Battle of Keren | |||||||
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Part of the East African Campaign of the Second World War | |||||||
![]() Indian troops at Keren (Cheren), May 1941 | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
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Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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Units involved | |||||||
Strength | |||||||
13,000 | 23,000 | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
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The Battle of Keren (Italian: Battaglia di Cheren) took place from 3 February to 27 March 1941.[1] Keren was attacked by the British during the East African Campaign of the Second World War. A force of Italian regular and colonial troops defended the position against British troops (mostly from Sudan and British India) and Free French forces. The town of Keren, in the colony of Italian East Africa, was of tactical importance to both sides. The road and railway through Keren were the main routes to the colonial capital of Italian Eritrea at Asmara and the Red Sea port of Massawa, which surrendered to the British after the battle.