Battle of Culqualber facts for kids

Quick facts for kids

Battle of Culqualber

Part of East African Campaign (World War II)

Makeshift armoured tractor used by Italian forces at Culqualber, nicknamed hedgehog

Date	6 August – 21 November 1941
Location	Culqualber Pass, Italian East Africa 12°36′N 37°28′E / 12.600°N 37.467°E / 12.600; 37.467
Result	Allied victory

Belligerents

United Kingdom

Ethiopian Empire

Italy

Italian East Africa

Commanders and leaders

Colin Blackden

Augusto Ugolini (POW)

Strength

22,500 men
c. 100 aircraft

2,900 men
2 aircraft

Casualties and losses

Unknown

1,003 killed (513 Italian and 490 Askari)
1,900 prisoners including 804 wounded (404 Italian and 400 Askari)
about 100 civilian dead

The Battle of Culqualber was an important fight during World War II. It happened near Culqualber Pass in Ethiopia. From August 6 to November 21, 1941, Italian and colonial soldiers fought against forces from the British Commonwealth. This battle, along with the Battle of Gondar, helped end the main fighting in the East Africa Campaign.

Why Culqualber Was Important
Getting Ready for Battle
The Siege Begins
What Happened After
See also

Why Culqualber Was Important

In 1941, Italian forces had lost battles at Keren and Amba Alagi. They moved their operations to the Amhara Region in Italian East Africa. General Guglielmo Nasi set up his main defense at Gondar. He also created smaller strongholds around it.

The land around Gondar was very rugged. It had tall, flat-topped hills called ambas and deep ravines. These ravines were very hard to cross. Culqualber Pass was a key point in this defense system. It had a rough road, which was the only way for Commonwealth forces to bring their artillery and armored vehicles towards Gondar.

Getting Ready for Battle

On August 6, 1941, General Nasi sent a mixed group of soldiers to protect Culqualber Pass. This group included:

The 1st Carabinieri Mobilized Group (200 Italian soldiers and 160 Zaptié from the colonies). They were led by Colonel Augusto Ugolini and Major Alfredo Serranti.
The CCXL Blackshirt Battalion (675 blackshirts).
The LXVII Colonial Battalion (620 askari soldiers).
Two artillery batteries with old guns from First World War.
A small group of engineers.
A field hospital with medics and a chaplain.

In total, about 2,100 Italian and colonial soldiers were at Culqualber Pass. Their guns were old, some even captured from the Austro-Hungarian Army.

Some askari soldiers from Debra Tabor joined them. They had refused to surrender when their garrison fell in July 1941. They marched about 106 kilometers (66 miles) to Culqualber. One of them, Muntaz Unatù Endisciau, was captured and wounded. He died after delivering his battalion's flag to the Italian soldiers. He was one of only two colonial soldiers to receive the Gold Medal of Military Valor for his bravery.

A smaller stronghold was set up at Fercaber Pass, near Lake Tana. It had about 800 men, including blackshirts, artillery, and machine gunners. About 200 African women and children, wives and children of the askari, were also with the soldiers at Culqualber and Fercaber. They followed their families as was their custom.

The Carabinieri leaders decided to dig in on the "Costone dei Roccioni" (Ridge of the Big Rocks). This ridge overlooked the road to Gondar and the Dessie–Debra Tabor side. They built strong defenses using tree trunks from the ravines. They dug caves in the rock with openings for firing in all directions. Some tractors were even turned into makeshift armoured fighting vehicles with machine guns.

The Siege Begins

In late August, Ethiopian fighters started ambushing Italian supply lines between Gondar and Culqualber. Colonel Ugolini ordered his troops to fight back. On September 4, Italian and blackshirt companies attacked an Ethiopian camp at night. They captured many weapons and ammunition. The British forces then heavily bombed the Italian positions.

During September, Commonwealth forces moved into position for an attack. They were along the Guarnò river and on the Danguriè heights. They directly threatened the "Km. 39 Spur" positions. The Italian defenses were ready. However, the Commonwealth forces in the Gumera valley cut off Culqualber from the rest of the Italian defense. This started the siege.

The British first tested the Italian defenses with small patrols. Then, they moved around the sides, surrounding both Culqualber and Fercaber.

The Italian soldiers at Culqualber Pass were completely surrounded. Their supplies were cut off. They soon faced great hardship, having to ration their food. Often, their only meal was bargutta, a rough flour made from corn and animal feed.

A bigger problem was the lack of drinking water. The Commonwealth forces controlled the Guarnò and Gumerà rivers, which supplied water to the Italians. The only water source left was a small spring, but it didn't provide enough water. Italian soldiers tried to reach the rivers for water many times. But they became easy targets for British fire and suffered heavy losses. To get small amounts of water, they would spread towels on the ground at night. In the morning, the towels would be wet from the high humidity.

The Italians knew they would get weaker over time, while the attackers would get stronger. So, from mid-October, they launched several attacks. These attacks aimed to reduce British pressure and capture weapons and food.

Fighting at Amba Mariam

The most important and bloody Italian attack happened on October 18. It was aimed at Amba Mariam height, about 15 kilometers (9 miles) north of Culqualber. The British had camps and supply depots there. The attack was successful. The Carabinieri, Zaptiè, and the 4th Company of LXVII Colonial Battalion caused heavy losses. They captured many weapons, ammunition, and food.

The Italian and colonial soldiers then charged with bayonets. They pushed the British defenders out of Amba Mariam. Colonel Ugolini ordered Major Serranti to hold the captured positions. Ugolini then led the Zaptiè to chase the retreating British beyond the Gumera river.

The British forces soon launched a strong counter-attack from the east. Serranti's men held on until Ugolini returned. Then, they retreated from Amba Mariam, bringing their wounded and captured supplies. In this fight, 36 Italians and colonials were killed, and 31 were wounded. Allied casualties were between 150 and 200 men. This operation temporarily eased the British pressure on Culqualber. It also gave the Italians food and supplies, allowing them to reduce rationing and continue their resistance.

British Counter-Attack

In the days that followed, the British commander, Brigadier General Colin Frederick Blackden, brought in more forces. These included armored units, thousands of British soldiers, and thousands of Ethiopian fighters. Italian positions were heavily bombed by planes and artillery. The Allies also tried to weaken the Italians' spirits. They dropped leaflets asking them to surrender. They sent Coptic priests and messengers to persuade the defenders to give up. Major Serranti even threatened to fire on these messengers.

Ground attacks and air strikes increased from October 21. The Allies had complete control of the air. Only two Italian Fiat CR.42 planes were left to face about a hundred planes from the Royal Air Force and South African Air Force. These planes constantly bombed and attacked the Italian positions. One of the two Italian planes, flown by Sub-Lieutenant Ildebrando Malavolta, was shot down on October 24.

A strong attack was made against the northern defenses. These were held by the 3rd Company of the CCXL Blackshirt Battalion and the 2nd Carabinieri Battalion. The Italian lines broke in some places, but Italian and colonial counter-attacks quickly recaptured them.

November Attacks

New Allied attacks began in November 1941:

On November 2, a bombing destroyed the Italian field hospital and hit the cemetery.
Three days later, a heavy Commonwealth-Ethiopian attack on the southern side of the stronghold was stopped by the 1st Carabinieri Company, supported by artillery.
On the night of November 12, a new strong British attack began after heavy bombings. Attacks continued all day on November 13. The fighting often became hand-to-hand combat. The Italian defenders pushed back the Uollo, Kikuyu, and Sudanese fighters. The battle ended that evening with the failure of the Commonwealth attack.

On November 14, the Allied attacks paused. The Italians used this break to care for the wounded, bury the dead, and have their first hot meal in days. From November 15 to 19, the RAF and SAAF constantly bombed the Italian positions. Ground forces renewed their attacks. On November 18, the Italian anti-aircraft guns claimed to have shot down nine planes. British forces managed to capture some positions. However, the Carabinieri and Zaptiè recaptured them in hand-to-hand combat. Italian volunteers made daring infiltration actions to reduce the pressure of the attacks. Poliuto Penzo, one of these volunteers, received the Medaglia d'Oro al valor Militare (Gold Medal of Military Valor) for his bravery during these days.

Final Assault and Fall

Starting on November 18, bombings on Culqualber and Fercaber became even more intense. On November 20, 57 planes bombed the Italian positions. An Allied force of about 22,500 men, with armored units, prepared for the final assault.

The Allied forces attacking from the north had about 13,000 men. These included three battalions of the King's African Rifles, machine gun companies, six artillery batteries, a Sudanese company, and about 6,500 Ethiopian fighters. They were led by Brigadier W. A. L. James.

The forces attacking from the south had about 9,500 men. These included two South African battalions, a Gold Coast artillery battery, a South African battery, machine gun companies, and about 3,500 Ethiopian fighters. They were led by Lieutenant Colonel Collins.

The Italian garrison had suffered many losses. Only 1,500–1,600 soldiers and officers were still able to fight.

The final attack began at 3:00 AM on November 21. Allied forces attacked from three sides. They had infantry supported by tanks (like Mk III light tanks), artillery fire, and air strikes. Fierce hand-to-hand combat broke out. This happened at "Km. 39 Spur," defended by the 1st Carabinieri Company, and on the "Costone dei Roccioni" (where defenses were weaker), held by the 2nd Carabinieri Company.

The Carabinieri fought with bayonets and hand grenades when they ran out of ammunition. They counterattacked many times to recapture lost positions. But both Carabinieri battalions were destroyed. The Blackshirt battalion of Major Cassoli was also wiped out. The three Italian battalion commanders, Garbieri, Serranti, and Cassoli, were all killed in the fighting.

What Happened After

The battle ended on the evening of November 21, 1941. Allied forces captured Culqualber. Gondar fell less than a week later. This marked the end of organized resistance by Italian regular units in East Africa.

Out of the 2,900 men at Culqualber and Fercarber:

513 Italians and 490 Askaris were killed.
404 Italians and 400 Askaris were wounded.
About 100 of the 200 wives and children of the Askaris also died.

All the survivors, including Colonel Ugolini, were taken prisoner. The number of Commonwealth and Ethiopian losses is not known.

The Corps of Carabinieri received the Gold Medal of Military Valor for their brave defense of Culqualber.