Italian East Africa
Italian East Africa was a colonial empire established by Italy in the Horn of Africa region between 1936 and 1941. The empire consisted of Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Italian Somaliland, and was under Italian rule until the end of World War II. This article will outline the timeline of events that led to the end of Italian East Africa.
Italy’s defeat in World War II
Italy’s involvement in World War II had a significant impact on Italian East Africa. In 1940, British forces launched an offensive in East Africa, which led to the capture of several Italian-controlled territories. By 1941, the British had taken control of most of Ethiopia and Eritrea, leading Italy to focus on defending Italian Somaliland.
The fall of Addis Ababa
In 1941, the British launched a major offensive in Ethiopia, which led to the fall of the capital city, Addis Ababa. This marked a significant turning point in the war, as it effectively ended Italian control of Ethiopia. The Italian forces in the country were forced to retreat, and the British continued to push deeper into Italian-controlled territories.
The British take control of Eritrea
Following the fall of Addis Ababa, the British focused their attention on Eritrea, which was still under Italian control. In April 1941, the British launched an offensive in Eritrea, which led to the capture of the capital city, Asmara, and the surrender of the remaining Italian forces in the country.
The British capture Mogadishu
In August 1941, the British launched an offensive in Italian Somaliland, which led to the capture of the capital city, Mogadishu. This marked the end of Italian control in the region, and effectively ended the Italian East Africa empire.
The fall of Gondar and Amba Alagi
In November 1941, the British launched an offensive in Ethiopia, which led to the fall of the remaining Italian strongholds in the country, including Gondar and Amba Alagi. The Italian forces in the region were forced to surrender, and the British took control of the entire region.
The end of the Italian Empire in Africa
Following the fall of Gondar and Amba Alagi, the Italian Empire in Africa was effectively ended. The remaining Italian forces in the region were forced to surrender, and the British took control of the territories formerly under Italian control.
The fate of Italian prisoners of war
Following the end of the war, many Italian soldiers were taken as prisoners of war by the British. These soldiers were held in camps throughout East Africa and were eventually repatriated back to Italy.
The Italian surrender in Ethiopia
In May 1943, the Italian government signed an armistice with the Allied forces, which effectively ended Italy’s involvement in World War II. As part of the armistice, the Italian forces in Ethiopia were ordered to surrender and were taken into British custody.
The aftermath of the end of Italian East Africa
The end of Italian East Africa had a significant impact on the region. The British took control of the territories formerly under Italian control and began the process of rebuilding the region. However, the legacy of Italian colonialism continued to impact the region for decades to come.
Conclusion: Legacy of Italian East Africa
The end of Italian East Africa marked the end of a period of colonialism in the Horn of Africa region. While the impact of Italian rule is still felt in the region, the end of the Italian Empire marked the beginning of a new era of independence and self-determination for the people of Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Somalia.
References and Further Readings
- Kibreab, G. (1999). The Eritrean Struggle for Independence: Domination, Resistance, Nationalism, 1941-1993. Cambridge University Press.
- Marcus, H. G. (1995). A History of Ethiopia. University of California Press.
- Mockler, A. (2003). Haile Selassie’s War: The Italian-Ethiopian Campaign, 1935-1941. Casemate Publishers.
- Pankhurst, R. (1968). Economic History of Ethiopia. Haile Selassie I University Press.
