Push for the Rhone begins and Anglo-Italian relations harden
Recap: After the Italian victory in Ethiopia in May 1936, the large build-up of British forces on the Ethiopian-Sudanese Border unnerved the Italians. Marshal Balbo pitched a “grand plan” for a war against the Allies to Mussolini. It was accepted and a multi-front war began between Italy and the Allies on the 11th May 1936. Mussolini had committed the ‘mad god act’ so feared by British diplomats and politicians.
On the 2nd July 1936, Spain erupted into civil war. The Italian Fascist’s and the German Nazi’s both supported the Nationalist side.
Europe
Recap: At the start of the war the Italian I and IV armies had easily pushed over the unprepared French forces along Little Maginot Line (in the Alps) and expanded into the Provence and Rhone regions. The front became static with the arrival of two French armour divisions and the French forces then counterattacked and retook Marseille. With reinforcements from the II and VIII armies, the Italians have now retaken the imitative along the front. Marseille was recaptured on the 1st August.
On the 20th May, the Italians were also able to capture Malta from the British and later Corsica from the French, securing the central Mediterranean. A series of naval battles took place between Italian and French fleets in the central Mediterranean during mid-June. French naval power was seriously damaged including the loss of the carrier Bearn and the battleship Provence. A French attempt to land troops on Corsica at the end of July was defeated with the loss of men and more French ships.
Spain
The Spanish Civil War had now been raging for over a month. In the battle for rulership, among the Nationalists, the military strongman Franco had disappeared from the pages of history and the true leader of the uprising Jose Sanjurjo had emerged to the forefront.
Nationalist(dark red) and Republican(cream) maneuvers up to the 21st July 1936
In the first few weeks of the conflict, the Nationalists opening moves involved a landing of troops along the southern shore of the Peninsula at Almeria and a seizure of those port facilities. The troops that landed then surged north before branching off to the west and the east. In central Spain, the Nationalist also pushed for the all-important Madrid and towards the new Republican capital of Valenica on the east coast. The Republicans appeared to have abandoned Madrid and were pushing south towards Seville. To the north, a drive which was spearheaded by Italian armour pushed east along the coast to Bilbao.
Nationalist(dark red) and Republican maneuvers(cream) between the 21st July 1936 to the 7th August 1936
Several weeks into the bitter civil war, Madrid was taken for the Nationalist side. There was not much fighting but the 1st "Dio lo Vuole" Blackshirt Infantry Division played a significant part with its attack from the west. Republican forces from Valencia and Malaga put a halt to the Nationalist advances in the south and also succeeded in separating the Nationalist zone in the north from Nationalist controlled Seville in the south.
British press turn up the heat on the Italian ‘intervention’ in Spain.
Alpine Front
2nd August: After the French attack on Ruffieux was called off the day before, the I Army had achieved another tactical victory. There was no need to continue the attack on the French at Bourg-en-Besse
After achieving its tactical objective, the counterattack on Bourg-en-Besse is called off by General Guzzoni.
5th August: At the southern end of the front, the aggressive General Pintor was not content with Marseille itself, he intended to push on and create a new front along the Rhone. The push to the Rhone was agreed with Marshal Badolgio. This strategy would soon be attempted along the whole front.
The French 2nd (mot) Division was protecting Arles at the northern end of the Camargue (the Rhone River delta) when it came under attack from three Italian Divisions which advanced west from Marseille. After a brief battle, the French Division began retreating.
Pintor’s drive to the Rhone
6th August: Back at the northern end of the front, the French now counterattacked again. Firstly the French Armour attacked the outnumbered 2nd Alpine Division which was dug in at Ruffieux. Two French Infantry Divisions also attacked the university city of Grenoble. Both attacks left the French vulnerable as they were over ‘stretched’ across the Rhone River.
The French counterattack again at the northern end of the front.
ASI
Recap: In North Africa, the Italian IX Army has captured Tunis and were now heading west to Algiers. The X Army and the VI Army advanced east, first taking Cairo and then besieging the British in Alexandria. After a tough battle the British 7th Infantry Division and the Middle East Command were forced to surrender. The Italians were then forced on the defensive along the line of the Suez against a determined British and Iraqi attack. The line was breached in its entirety and the British were able to initially push on before their attack faulted.
Nile Delta
5th August: The British 18th Infantry had stormed across the canal and driven the northern elements of the 7th ‘Cirene’ Division from Port Said. They had then turned south advanced into Isma’iliya and attacked the 27th ‘Sila’ Division at El Suweis.
The battle of El Suweis begins and the southern elements of the 7th ‘Cirene’ Division are thrown back when they attack Isma’iliya.
6th August: The southern elements of the 7th ‘Cirene‘ Blackshirts restarted the battle for Isma’iliya but the combined weight of both the Iraqi troops and the British 18th Infantry was too much. The Iraqis easily repelled their attack.
AOI
Recap: In East Africa, the strong French 1st Army in Djibouti initially made good advances on the Eritrean capital of Asmara but they were eventually surrounded and annihilated by Italian forces. Captured Ethiopian supply stockpiles kept the Italian troops strong and they were also able to capture key British strategic locations in the Somaliland, northern Sudan and British East Africa, effectively trapping the British 3rd Army in the Sudan east of Ethiopia. In the south, a relief effort attempted by the British 4th Infantry Division just north of Lake Victoria failed and the Italians have finally closed the pincer and trapped the British against the impenetrable water waste called The Sudd.
Sudanese Border
2nd August: During the last week, Italian forces had been advancing into British positions at the northern end of the Sudanese border, collapsing the sack around the trapped British 3rd Army.
The only major fighting was now taking place at Jima, a large township in southwestern Ethiopia, where the Italian 24th ‘Pinerolo’ Division had been given the difficult task of defeating the dug in 4th Indian Division. Over ten days ago, Major General Castellano, had led his men on the assault but the brave colonials of the 4th Indian had easily been able to hold the line along the river and in the mountainous terrain.
Italian reinforcements began to move in from surrounding provinces and apply pressure to the British colonial troops. An exhausted Castellano relinquished command to the experienced Nasi. However, it was too late, this offensive petered out.
Battle of Jima: phase 1 ends and phase 2 begins
4th August: Two days later different advancing Italian divisions renewed the attack on the beleaguered 4th Indian Division. This was a two pronged attack lead by Cona and his 3rd Blackshirts in the south and supported by the 1st and 2nd Eritrean Divisions from Nek’emte in the north.
Arabia Felix
Recap: On the 11th July, the Italian colonial troops successfully landed and secured the undefended British port of Aden. Yemeni forces (allies of Britain) immediately attacked the Italians but could not hold out when Italian reinforcements arrived. Yemen was overrun but the fighting units of their army escaped across the border into the British Aden Protectorate. This victory yielded full control of the Gate of Tears to the Italians, a significant strategic advantage.
Yemeni loyalist forces then emerged from the deserts to the east, attacked and defeated the Somali Dubats which were guarding Aden. The Italians then landed the 30th ‘Sabauda’ at Aden to hold the port town.
3rd August: With the landing of de Stefanis’s 30th ‘Sabauda’ at Aden, the Italian defense of the port town stiffened.
The Battle of Aden is won. De Stefanis then goes on the offensive.
5th August: Two days later the Yemeni’s gave up the attack after suffering heavy losses. De Stefanis immediately went on the offensive and drove the Yemeni loyalists from their positions at Ataq.
Europe
British “free press” exercising their rights. Someone is obviously unhappy about the Italian victories in AOI.
Mussolini demonised by the British press.
Over the last few weeks diplomatic reports had begun to filter in which indicated a hardening of British relations to the Italian fascist regime. When feelers were put out into the diplomatic community, it suddenly became very apparent that the British (and their allies) would now in no way consider a peaceful resolution to the war. Italian foreign policy had failed to judge the effect of Italian victories on the relations of the two nations. Although unconfirmed, it was thought that the tipping point was the seizure of Yemen and the strategic control of Bab-el-Mandeb at the southern end of the Red Sea. This was no longer a limited colonial war, it had become a bitter struggle to the death.
Mussolini had overstepped the mark with his ‘mad dog act’. Italian politico-strategic options were thought to be limited to:
Recap: After the Italian victory in Ethiopia in May 1936, the large build-up of British forces on the Ethiopian-Sudanese Border unnerved the Italians. Marshal Balbo pitched a “grand plan” for a war against the Allies to Mussolini. It was accepted and a multi-front war began between Italy and the Allies on the 11th May 1936. Mussolini had committed the ‘mad god act’ so feared by British diplomats and politicians.
On the 2nd July 1936, Spain erupted into civil war. The Italian Fascist’s and the German Nazi’s both supported the Nationalist side.
Europe
Recap: At the start of the war the Italian I and IV armies had easily pushed over the unprepared French forces along Little Maginot Line (in the Alps) and expanded into the Provence and Rhone regions. The front became static with the arrival of two French armour divisions and the French forces then counterattacked and retook Marseille. With reinforcements from the II and VIII armies, the Italians have now retaken the imitative along the front. Marseille was recaptured on the 1st August.
On the 20th May, the Italians were also able to capture Malta from the British and later Corsica from the French, securing the central Mediterranean. A series of naval battles took place between Italian and French fleets in the central Mediterranean during mid-June. French naval power was seriously damaged including the loss of the carrier Bearn and the battleship Provence. A French attempt to land troops on Corsica at the end of July was defeated with the loss of men and more French ships.
Spain
The Spanish Civil War had now been raging for over a month. In the battle for rulership, among the Nationalists, the military strongman Franco had disappeared from the pages of history and the true leader of the uprising Jose Sanjurjo had emerged to the forefront.
Nationalist(dark red) and Republican(cream) maneuvers up to the 21st July 1936
In the first few weeks of the conflict, the Nationalists opening moves involved a landing of troops along the southern shore of the Peninsula at Almeria and a seizure of those port facilities. The troops that landed then surged north before branching off to the west and the east. In central Spain, the Nationalist also pushed for the all-important Madrid and towards the new Republican capital of Valenica on the east coast. The Republicans appeared to have abandoned Madrid and were pushing south towards Seville. To the north, a drive which was spearheaded by Italian armour pushed east along the coast to Bilbao.
Nationalist(dark red) and Republican maneuvers(cream) between the 21st July 1936 to the 7th August 1936
Several weeks into the bitter civil war, Madrid was taken for the Nationalist side. There was not much fighting but the 1st "Dio lo Vuole" Blackshirt Infantry Division played a significant part with its attack from the west. Republican forces from Valencia and Malaga put a halt to the Nationalist advances in the south and also succeeded in separating the Nationalist zone in the north from Nationalist controlled Seville in the south.
British press turn up the heat on the Italian ‘intervention’ in Spain.
Alpine Front
2nd August: After the French attack on Ruffieux was called off the day before, the I Army had achieved another tactical victory. There was no need to continue the attack on the French at Bourg-en-Besse
After achieving its tactical objective, the counterattack on Bourg-en-Besse is called off by General Guzzoni.
5th August: At the southern end of the front, the aggressive General Pintor was not content with Marseille itself, he intended to push on and create a new front along the Rhone. The push to the Rhone was agreed with Marshal Badolgio. This strategy would soon be attempted along the whole front.
The French 2nd (mot) Division was protecting Arles at the northern end of the Camargue (the Rhone River delta) when it came under attack from three Italian Divisions which advanced west from Marseille. After a brief battle, the French Division began retreating.
Pintor’s drive to the Rhone
6th August: Back at the northern end of the front, the French now counterattacked again. Firstly the French Armour attacked the outnumbered 2nd Alpine Division which was dug in at Ruffieux. Two French Infantry Divisions also attacked the university city of Grenoble. Both attacks left the French vulnerable as they were over ‘stretched’ across the Rhone River.
The French counterattack again at the northern end of the front.
ASI
Recap: In North Africa, the Italian IX Army has captured Tunis and were now heading west to Algiers. The X Army and the VI Army advanced east, first taking Cairo and then besieging the British in Alexandria. After a tough battle the British 7th Infantry Division and the Middle East Command were forced to surrender. The Italians were then forced on the defensive along the line of the Suez against a determined British and Iraqi attack. The line was breached in its entirety and the British were able to initially push on before their attack faulted.
Nile Delta
5th August: The British 18th Infantry had stormed across the canal and driven the northern elements of the 7th ‘Cirene’ Division from Port Said. They had then turned south advanced into Isma’iliya and attacked the 27th ‘Sila’ Division at El Suweis.
The battle of El Suweis begins and the southern elements of the 7th ‘Cirene’ Division are thrown back when they attack Isma’iliya.
6th August: The southern elements of the 7th ‘Cirene‘ Blackshirts restarted the battle for Isma’iliya but the combined weight of both the Iraqi troops and the British 18th Infantry was too much. The Iraqis easily repelled their attack.
AOI
Recap: In East Africa, the strong French 1st Army in Djibouti initially made good advances on the Eritrean capital of Asmara but they were eventually surrounded and annihilated by Italian forces. Captured Ethiopian supply stockpiles kept the Italian troops strong and they were also able to capture key British strategic locations in the Somaliland, northern Sudan and British East Africa, effectively trapping the British 3rd Army in the Sudan east of Ethiopia. In the south, a relief effort attempted by the British 4th Infantry Division just north of Lake Victoria failed and the Italians have finally closed the pincer and trapped the British against the impenetrable water waste called The Sudd.
Sudanese Border
2nd August: During the last week, Italian forces had been advancing into British positions at the northern end of the Sudanese border, collapsing the sack around the trapped British 3rd Army.
The only major fighting was now taking place at Jima, a large township in southwestern Ethiopia, where the Italian 24th ‘Pinerolo’ Division had been given the difficult task of defeating the dug in 4th Indian Division. Over ten days ago, Major General Castellano, had led his men on the assault but the brave colonials of the 4th Indian had easily been able to hold the line along the river and in the mountainous terrain.
Italian reinforcements began to move in from surrounding provinces and apply pressure to the British colonial troops. An exhausted Castellano relinquished command to the experienced Nasi. However, it was too late, this offensive petered out.
Battle of Jima: phase 1 ends and phase 2 begins
4th August: Two days later different advancing Italian divisions renewed the attack on the beleaguered 4th Indian Division. This was a two pronged attack lead by Cona and his 3rd Blackshirts in the south and supported by the 1st and 2nd Eritrean Divisions from Nek’emte in the north.
Arabia Felix
Recap: On the 11th July, the Italian colonial troops successfully landed and secured the undefended British port of Aden. Yemeni forces (allies of Britain) immediately attacked the Italians but could not hold out when Italian reinforcements arrived. Yemen was overrun but the fighting units of their army escaped across the border into the British Aden Protectorate. This victory yielded full control of the Gate of Tears to the Italians, a significant strategic advantage.
Yemeni loyalist forces then emerged from the deserts to the east, attacked and defeated the Somali Dubats which were guarding Aden. The Italians then landed the 30th ‘Sabauda’ at Aden to hold the port town.
3rd August: With the landing of de Stefanis’s 30th ‘Sabauda’ at Aden, the Italian defense of the port town stiffened.
The Battle of Aden is won. De Stefanis then goes on the offensive.
5th August: Two days later the Yemeni’s gave up the attack after suffering heavy losses. De Stefanis immediately went on the offensive and drove the Yemeni loyalists from their positions at Ataq.
Europe
British “free press” exercising their rights. Someone is obviously unhappy about the Italian victories in AOI.
Mussolini demonised by the British press.
Over the last few weeks diplomatic reports had begun to filter in which indicated a hardening of British relations to the Italian fascist regime. When feelers were put out into the diplomatic community, it suddenly became very apparent that the British (and their allies) would now in no way consider a peaceful resolution to the war. Italian foreign policy had failed to judge the effect of Italian victories on the relations of the two nations. Although unconfirmed, it was thought that the tipping point was the seizure of Yemen and the strategic control of Bab-el-Mandeb at the southern end of the Red Sea. This was no longer a limited colonial war, it had become a bitter struggle to the death.
Mussolini had overstepped the mark with his ‘mad dog act’. Italian politico-strategic options were thought to be limited to:
a) Partial or full Italian withdrawal back to original borders in an attempt to soften Anglo-Italian relations so that a peace could be garnered. – low risk;
b) Ally with the Nazi Germany and attempt to draw them into the war. This was a longer term strategy. Italy could not be expected to continue to hold out singlehandedly against both the French and the British. Both nations had been caught off guard but their combine industrial might far outstripped that of Italy’s. It was only a matter of time before the tide would turn. – medium risk.
c) Go it alone without joining Nazi Germany. This was a seen as a medium term strategy where Italian forces in East Africa would have to be committed to an all-out war in France. The goal would be to knock France completely out of the war. The combined might of Italy and France could then be brought to bear against Great Britain. - high risk
b) Ally with the Nazi Germany and attempt to draw them into the war. This was a longer term strategy. Italy could not be expected to continue to hold out singlehandedly against both the French and the British. Both nations had been caught off guard but their combine industrial might far outstripped that of Italy’s. It was only a matter of time before the tide would turn. – medium risk.
c) Go it alone without joining Nazi Germany. This was a seen as a medium term strategy where Italian forces in East Africa would have to be committed to an all-out war in France. The goal would be to knock France completely out of the war. The combined might of Italy and France could then be brought to bear against Great Britain. - high risk