Vittoria dentro Etiopia...
Il Duce decided that the Ethiopian campaign was a good learning opportunity to test some of the young and hopeful generals of the Italian army. Lt. General Messe was to lead the invasion of Âdwa from Asmara together with Mj. General Trezzani, while Lt. General Gambara and General Guzzoni were attacking Denakil. From the South General Graziani and General Pintor would be invading Moyale and Agadin respectively. Il Duce was sure that the Ethiopians would prove good target practicing for Regia Aeronautica and therefore ordered Air Marshal Balbo to interdict troops in Northern Ethiopia, while Air General Pricolo and Mj. General Fougier would be rebasing to Massaua with each their squadron of tactical bombers.
Italian starting positions on the 1st of January 1936... no need to overcomplicate things :wacko:
The campaign started out easily with no Ethiopian troops in the bordering regions and it was therefore only Regia Aeronautica that saw some action during the first days. The tactical bombers were not proving particularly useful at this stage of the campaign partly due to their outdated planes, and it was clear that they would have to be updated at some point. Regardless, the campaign seemed to be progressing fine.
On the evening of the 9th of January Il Duce was enjoying a private moment with his favorite mistress when his ADC stormed into the room. “Il Duce, Il Duce… great news! Our troops have just conquered Denakil”. Mussolini was so surprised that he wasn’t even able to teach his ADC a proper lesson about his manners. “What the hell… I have not ordered an invasion of Albania”. The ADC looked slightly confused “An invasion of Albania Sir?”. “Yes, isn’t that what you are talking about?”. “Uhhm… no Sir. Denakil is one of the provinces in Northern Ethiopia”. Mussolini started to regain some of his composure. “So you are disturbing me in my private chambers on a late evening to tell me that we have taken some godforsaken piece of land in East Africa? – Scram immediately!”. The ADC nervously saluted and left the room with Mussolini shouting curses after him. Nevertheless, Il Duce was pleased with the quick progress. The victory in Ethiopia would be a much needed chance to boost the morale of the troops. Only question remaining was what to do with these worthless provinces afterwards…
After only 12 days, the Ethiopian campaign was well on its way….
The Ethiopian campaign kept progressing very well, and after 12 days, Âdwa, Denakil and Agadin were all under Italian control and the troops were meeting almost no resistance. In fact no battles had lasted for one complete hour until now. 6 days later the Ethiopians were getting desperate and offered Âdwa, Denakil, Moyale, Ogaden, Gonder Desê, Dirê Dawa, Ginir, Harar and Jima, which would leave them with only four provinces. However, Il Duce was firm: “I will accept nothing but the unconditional surrender of all Ethiopian forces and the recognition of Italy’s right to rule these lands”
Fighting for the capital started on the 24th of January 1936, but the initial battle lasted for under 24 hours before the Ethiopians decided to retreat. It was clear that it was just a matter of days before the campaign would be over. Irrespectively the Regia Aeronautica kept pounding the Ethiopian troops to train their pilots and leaders for the more serious battles to come.
Following Il Duce’s rejection of the Ethiopian peace proposal, Selassie made one last plea to the League of Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, warning the League that Italy was not going to stop with Ethiopia and had its eyes set on the world. Throughout the speech, Selassie had to speak over the scoffing of Italian officials in the audience. "If a strong government finds it can destroy a weak people, then the hour has struck for that weak people to appeal to the League of Nations to give judgment in all freedom. God and history will remember your judgment. It is us today. It will be you tomorrow." However, the League did nothing as a reaction and Mussolini had free hands to continue his campaign. On the 13th of February the proud forces of Lt. General Gambara entered the capital and forced the annexation of Ethiopia. Although, some members of the League of Nations spoke against the annexation, it didn’t have any implications. The Ethiopian campaign was over almost before it had started.
His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I, the Emperor of Ethiopia; King of Kings; Elect of God and conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah
The real hero of the war was a young Mj. General from Regia Aeronautica – Fougier. During the course of the campaign he had proven superior skills (gaining no less than 132 XP with Pricolo at 59 and Balbo at 15). Mussolini decided to leverage the magnificent achievements of Fougier to strengthen public opinion and toured around Italy for a couple of weeks with this young man after having promoted him to Lt. General. Following the Ethiopian campaign, Il Duce disbanded all the remaining militia divisions and sent the people back to their farms and factories to boost production. Remaining troops were transported back to Italy effectively leaving Ethiopia demilitarized...
I will be playing a quite historic game, which means no funky invasions of Brazil or the like.
