Battle of Maychew

Battle of Maychew
Conflict	Battle of Maychew
Partof	the Second Italo-Ethiopian War
Date	31 March 1936
Place	Near Maychew, Tigray Province, Ethiopian Empire
Result	Italian victory
Combatant1	Ethiopian Empire
Combatant2	Kingdom of Italy
Commander1	Haile Selassie
Commander2	Pietro Badoglio
Strength1	~31,000
Strength2	~40,000
Casualties1	~8,000 killed
Casualties2	~400 killed

Battle of Maychew. The Battle of Maychew, fought on 31 March 1936, was the final major offensive action undertaken by the forces of Emperor Haile Selassie against the invading Royal Italian Army during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. Occurring near the town of Maychew in the Tigray Province, the engagement was a desperate attempt by the Ethiopian Empire to halt the advance of Marshal Pietro Badoglio's forces following the devastating use of mustard gas and the defeat at the Battle of Amba Aradam. The battle resulted in a decisive Italian victory, shattering the last organized Ethiopian army in the north and opening the path to the capital, Addis Ababa.

Background

The Second Italo-Ethiopian War began in October 1935 with the Italian invasion of Ethiopia from Eritrea and Italian Somaliland. After initial Ethiopian successes at the Battle of Dembeguina Pass, the Italian command, under Pietro Badoglio, adopted a strategy of overwhelming firepower and the widespread use of chemical weapons. Following the fall of Mek'ele and the catastrophic defeat at the Battle of Amba Aradam in February 1936, the military position of the Ethiopian Empire deteriorated rapidly. Emperor Haile Selassie moved his headquarters to Korem and sought to rally his remaining northern forces for a counterattack against the advancing Royal Italian Army, which was supported by the Regia Aeronautica and Askari troops from Eritrea.

Prelude

In late March 1936, Haile Selassie concentrated the core of his imperial army, including the Kebur Zabagna (Imperial Guard) and forces from regions like Gojjam and Shoa, near Maychew. His plan was to attack the Italian positions on the Ashenge plain before Pietro Badoglio's forces could consolidate. The Italian commander, informed by aerial reconnaissance, anticipated the move. Badoglio's forces, comprising the I Corps and the III Corps, were well-entrenched and equipped with modern artillery, tanks, and aircraft. The Regia Aeronautica had already inflicted severe casualties and disruption on Ethiopian supply lines and troop concentrations in the preceding weeks.

Battle

The battle commenced at dawn on 31 March with a determined Ethiopian assault on the Italian lines. The Kebur Zabagna, led personally by the Emperor, made initial gains against positions held by the 1st CC.NN. Division "23 Marzo" and elements of the 2nd CC.NN. Division "28 Ottobre". However, the attack soon faltered under intense Italian artillery and machine-gun fire. A critical moment occurred when Ethiopian forces attempting to outflank the Italians were caught in the open and decimated by coordinated fire from Fiat CR.32 aircraft and Breda 37 machine guns. A counterattack by the Italian 5th Alpine Division "Pusteria" and the Italian 26th Infantry Division "Assietta" eventually broke the Ethiopian center, forcing a general retreat toward Lake Ashenge.

Aftermath

The defeat was catastrophic for Ethiopia. Emperor Haile Selassie was forced to retreat southward, his army disintegrating under continued aerial attack. Italian casualties were minimal, while Ethiopian losses numbered in the thousands, including many experienced commanders. The victory at Maychew allowed Pietro Badoglio's forces to advance virtually unopposed, capturing Dessie and then Addis Ababa by early May. The battle effectively ended organized military resistance in the north, leading directly to the Italian proclamation of the Italian East Africa colony and the exile of Haile Selassie to London.

Order of battle

The Ethiopian force, commanded directly by Haile Selassie, comprised an estimated 31,000 men. Its core was the imperial Kebur Zabagna, supported by regional forces from Shoa, Gojjam, and Tigray under leaders like Ras Kassa Haile Darge and Ras Mulugeta Yeggazu. The Italian army, commanded by Marshal Pietro Badoglio, fielded approximately 40,000 troops. This force included the Italian 5th Alpine Division "Pusteria", the Italian 26th Infantry Division "Assietta", the 1st CC.NN. Division "23 Marzo", the 2nd CC.NN. Division "28 Ottobre", and numerous supporting units of artillery, tanks, and Askari battalions from Eritrea.

Legacy

The Battle of Maychew is remembered as the last stand of the traditional Ethiopian Empire military against a modern European army. It highlighted the devastating effectiveness of combined arms warfare and chemical weapons against a less technologically equipped force. The battle's outcome cemented Italian East Africa's establishment and influenced pre-World War II geopolitical calculations, demonstrating the League of Nations' inability to enforce collective security. For Ethiopia, it became a symbol of martyrdom and resistance, fueling the Patriotic Resistance that continued throughout the occupation and contributing to the national narrative that culminated in liberation during the East African campaign (World War II).

Category:Battles of the Second Italo-Ethiopian War Category:1936 in Ethiopia Category:History of Tigray Region