Christmas Offensive
| Christmas Offensive | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Second Italo-Ethiopian War | |||||||
Troop movements during the Christmas Offensive | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Ethiopia | |||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Pietro Badoglio |
Ras Kassa Ras Seyoum Ras Imru Ras Mulugeta | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
|
I Corps III Corps |
Army of Gojjam Army of Tigray Army of Begemder | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 125,000 | 190,000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
Unknown killed 6 tanks destroyed 18 tanks captured 33 field guns captured | At least 500 killed | ||||||
The Christmas Offensive took place during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. The Ethiopian offensive was more of a counteroffensive to an ever-slowing Italian offensive which started the war. Ethiopian victory at the Battle at Dembeguina Pass successfully pushed the Italians back and contributed to a "Black Period" of the war in Italy. However, the Ethiopian offensive was eventually stopped by the Italian use of superior weaponry, such was machine guns, heavy artillery, and chemical warfare agents.