4 jul 1940 ano - Capture of Kassala

Descrição:

On May 9, 1936, Mussolini announced the new Africa Orientale Italiana (Italian East Africa), the joining of the Italian Somaliland, Ethiopia, and Italian Eritrea. On the morning of July 4, three Italian columns started to attack Kassala. There was a Sudan Defence Force with twenty tanks, but they withdrew when the Italian cavalry squadrons entered Kassala. After capturing Kassala, the Italians fortified the city with anti-tank defences and machine-gun posts. But they were disappointed to find no strong anti-British sentiment among the native population, which would have given them the advantage over the British.