Sub-Saharan Africa 1941: Liquidation of Italian East Africa

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Political map of Sub-Saharan Africa on 06 Apr 1941 (World War II in Africa: Liquidation of Italian East Africa), showing the following events: Operation Appearance; Operation Sunflower; Surrender of Addis Ababa.
Italian
East Africa(It. ctrl)

The British conquest of Italian East Africa culminated with the Italian surrender of Addis Ababa on 6 April 1941. One month later, Emperor Haile Selassie returned to his capital in triumph, marking the symbolic restoration of the Ethiopian Empire. However the Italian army would continue to hold out in the interior until November, with guerrilla warfare carrying on even after that.

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Main Events

16–20 Mar 1941 Operation Appearance ▲

British Force D, embarking from Aden, landed two Punjab regiments and a Somali commando detachment at Berbera, capital of Italian-occupied British Somaliland. The Italian defenders withdrew, allowing the British to reopen the port and begin shipments of supplies to the 11th African Division advancing from Mogadishu. in wikipedia

31 Mar–12 Apr 1941 Operation Sunflower ▲

In February 1941 German troops under the command of General Irwin Rommel—the Afrika Korps -
were dispatched to Libya to support the Italy after the destruction of the Italian 10th Army during Operation Compass. In late March the combined Axis forces launched an attack on British positions near Mersa Brega, capturing that town on 1 April and rapidly overrunning Cyrenaica. By 8 April Rommel had reached Tobruk, besieging that town before coming to a halt near the Egyptian border. in wikipedia

6 Apr 1941 Surrender of Addis Ababa ▲

The British 11th African Division arrived outside Addis Ababa, capital of Italian East Africa, having traveled via Awash and Harar. They were supported by a general uprising of Ethiopian patriots and the withdrawal of Italian troops to the mountain fortresses of Gondar, Amba Alagi, Dessie, and Gimma. In response, the Italian Viceroy, the Duke of Aosta, ordered the governor to surrender the city to the Allies. Triumphant Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie made a formal entry into his capital on 5 May. in wikipedia

1940s 1941 Africa African history April April 6 Ethiopia Germany India Italy Libya maps Somalia Somaliland South Yemen Sub-Saharan Africa United Kingdom World War II

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