The First Victory: The Second World War and the East Africa Campaign“Exciting . . . a comprehensive account of an overlooked campaign in which an outnumbered imperial army destroyed Mussolini’s dream of a new Roman Empire.” —Ashley Jackson, author of Churchill Surprisingly neglected in accounts of Allied wartime triumphs, this is the story of the British and Commonwealth forces who, against all odds, completed a stunning and important victory in East Africa against an overwhelmingly superior Italian opponent in 1941. A hastily formed British-led force, never larger than 70,000 strong, advanced along two fronts to defeat nearly 300,000 Italian and colonial troops. This compelling book draws on an array of previously unseen documents to provide both a detailed campaign history and a fresh appreciation of the first significant Allied success of the war. Andrew Stewart investigates such topics as Britain’s African wartime strategy; how the fighting forces were assembled (most from British colonies, none from the U.S.); General Archibald Wavell’s command abilities and his difficult relationship with Winston Churchill; the resolute Italian defense at Keren, one of the most bitterly fought battles of the entire war; the legacy of the campaign in East Africa; and much more. “The First Victory is that rarity of military history: groundbreaking research combined with first-rate narrative skills.” —Open Letters Includes maps and photographs |
Contents
| 21 | |
| 21 | |
War Comes to East Africa | 21 |
The Surrender of British Somaliland | 21 |
Preparing for the Counteroffensive | 21 |
The Advance from Kenya | 21 |
Striking from the Sudan | 21 |
The Battle of Keren | 21 |
Other editions - View all
The First Victory: The Second World War and the East Africa Campaign Andrew Stewart Limited preview - 2016 |
FIRST VICTORY: The Second World War and the East Africa Campaign ANDREW. STEWART No preview available - 2017 |
Common terms and phrases
Abyssinian Addis Ababa Aden advance African troops Agordat aircraft Alan Cunningham Alan Cunningham Papers ammunition Aosta arrived artillery Asmara attack August Barton battalions battle Berbera Blewitt Papers Britain British and Commonwealth British Forces British Somaliland Cairo captured Chater Churchill colonial commander Commonwealth forces defeat defence Desert Despite East African Campaign enemy equipment Eritrea Ethiopia evacuation February fighting Forces in Africa fought French frontier garrison Gondar guns headquarters Ibid Indian Division Infantry Brigade initial invasion Italian East Africa Italian Somaliland Italy January July Kassala Kenya Keren Kismayu later Lieutenant-Colonel London Major-General March Massawa Mediterranean and Middle Middle East miles military move Mussolini Nairobi November ODRP offensive operations Platt port position potential protectorate Red Sea Regiment rifles Role of British Royal Second World Second World War Selassie senior Smuts South African Staff strategic Sudan tanks territory Tug Argan victory Wavell Wavell’s whilst Wingate Worcestershire Regiment