Italian invasion of French Somaliland facts for kids
The Italian invasion of French Somaliland was a military campaign during World War II. It happened when Italy attacked and took control of a part of French Somaliland (which is now Djibouti). This occupation lasted from the summer of 1940 until the spring of 1941.
History of the Invasion
In the summer of 1940, Italian forces moved into the western areas of French Somaliland. This happened while Italy was also attacking southern France. A peace agreement, called an armistice, stopped their advance for a while. In early 1941, the Italians left the areas they had taken. This was because British forces were attacking Italian territories in East Africa, like Eritrea, Somalia, and Ethiopia.
The 1940 Attacks
Between June and September 1940, Italy launched several attacks in Africa. One of these was against the "Cote Francaise des Somalis," which is now known as Djibouti.
In June 1940, the French commander in Djibouti was Brigadier-General Paul Legentilhomme. He had about 9,000 soldiers. These included infantry from Senegal and Somalia. He also had cannons, anti-aircraft guns, 16 light tanks, and some aircraft.
On the other side, the Italians had a much larger force. General Guglielmo Nasi led about 40,000 soldiers from Italian Ethiopia. These included two infantry divisions and six colonial brigades. They also had tank companies and armored cars. However, only the Italian colonial troops, mainly Eritrean soldiers called Ascari, fought inside French Somaliland.
After Italy declared war on France and Great Britain on June 10, there were small fights. These skirmishes happened around the railway line connecting Addis Ababa to Djibouti. The French fort of Ali-Sabieh was hit by Italian colonial troops during these early clashes.
Italian forces occupied some French forts like Daddato and Balambolto. They also took control of other areas that the French had left. These included Daguirou and Agna in Henle, and Hadela near Lake Abbé.
The invasion began from the Harrar Governorate in Italian Ethiopia. General Guglielmo Nasi's colonial troops attacked the fort of Ali-Sabieh in the south. They also attacked Daddato in the north. There were also early fights around Dagguirou and the lakes Abhe and Ally.
After the first week, Italian aircraft began to attack. On June 17, Italian planes flew over Djibouti to see what was there. On June 21, eleven Caproni Ca.133 planes bombed Djibouti. Anti-aircraft guns fired back, and two Italian planes did not return. But fires and explosions were seen in Djibouti.
During the night, more Italian bombers attacked the port. On June 22, Italian planes attacked the airfield in Djibouti. Some French planes bombed Italian bases in Dewele in return.
The invasion also happened in the sea around French Somaliland. This was in the gulf of Tadjoura. From the first week, the Italian Navy sent two submarines. These submarines patrolled the waters near Djibouti city, Tadjoura, and Oblock.
An agreement called the Armistice of Villa Incisa was signed on June 24. It officially asked for the forced demilitarisation of Gibuti on June 25. This meant that Djibouti had to remove its military defenses.
Between July 1 and 10, 1940, more fights happened with the Italians. These clashes took place on the plain of Hanlé, at Ali-Sabieh, and along the railway. Italian troops occupied the western border area of French Somaliland. They left Hanlé in October 1940 and Dagguirou in March 1941.
By July, the Italians controlled about one-fifth of French Somaliland. However, most of this area was a semi-desert with very few people. The Italians strengthened their bases in Hanlé and Daggirou. They even built a new road from Italian Eritrea.
When Italian troops attacked British Somaliland in August 1940, they also took control of the southern coast of French Somaliland. The 17th Colonial Brigade occupied the French fort at Loyada. This fort was on the border with British Somaliland. Later, when the Italian invasion of British Somaliland began on August 3, the troops at Loyada moved on to Zeila. They conquered Zeila by August 5.
Dagguirou and all of northern French Somaliland, which bordered Italian Eritrea, remained under Italian control until March 1941.
Related pages
References
- Picone Chiodo, Marco. In nome della resa: l'Italia nella guerra 1940–1945. Mursia. Milano, 1990
- Rovighi, Alberto. Le Operazioni in Africa Orientale (in Italian). Stato Maggiore Esercito, Ufficio storico. Roma, 1952.
- Thompson, Virginia McLean; Adloff, Richard (1968). Djibouti and the Horn of Africa. Stanford University Press.
Images for kids
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Map of French Somaliland, modern Djibouti. The British blockade prevented direct sea communications between Djibouti, the capital and Obock -
Landing of French troops in Djibouti in 1935
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Italian supply convoy in Djibouti, c. 1936–38
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French military build-up in 1938–39
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Legentilhomme reviewing troops, c. 1939
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French fort at Loyada, occupied by the Italians in August 1940
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Photos showing episodes of the British blockade.
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Vichy France stamp issued in 1941, with an image of Pétain
See also
In Spanish: Somalia francesa durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial para niños
