Sid Guttridge
New Member
The Sudan had a British garrison of only three infantry battalions, which were deployed defensively in the interior at the capital Khartoum, the railway junction at Atbara and Port Sudan. The Sudan Defence Force (initially 4,500 men) was really only an internal security force with just six motor machinegun companies capable of harassing an Italian advance on these three key points. From June to mid September almost no reinforcements reached Sudan, so this was the Italian window of opportunity. The early seizure of Kassala in early July looked like the opening of such an attempt as Atbara and Port Sudan were in practice only approachable after its capture. However, the Italians just stopped there, to British relief. The resources used in British Somaliland could probably better have been used against Atbara and Port Sudan.
Why did the Italians not try to exploit forward from Kassala?
Was it always considered a limited objective? If so, why was it mounted at all, as Kassala was hardly vital to the British in its own right?
Was it orders from Rome?
Was it a decision made by the Italian Viceroy in AOI?
Was it a decision made locally by the commanders who seized Kassala?
Whoever it was, what rational did they give for not even attempting to push further?
Many thanks
Sid.
Why did the Italians not try to exploit forward from Kassala?
Was it always considered a limited objective? If so, why was it mounted at all, as Kassala was hardly vital to the British in its own right?
Was it orders from Rome?
Was it a decision made by the Italian Viceroy in AOI?
Was it a decision made locally by the commanders who seized Kassala?
Whoever it was, what rational did they give for not even attempting to push further?
Many thanks
Sid.
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