Second Battle of Tembien

Part of the Second Italo-Abyssinian War

Date

27 February to 29 February 1936

Location

Tembien Province, Ethiopia

Result

Decisive Italian victory

Destruction of the Ethiopian Army of the Center in the north

Belligerents

Kingdom of Italy

Italian Eritrea

Ethiopian Empire

Commanders and leaders

Pietro Badoglio

Ras Kassa

Ras Seyoum

Strength

Approximately 70,000, With Approx. 50,000 in reserve

Approximately 40,000

Casualties and losses

Approx. 600

Approx. 8,000
Almost entire army ultimately neutralized as a fighting force

Decisive Italian victory

Kingdom of Italy

The Second Battle of Tembien was a battle fought on the northern front of what was known as the Second Italo-Abyssinian War. This battle consisted of attacks by Italian forces under Marshal Pietro Badoglio on Ethiopian forces under RasKassa Haile Darge and Ras Seyoum Mangasha. This battle was primarily fought in the area around the Tembien Province.

On 3 October 1935, General Emilio De Bono advanced into Ethiopia from Eritrea without a declaration of War. De Bono had a force of approximately 100,000 Italian soldiers and 25,000 Eritrean soldiers to advance towards Addis Ababa. In December, after a brief period of inactivity and minor setbacks for the Italians, De Bono was replaced by Badoglio.

Haile Selassie launched the Christmas Offensive late in the year to test Badoglio. By mid-January 1936, Badoglio was ready to renew the Italian advance on the Ethiopian capital. Badoglio ultimately overwhelmed the armies of ill-armed and uncoordinated Ethiopian warriors with mustard gas, tanks, and heavy artillery.

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