East African Campaign 1940-41

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This volume covers the role of Indian armed forces in East Africa, the region covering Eritrea and Ethiopia. General Wavell, Commander in Chief of Middle East Command, mounted an invasion of Libya and, in spite of superior Italian strength, two divisions (of which the deadliest being the 4th Indian Division) pushed the Italians back in North Africa to Benghazi, of which the battle of Sidi Barani is well known. Then, suddenly, troops had to be sent to Greece to contain the Germans.

It was then decided to undertake a campaign in East Africa for which the 4th Indian Division was pulled out of action in North Africa. The plan eventually culminated in a pincer from Nairobi in Kenya in the south and Khartoum in the north. The northern force included the 4th and 5th Indian divisions and the southern one had one South African and two African divisions. The main task of the Indian divisions was to open the route to Massawa and drive the Italians out of Eritrea. Important battles were the capture of Keren and the move to Asmara and beyond. This remarkable achievement by the Indian divisions led to the final victory in East Africa and freeing of the Red Sea and Indian Ocean from any threat. 4th Indian Infantry Division then reverted back to North Africa, but by then the situation there had changed for the worse.