East Africa Campaign 1940-41 

The Battle for the Horn of Africa

Author: Pier Paolo Battistelli 

Vital Statistics

Format - softcover, portrait format

Page Count - 96 pages

Size - 7.5”x 10.75”

Photos - Black and White period images / Full color contemporary images 

Tables / drawings / diagrams - detailed maps, some including 3D topography, full color paintings of troops in action

All text and photograph captions are in English.

Overview:

In 1935-1936 Italy had carried out its expansion of territories in Eastern Africa, capturing Ethiopia from it's colonies of Eritrea and Italian Somaliland. This created a significant perceived threat to English interests in the region as the Italians could potentially move into Egypt from East Africa and Libya, threating the Suez canal and also gaining access to the Indian Ocean to disrupt trade and communications in the region.  During the summer of 1940, Italy expanded further into British Somaliland and attacked and captured some outposts in Kenya, Sudan and Libya.  While British forces and priorities were focused on protecting England and North African interests, General Archibald Wavell, the British Commander in Chief in the Middle East, came up with a plan to address the situation using limited resources.  This book covers in detail the events of this often overlooked early war campaign in great detail.

Contents:

The book is laid out in a very logical manner as seen above, we have some background, a 2 page chronology of events (see image below) A look at significant commanders and orders of battle, both in text write-up as well as detailed lists. Basic plans for the two sides are covered and then we get to the bulk of the book, where the two fronts Wavell opened on the Italians are covered in great detail.  We also have an analysis of the campaign and its results as they fit into the greater picture, a brief discussion of what the region is like today and a list of recommended additional reading if one wishes to dig deeper into this campaign.

Photos, Maps and Art

This book contains many maps to help support the text and show movements and troops involved in various actions.  These maps are full color and either show top down strategic style set-ups to understand the larger setting as well as isometric layouts of significant battles showing terrain and unit positions to understand the usually rough and rocky situations these battles were fought in. 

The book is also filled with many black and white period photos (there are also a couple color photos from the time)  These photos illustrate the notable officers as well as units in detail on both sides as they were both before and during the campaign.  Most of these photos are fairly small, 1/4 to 1/3 page in size but do show the many interesting units involved in the fighting, especially on the Allied side as the primary combatants were either from Indian units (in the north) and South African units in the south as well as whatever other forces they could muster (Ethiopians under King Halle Selassie, Free French and French Foreign Legion, Gold Coast soldiers among others).  There are also a number of period photos of battle landscapes with detailed labels of significant terrain features.

The book contains several great two page illustrations by Johnny Shumate to bring the action to life.  These illustrations have a third page devoted to a black and white of the art with a very detailed description of the action and significance of what is shown.

Conclusion:

This book is a detailed and comprehensive account and analysis of this rarely discussed but important early campaign.  It was the first Allied victory in the war and secured the British position in Egypt and control of the Suez canal, so vital to the war effort. Removing this threat allowed Wavell and the Allies to focus men and material on the campaign in North Africa.  It is presented in the clear and engaging style that the Osprey series is known for.

Highly Recommended

Thanks goes out to Osprey Publishing for this review sample.

Reviewed by Dave Mckenny

If you liked this review, consider joining AMPS. Your annual membership
includes six copies of AMPS's magazine, Boresight,
and helps to support our ongoing reviews.

Click here for more information about joining AMPS