East African Campaign (World War II)

East African Campaign (World War II)

Mediterranean, Middle East and African theatres of World War II

Adriatic North Africa East Africa Mediterranean Sea Gibraltar Malta Dakar Balkans Gabon Iraq Syria-Lebanon Madagascar Bahrain Palestine Iran Italy Dodecanese Southern France

Indian Ocean Theatre

East Africa Action of 27 February 1941 Action of 8 May 1941 Sydney and Kormoran Japanese merchant raiders Andaman Islands Homfreyganj massacre Christmas Island First Indian Ocean Raid Easter Sunday Raid Cocos Islands Madagascar Réunion Action of 13 November 1943 Action of 11 January 1944 Action of 14 February 1944 Second Indian Ocean Raid Action of 17 July 1944

East African Campaign (World War II)

British Somaliland Keren Amba Alagi Gondar

The East African Campaign was a series of battles fought in East Africa during World War II by the British Empire, the British Commonwealth of Nations and several allies against the forces of Italy from June 1940 to November 1941.

Under the leadership of the British Middle East Command, British allied forces involved consisted not only of regular British troops, but also many recruits from British Commonwealth nations (Sudan, British Somaliland, British East Africa, the Indian Empire, South Africa, Northern Rhodesia, Southern Rhodesia, Nyasaland, British West Africa, as well as the British Mandate of Palestine). In addition to the British and Commonwealth forces, there were Ethiopian irregular forces, Free French forces, and Free Belgian forces. The Italian forces included Italian nationals, East African colonials (Eritreans, Abyssinians, and Somali Dubats), and a small number of German volunteers (the German Motorized Company). The majority of the Italian forces were East African colonials led by Italian officers.

Fighting began with the Italian bombing of the Rhodesian air base at Wajir in Kenya, and continued, pushing the Italian forces through Somaliland, Eritrea, and Ethiopia until the Italian surrender after the Battle of Gondar in November 1941.

Read more about East African Campaign (World War II): Background and Political Situation, Opening Moves, Allied Counter-offensive, Aftermath, Victoria Cross Recipients

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