10.1. Operazione Corno.
Mecozzi bombers do their own and manage to annihilate the Militia unit who dared occupy Debre Mark’os.
His bombers are rebased to Aden (where the Italians started to build an airport) to save supplies from Addis Ababa.
In the same days, General Bastico had been in contact with General Nasi. The idea was to duplicate the Nasi network defense on the Arabian Peninsula, to free more troops.
Applying that theory, only 4 divisions where needed to garrison the area. Another 4 divisions would be needed to garrison Iraq while the country pulls out new troops.
Taking into account all the troops which will become available, and 4 new units available in Athens , Cavallero, Pariani, Cavagnari and Valle met with Mussolini to decide where to strike.
“I think that we should abandon Africa Orientale Italiana Duce, as it’s clearly impossible to defend it against such numbers”, started Valle.
“You are crazy.” Answered Mussolini. “I don’t care how many troops the Allies are sending there. We are Italy, the descendants of the Romans. We won’t fear barbarians. One of us is worth 10 of them in battle.”
Cavallero looked to his charts. He quickly put away the plans for unloading in Colombo and Trincomalee, putting his plan for Africa on top.
“Duce, I’d like to add that we have local naval superiority in Africa, so the Regia Marina will be able to cover any amphibious operation carried out” told a delighted Cavagnari.
Cavallero began spoking “Me and Pariani drafted a simple plan to take back the area. We could unload some troops on the Horn, encircle the defenders of those few provinces, and then head directly to Addis Ababa to break the encirclement.”
Valle intervened “But there are over 30 Allied divisions there!”
Pariani replied “That’s true, but we don’t necessarily need to turtle on il Vallo d’Etiopia anymore. We can simply redeploy our troops to Somalia and use local superiority to achieve small encirclements and overruns on the Allies. With Suez in our hands, we won’t have any problem supplying Mogadishu or Obbia”
Il Duce, enthusiast, approved Operazione Corno (Operation Horn).
Italian troops began unloading on Kismayo and Berbera. Mecozzi bombers managed to annihilate the 1st NZ division defending Berbera, while motorized troops in Somalia quickly moved to encircle the Mogadishu defenders.
Briganti bombers begin pounding Allied ships docked in Alexandria. Valle wants to make sure no transports are left for amphibious operations against Italian mainland.
Badoglio troops reach Adwa, but as the forts are still rebuilding, he is forced to withdraw.
A few days later, Guzzoni is forced to retreat from Kismayo as well. British troops manage to take the province, but the Italian counterattack is immediate.
More Italian troops unload to secure the area, trying to overrun the retreating Allied unit as well. Caracciolo di Feroleto manages to take prisoner the retreating British unit on 29th November.
As the Italians arrive in Harar, the Allies launch a powerful counterattack.
However, Badoglio takes the chance to catch them out of their trenches, willing to make the life of the next troops coming to Harar easier.
About a month after Operazione Corno is launched, it seems the Italians can achieve their objectives.