9.11. The ever-growing British blob
Africa Orientale Italiana.
Italian troops begin unloading in Port Sudan. The main target of the operation is to break the encirclement on il Vallo d’Etiopia, and to ease the pressure on it.
Unfortunately the troops available aren’t that much, while the British are deploying to the area more and more troops. Italian recognition planes spotted over 40 divisions near Ethiopia (hence the title)
A few days later, Italian leaders find a way to exploit British movement, taking an undefended Massaua. The counterattack of Allied forces is massive and the Italians are forced to retreat to Port Sudan even if Badoglio and Lt. Ambrosio promptly launched their flanking counter-counterattacks.
Badoglio is forced to abandon Adwa not much later. The situation looks grim for the Italians.
The Italians, not willing to be encircled in Port Sudan, send Trezzani to Wadi Haifa and launch an attack on Massaua, to retake it.
While this attack is successful, Trezzani is routed by 2 better equipped British units moving down to the area.
A motorized division come to defend Massaua, managing only to become practice target for Mecozzi bombers, now back to full strength.
However, when Caracciolo di Feroleto reach Massaua, he is routed immediately, not even being able to destroy some fighters on ground (I really hoped to destroy those 12 squadrons the Allied deployed there)
Middle East.
Mj Mancinelli needs to leave Sanaa. Aden will be soon the only Italian province in Southern Arabia.
General Guzzoni, using redeployed troops, launches the final attack on Baghdad. After a whole day of fierce fight, the Italians manage to overrun Iraqi positions. The road for Baghdad is now clear.
On the following days, Iraqi diplomats refused twice the Italian puppeting proposal. It seems the Italians will need to take Basrah as well, probably going for total annexation first.
Russia
With no chances of helping to form a pocket, the CSIR begins pushing towards Kiev.
The CSIR is the first to reach Cherkassy. General Soddu tries to hold it while waiting for the Terzo CSIR and German troops to reach the province, but the Soviet attack is too strong.
Production, Trades and Research
Back in Italy, production goes at full speed.
Italian shipyards produced two CL-FC, much needed to replace the badly damaged ones in the Primo Gruppo Navale.
A few more militia and garrison units are deployed to the mainland and in Athens, freeing Celere for mobile defense duty.
Macchi begins researching new Naval Bombers.
Italian diplomacy tries to make Macchi's life easier.