Battle of Keren

Battle of Keren
Part of East African Campaign of the Second World War
Keren Battlefield
Date 5 February – 1 April 1941 Location Eritrea 15°46′36″N 38°27′4″E / 15.77667°N 38.45111°E / 15.77667; 38.45111Coordinates: 15°46′36″N 38°27′4″E / 15.77667°N 38.45111°E / 15.77667; 38.45111 Result Allied victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom  India  Free France  Ethiopian Empire	Italy Italian East Africa
Commanders and leaders
William Platt Noel Beresford-Peirse Lewis Heath	Nicolangelo Carnimeo Orlando Lorenzini  †
Units involved
4th Indian Infantry Division 5th Indian Infantry Division Free French Brigade of the Orient Arbegnoch	65th Infantry Division Granatieri di Savoia
Strength
13,000	23,000
Casualties and losses
536 killed and 3,229 wounded	Italian: 3,000 killed and 4,500 wounded Eritrean Ascari: 9,000 killed

 United Kingdom

 Free France

 Italy

The Battle of Keren (or Cheren) was fought as part of the East African Campaign during the Second World War. The battle was fought from 5 February to 1 April 1941 between a mixed Italian army of regular and colonial troops and the attacking British and Free French forces. The town of Keren, in the colony of Italian Eritrea, was of strategic importance to both the Italian and the British forces in 1941. The road and railway through Keren were the main routes to Asmara (the colonial capital) and the Red Sea port of Massawa, both of which surrendered to the British after the battle.

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