Afiero, Massimiliano Africa orientale italiana

Nascita e caduta di un impero 1940-41

The Italian colonial adventure in East Africa, which had begun in the previous century and ended abruptly with the defeat at Adua in 1896, gained strength with the advent of fascism, which immediately launched a campaign to expand Italian possessions in the so-called Horn of Africa. In the Italian-Ethiopian War of 1935-1936, Italy invaded the Ethiopian Empire and its territory, which, together with Eritrea and Italian Somalia, formed the new Italian East Africa. Between 1936 and 1940, numerous operations were carried out against the Ethiopian resistance, which was emerging throughout the country. With the outbreak of World War II, the AOI's territory was cut off and had to operate independently, without being able to receive help and supplies from the mother country. Nevertheless, a series of offensives took place during the initial phase of the war, leading to the capture of Kassala and British Somaliland. Then came the inevitable and massive English counteroffensive, which completely crushed the Italian forces in the AOI within a few months, although they nevertheless fought bravely, especially at Cheren. After the fall of Addis Ababa, the Italian resistance continued first at Amba Alagi, then in the Jimma region, and finally at Gondar. The book, already published in English by Helion, analyzes the most important Italian military operations in Italian East Africa, particularly with regard to the period between 1940 and 1941.