Battle of Ganale Doria

Battle of Genale Doria
Part of the Second Italo-Abyssinian War

A Dubat checkpoint during the Battle of Genale Doria c. 1936
Date12-20 January 1936
Location
Valley of the Genale Doria River, Ethiopia
Result Italian victory
Belligerents

 Italy

  Ethiopia
Commanders and leaders
Fascist Italy Rodolfo Graziani
Fascist Italy Olol Dinle
Fascist Italy Pietro Maletti		 Ethiopian Empire Desta Damtew
Ethiopian Empire Beine Merid
Units involved
29th Infantry Division
Libyan Division
6th CC.NN. Division		 Army of Sidamo
Army of Bale
Strength
20,000 24,000
Casualties and losses
900 killed or wounded[1] 1,000 killed or wounded[1]

The Battle of Ganale Doria (also known as the Battle of Genale Dorya or as the Battle of Genale Wenz[2]) took place in 1936 during the Second Italo-Abyssinian War. It was fought on the "southern front". The battle consisted largely of air attacks by the Italian Royal Air Force (Regia Aeronautica), under the command of General Rodolfo Graziani, against an advancing and then withdrawing Ethiopian army under Ras[nb 1] Desta Damtu. The battle was primarily fought in the area along the Genale Doria River valley between Dolo and Negele Boran.

Ras Damtew launched an Ethiopian offensive against the Italian forces in Italian Somaliland. However, Graziani carried out his active defense so vigorously that it became an offensive.[3]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Barker-77 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Nicolle, The Italian Invasion of Abyssinia 1935–36, p. 10
  3. ^ Marcus, A History of Ethiopia, p. 144


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