Battle of Gondar

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict= Battle of Gondar
partof= East African Campaign of World War II


caption= Current day Gondar
date= 1941
place= Gondar, Ethiopia
territory=
result= Allied victory
combatant1= flagicon|Italy|1861 Italy
combatant2=UK
flagicon|United Kingdom Commonwealth troops
Kenya Armoured Car Regiment
commander1= flagicon|Italy|1861 Guglielmo Nasi
commander2= flagicon|UK William Platt
flagicon|UK Charles Fowkes
strength1= 40,000
strength2= Unknown

The Battle of Gondar was the last stand of the Italian forces in Italian East Africa during the Second World War. The battle took place in November 1941, during the East African Campaign. The Italian garrison of 40,000 was commanded by General Guglielmo Nasi.cite web | title = BATTLE OF GONDAR | publisher = The Probert Encyclopaedia | url = http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/F_BATTLE_OF_GONDAR.HTM | accessdate = October 2007]

Background

After the defeat of the Italian forces during the Battle of 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 they key defensive position of Kulkaber and were repelled. However a renewed attack a week later on Kulkaber was successful.Mead (2007), p. 142]

Mountain passes captured

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

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 General Nasi in the town itself was attacked on 27 November and surrendered after the Kenya Armoured Car Regiment had penetrated the outerskirts of the town.

See also

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

ources

*cite book | first=Richard| last=Mead| title=Churchill's Lions: A biographical guide to the key British generals of World War II| year=2007| publisher=Spellmount| location=Stroud (UK)| pages=544 pages| isbn=978-1-86227-431-0

References