Battle of Keren

Battle of Keren
Part of the East African Campaign of the Second World War
Indian troops at Keren (Cheren), May 1941
Date 3 February – 27 March 1941[1] (1 month, 3 weeks and 3 days) Location Keren, Eritrea Governorate, Italian East Africa 15°46′36″N 38°27′4″E / 15.77667°N 38.45111°E / 15.77667; 38.45111 Result Allied victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom  India  Sudan  Free France	Italy  Italian East Africa
Commanders and leaders
William Platt Noel Beresford-Peirse Lewis Heath Ralph Monclar	Nicolangelo Carnimeo Orlando Lorenzini †
Units involved
4th Indian Infantry Division 5th Indian Infantry Division Free French Orient Brigade Sudan Defence Force	65th Infantry Division Corps Colonial Troops
Strength
13,000	23,000
Casualties and losses
536 killed 3,229 wounded	Italian: 3,000 killed 4,500 wounded Ascari: 9,000 killed

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.