9.5. Operazione Respiro
Field Marshal Badoglio was holding against the British attacking armies from 3 hours already. He did some progress in holding out, with the help of the night.
2 hours after the first fire he contacted General Amedeo Duca degli Abruzzi, sitting in Dese.
“Amedeo, launch a distress attack on the 3 divisions attacking from Denakil. I need every help available, and your 6 division can weaken British right flank”.
Il Duca degli Abruzzi answered with a simple “With much pleasure” and launched his attack on the 3 British units.
Badoglio, eager to test his prowess in battle, also contacted Mecozzi, ordering him to weaken the units attacking from Kassala.
The following morning Badoglio was pleased to see all the Allied troops ceasing any hostility.
Badoglio enjoyed his break after a month of struggle for Adwa. However the situation wasn’t looking that good. Italian supplies stored in Ethiopia begun to run low, after about 9 months of war. If those supplies would end, defeat was assured.
With the news of a secure position near Suez, a courageous operation could be attempted to open the sea lanes and allow shipping of several tons of supplies and oil to Ethiopia.
It is clear that the sea lanes wouldn’t stay open for much long, but in those days a lot of supplies could reach AOI.
Badoglio met Graziani and Amedeo Duca degli Abruzzi to show them his plan.
Codenamed Operazione Respiro (Operation Breathe) the plan was ambitious.
All Italian divisions sitting in Adwa would have attacked the Assab defenders. Shortly after, Amedeo and Graziani would have launched a joint attack on Dire Dawa. If the attacks were timed properly, both attacking forces would reach Assab and DireDawa about the same day.
That would allow a final attack on Denakil which would destroy a number of Allied units.
Another great advantage from such a move would be the opening of a supply route from Taranto to Assab.
Regia Marina was to be contacted and ordered to send all its available transports to that route, to be sure Italian defenders of AOI would have had enough supplies to hold for more months.
Operazione Respiro begins with a successful attack on Assab, lead by Badoglio himself. Italian troops are scheduled to reach Assab on 16th April.
While 5 divisions were moving towards Assab, Badoglio ordered an attack on Gallabat, to avoid any surprise attack on Gonder, left undefended.
Badoglio learns a few useful tricks while leading the battle. As soon as the enemy unit is defeated, Mecozzi is called to destroy it.
A few days later, General Umberto Principe di Piemonte leads the Italian attack on Dire Dawa. General Graziani, originally designated as the leader, had a very bad intestinal virus.
Despite this, Operazione Respiro was coming out nicely.
On the very same hours Badoglio needs to launch another attack on Gallabat, supported by Mecozzi as always. Italians needs to avoid encirclement at any cost and this time Mecozzi manages to destroy that MOT unit.
Canadian troops reach Dire Dawa, trying to halt the Italian advance. They are brave, but hopeless.
On 10th April, Badoglio is forced to launch another attack. This time the situation is worse, as modern type III British Panzers hold Gallabat. Mecozzi interdiction prove itself as the winning factor. He immediately begins destroying the British armored division.
2 days later, the Italians enter Dire Dawa. General Vacca-Maggiolini manages to repel the first British counterattack.
When the second one is launched, Badoglio needs to come in his help. Another relief attack is launched from Addis Ababa on Ginir, with the 3 divisions left.
Finally, the British counterattack is broken.