*** Welcome to piglix ***

Siege of Saïo

Siege of Saïo
Part of the East African Campaign of World War II
Belgian forces with captured Italian artillery.jpg
Belgian forces with captured Italian artillery following the battle
Date 25 March–6 July 1941
Location Saïo Plateau, Ethiopia
08°32′N 34°48′E / 8.533°N 34.800°E / 8.533; 34.800Coordinates: 08°32′N 34°48′E / 8.533°N 34.800°E / 8.533; 34.800
Result Allied victory
Territorial
changes
Galla-Sidamo Governorate liberated by Allied forces
Belligerents

 Belgium

 British Empire

 Ethiopian Empire

Air support:
 South Africa

Kingdom of Italy Italy

Commanders and leaders
Belgian Congo Auguste Gilliaert
Belgian Congo Leopold Dronkers-Martens
Belgian Congo Edmond Van der Meersch
United Kingdom J. W. E. Mackenzie
Kingdom of Italy Pietro Gazzera (POW)
Kingdom of Italy Carlo De Simone (POW)
Strength
Belgium:
~3,000 troops
2,000 porters
United Kingdom:
1 battalion
Ethiopian Empire:
Unknown number of resistance fighters
South Africa:
3 aircraft
7,000–8,000 troops
Unknown number of aircraft
Casualties and losses
Belgium:
462 dead
~1,200 dead
6,454 captured
Saïo (Dembi Dolo) is located in Ethiopia
Saïo (Dembi Dolo)
Saïo (Dembi Dolo)
Saïo is a market town and woreda (district) in south-western Ethiopia and capital of Kelem Welega Zone of the Oromia Region.

 Belgium

 British Empire

 Ethiopian Empire

Kingdom of Italy Italy

The Siege of Saïo took place during the East African Campaign of World War II. Belgo-Congolese troops, British Commonwealth forces and local resistance fighters besieged the fort at the market town of Saïo in south-western Ethiopia in 1941. The siege lasted for several months, culminating in an Allied attack on the Italian garrison thereby forcing it to surrender.


...
Wikipedia

...