With the arrival of winter, the intensity of the war gradually decreases, and all countries are accumulating strength to prepare for the war in the coming year.
Heavy snow fell in Greece in December, making it impossible for the Italians to launch an attack in winter, and the threat was temporarily lifted.
Heavy snow fell in the UK in November, and Germany will not launch an offensive in winter. Although Mustache has not yet announced, "Operation Sea Lion" has actually been postponed indefinitely. In order to continue to support war with war, Germany must shift its targets to other directions.
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Before the arrival of the New Year, Wavell launched another attack, capturing 45,000 Italian troops in Badia and capturing 462 artillery pieces.
On January 21, after the New Year, the Nile Army captured nearly 30,000 Italian troops in Tobruk. The first phase of the North African campaign ended with the Nile Army's victory.
In the first stage of the North African campaign, the British army captured nearly 113,000 Italian troops and seized more than 700 cannons. The North African Army was routed and the Nile Army advanced rapidly, even reaching Tripoli. Italy's colonial rule in North Africa was crumbling.
But that’s where it ends.
In early January, Rommel arrived in Tripoli. Also arriving with Rommel was a German tank division and a German light infantry division. At this time, there were nearly 200,000 Italian troops in Italian North Africa. Wavell was about to be attacked by Rommel.
A head-on blow.
Let’s not talk about Rommel’s counterattack.
On January 4, the Abyssinian Emperor Haile Selassie I, who had been in exile for three years, returned to Addis Ababa on a Royal Navy warship and was warmly welcomed by the Abyssinians.
Duke Imru was not welcome. During the exile of Haile Selassie I, the Abyssinian rebels against the Italians were nominally commanded by Duke Imru, although Duke Imru spent most of his time in Berlin.
Pella, but was clearly more qualified to be king of the Abyssinian Empire than Haile Selassie I.
Feng Fu also did not welcome Haile Selassie I.
Although Haile Selassie I was in exile in the past few years, he was quite coldly received by the United Kingdom and France, but Haile Selassie I still relied more on Britain and France. This is proved by the Royal Navy sending warships to bring Haile Selassie I back.
The Royal Navy would not bother to deal with this "Warrior Emperor" if it did not promise enough benefits.
For the same reason, the British government sent Haile Selassie I back to the Abyssinian Empire at this time, and the motives were probably not simple.
"Opportunities must be actively pursued. No one is willing to give up power unless they have to." Leopold had a good relationship with Duke Imru. They both had similar identities and backgrounds. Leopold was a former member of the Persian royal family.
Duke Imru sat on the balcony of the palace, looking at the rolling mountains in the distance without saying a word.
This palace originally belonged to Haile Selassie I. After the fall of the Abyssinian Empire, this palace became the residence of the Italian Governor of East Africa, Prince of Savoy. After the Second Army recaptured Addis Ababa, this palace
The palace became the residence of Duke Imru.
From this point, it is not difficult to see that Duke Imru is ambitious for the throne of the Abyssinian Empire.
Now that Haile Selassie I has returned to Addis Ababa, Duke Imru has not returned the palace to Haile Selassie I, which also shows Duke Imru's attitude.
Leopold was not in a hurry. There were no two rulers, and the conflict between Haile Selassie I and Duke Imru would break out sooner or later.
Don’t forget that Haile Selassie I was forced into exile in a humiliating way. After returning to the Abyssinian Empire, those ministers who forced Haile Selassie I to go into exile will all face Haile Selassie.
The Reckoning of the West I.
When Haile Selassie I was in exile, Duke Imru stayed in Abyssinia and continued to lead the resistance army against Italian colonial aggression. Finally, when the Second Army arrived, Duke Imru was definitely not willing to return the throne.
To Haile Selassie I.
Now that Duke Imru still holds military power, Haile Selassie I dare not take action against Duke Imru.
Once the military power falls, it will be the end of Duke Imru.
"Is Lord Nyasaland's promise still valid?" Duke Imru needs the support of southern Africa. Otherwise, even if Duke Imru ascends the throne, he will most likely be opposed by Britain and France.
In fact, it is not Roque's promise, but the promise of the Southern African federal government.
The Southern African Federal Government has previously promised that as long as the Abyssinian Empire joins the Southern African Union, the Southern African Federal Government will help the Abyssinian Empire recover.
Now southern Africa has delivered on its promise.
It's Duke Imru's turn to fulfill his promise.
"Of course, Lord Nyasaland's promise will always be valid." Leopold emphasized that southern Africa at least would not annex the Abyssinian Empire.
At least not now.
"Well, please tell Lord Nyasaland that the Abyssinian Empire will always be the most loyal servant in southern Africa." Duke Imru's attitude was low. He knew very well that he was not qualified to talk to Luo Ke.
condition.
A servant, not an ally!
This attitude satisfied Leopold very much.
Just as Duke Imru was making up his mind, in the palace on the eastern outskirts of Addis Ababa, Haile Selassie I was in an unprecedented state of anxiety.
After returning to Addis Ababa, Haile Selassie I began to gather power. Except for military power, almost all power has now returned to Haile Selassie I.
Not only did this not give Haile Selassie I a sufficient sense of security, it actually made Haile Selassie I feel very dangerous.
While in London, although Haile Selassie I was not taken seriously, at least his safety was guaranteed.
Although Haile Selassie I now lives in the palace, he is so worried that he cannot even sleep well. Whenever patrolling soldiers pass by the window, Haile Selassie I will wake up from his dream. He is worried that he will die next moment.
Become a prisoner.
"The Abyssinian Empire Resistance is not controlled by Duke Imru at all. Everyone knows that the real controller behind it is the Southern African Federal Government, so we are not trying to take back the power in the hands of Duke Imru, but return it to
The nature of the matter is that as long as the federal government of Southern Africa remains neutral, Duke Imru will be captured sooner or later." Sir Obadiah from the United Kingdom was confident. He was an adviser to Haile Selassie I and came from a British aristocratic family.
"I have long said that it is not a good idea to return to Addis Ababa now." Haile Selassie I did not want to be used as a weapon by the British. Unfortunately, the situation was stronger than the people, and Haile Selassie I did not
Room for choice.
"Then when are you going to come back? Wait until Duke Imru replaces you and become the king of the Abyssinian Empire? Or wait until southern Africa annexes the Abyssinian Empire?" Obadiah asked Haile Serra
King Xi I was not very satisfied, and King Haile Selassie I was more resistant to Britain.
Of course, Obadiah doesn't care about the mood of Haile Selassie I. What Britain is most worried about now is the annexation of the Mahdi Kingdom and British East Africa by Southern Africa. As for Italian East Africa, as long as Southern Africa can guarantee the Mahdi Kingdom and British East Africa,
"Independence", Britain would not mind giving Italian Somalia to southern Africa.
Yes, the British are not willing to take over southern Africa, not just Italian Somalia, but also Eritrea, because that would affect British control of the Suez Canal.
Of course, this is just the wishful thinking of the British. The final ownership of East Africa depends on the direction of the future war.
At least for now, after the Nile Army led by Wavell defeated the Italian North African Army, everything was very favorable to Britain.
"If Great Britain had paid more attention to the Abyssinian Empire earlier, the situation would not have been as bad as it is today." Haile Selassie I was full of complaints about the cold reception he received in London and Paris. Haile Selassie I
never forget.
"Are you blaming the British Empire? You are not qualified, please remember this!" Obadiah is not polite. If it were not to create some obstacles for southern Africa, Obadiah would not bother to talk to Haile Selassie.
A lifetime of nonsense.
Don't be surprised, the British never cared about Emperor Haile Selassie I.
Even if possible, Britain would be more willing to support Duke Imru.
After all, Duke Imru has greater influence on the 150,000 Abyssinian rebels.
Haile Selassie I glared at Obadiah.
Obadiah's eyes were cold and he did not give in at all.
"Okay, I remember!" Haile Selassie I felt humiliated. His words sounded like he was trying to settle scores, but Obadiah didn't take it to heart at all.
The British Empire has colonized the world for hundreds of years. There are many people who want to settle accounts with Britain. Haile Selassie I had to queue up if he wanted to take revenge.
After leaving the palace of Haile Selassie I, Obadiah turned to find Feng Fu.
Yes, regardless of how Duke Imru and Haile Selassie I struggled, it was the southern Africans and the British who ultimately decided the fate of the Abyssinian Empire.
The military camp where Feng Fu was located was located on a hillside on the outskirts of Addis Ababa.
After the war in Italian East Africa ended, the Second Army assembled in Berbera and Khartoum, the capital of the Mahdi Kingdom, ready to provide reinforcements to other theaters.
There is a railway connection between Khartoum and Egypt, and troops can reach Cairo via railway as quickly as possible.
Berbera is located on the coast of the Red Sea and can be reinforced at any time through the Suez Canal.
There was only one mixed brigade stationed with Feng Fu in Addis Ababa. Although its strength was only 5,000, it was equipped with tanks and helicopters and had extremely powerful combat effectiveness.
Obadiah came to Feng Fu, hoping that Haile Selassie I would ascend the throne as soon as possible. At the same time, he also wanted to test the attitude of southern Africa towards Italian East Africa.
Socotra, which guards the exit of the Red Sea, is also part of the destroyer-for-island plan.
