian defeat in East Africa
Belligerents
Italy	United Kingdom Commonwealth troops Kenya Armoured Car Regiment Ethiopian irregulars
Commanders and leaders
Guglielmo Nasi	William Platt Charles Fowkes
Strength
40,000	Unknown

East African Campaign (World War II) British Somaliland Keren Amba Alagi Gondar

The Battle of Gondar was the last stand of the Italian forces in Italian East Africa during the Second World War.^[1] The battle took place in November 1941, during the East African Campaign.^[1] The Italian garrison of 40,000 was commanded by Generale Guglielmo Nasi.^[1]

Contents 1 Background 2 Kulkaber 3 Mountain passes captured 4 Gondar town surrenders 5 See also 6 Sources 7 References

Background

After the defeat of the Italian forces at Keren on 1 April 1941, many of the remaining Italians withdrew to three strongholds: Amba Alagi, Jimma, and Gondar. Amba Alagi fell in May and Jimma fell in July.

Kulkaber

On 13 November, a mixed force from the British 12th (African) Division under Major-General Charles Fowkes—supported by Ethiopian patriots—attacked the key defensive position of Kulkaber and were repelled. However, a renewed attack a week later on Kulkaber was successful.^[2]

Mountain passes captured

There were two mountain passes that overlooked the town which were controlled by the Italian troops.^[1] They were invested by the two brigades of the British 12th (African) Division^[1] and the two Italian groups in the passes were cut off and were forced to surrender when their supplies ran out.^[1]

Gondar town surrenders

Once the Allied troops had taken the passes, they gained control of the heights overlooking the town, and the Italian garrison under Generale Nasi in the town itself was attacked on 27 November and surrendered^[2] after the Kenya Armoured Car Regiment had penetrated the outerskirts of the town.^[1]

See also

• East African Campaign (World War II)
• List of military engagements of World War II

Sources

• Mead, Richard (2007). Churchill's Lions: A biographical guide to the key British generals of World War II. Stroud (UK): Spellmount. pp. 544 pages. ISBN 978-1-86227-431-0. 
• Shireff, David (1995, reprint 2009). Bare Feet and Bandoliers: Wingate, Sandford, the Patriots and the Liberation of Ethiopia. Pen & Sword Military. pp. 336 pages. ISBN 978-1848840294. 

References