The Battle of Mai Ceu


On October 3, 1935, the fascist commander-in-chief Emilio De Bono (with a white beard) marches ...



... entered the previously independent neighboring state of Ethiopia from the Italian colony of Eritrea without declaring war, in order to turn it into an Italian colony as well.

The outnumbered, poorly trained and woefully armed troops ...







... of the Ethiopian Negus Negeste (Emperor) Haile Selassie ...



... defended themselves desperately as well as bravely ...



... but have no chance against the far superior Italians and lose battle for, battle.

**continued next Post**

Part II:

After Marshal Pietro Badoglio ...



... almost completely destroyed the Ethiopian associations in the second Tembi battle, Haile Selassie starts with his imperial guard ...





... and the remaining units (a total of 40,000 men) made a last desperate attempt to stop the Italian invaders.

However, the Italian leadership learns of these plans. And sets 80,000 well-equipped soldiers on the march ...:









Because of this and above all because of the complete Italian domination of the air (the Ethiopians have no planes!), This attempt ends on March 31, 1936 in the city of Mai Ceu (today: Maychew) with a complete Ethiopian defeat!









The Italians are still committing a massive war crime when they attacked the fleeing remains of the Ethiopian troops on Lake Ashangi with poison gas (April 4).









Marshal Badoglio will march into Addis Ababa on May 5, 1936.





This is how the fascist propaganda depicts the completely unilateral predatory war ...:



Negus Negeste Haile Selassie has to flee into exile and will only be able to return to his country after 1945. He will outlive his adversary Mussolini by many years ...

Interesting post Martin, yet another shameful incident in the not so distant past.

Bill

Nice work Martin, with the usual quality illustrations and photos
I recently read (again) "Haile Selassie's War" by Anthony Mockler. The Italians didn't have it all their own way. Selassie lived in Bath, England during his exile.

Phil