Christmas Offensive

Part of the Second Italo-Ethiopian War

Date

15 December 1935 to 20 January 1936

Location

Northern Ethiopia

Result

Ethiopian victory

Italians on the northern front forced to fall back 12 miles

Belligerents

Kingdom of Italy

Italian Eritrea

Ethiopian Empire

Commanders and leaders

Pietro Badoglio

Ras Kassa
Ras Seyoum
Ras Imru
Ras Mulugeta

Strength

Approx. 125,000

Approx. 190,000

Casualties and losses

3,000 killed (Ethiopian claim)

Unknown

Ethiopian victory

Kingdom of Italy

The Christmas Offensive took place during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. The Ethiopian offensive was more of a counteroffensive to an ever slowing Italian offensive which started the war.

On 3 October 1935, Italian General Emilio De Bono invaded Abyssinia. De Bono's advance continued methodically, deliberately, and, to the consternation of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, somewhat slowly. On 8 November, the I Corps and the Eritrean Corps captured Makale. This proved to be the limit of how far the Italian invaders would get under the command of De Bono. Increasing pressure from the rest of the world on Mussolini caused him to need fast glittering victories. He was not prepared to hear of obstacles or delays from De Bono.

On 16 November, De Bono was promoted to the rank of Marshal of Italy (Maresciallo d'Italia). But, in December, he was replaced on the northern front because of the slow, cautious nature of his advance. De Bono was replaced by Marshal Pietro Badoglio.

On 30 November 1935, Haile Selassie moved his field headquarters to Dessie. From there, he decided to test this new Italian commander with an offensive of his own. Haile Selassie's test was launched 15 December and became known as the Ethiopian "Christmas Offensive."

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Wikipedia