German Motorized Company
Encyclopedia
The German Motorized Company (Italian
: Compagnia Autocarrata Tedesca, German
: Deutsche Motorisierte Kompanie) was a light infantry company formed by the Italians during the East African Campaign
during World War II
.
and Tanganyika
formed the German Motorized Company. A large number of the Germans arrived in Italian East Africa
on the Italian ship Piave before Italy
entered World War II
. After 10 June 1940, once Italian dictator Benito Mussolini
declared war on Britain
and France
, the Germans from the Piave volunteered to fight for the Italy in Italian East Africa
(Italian: Africa Orientale Italiana or AOI). Most of the German volunteers had little to no military background while others stranded in Italian East Africa received draft cards to report for the unit as well.
On 1 July 1940, the Governor-General
of Eritrea
, Luigi Frusci
, formed the German Motorized Company. The company trained at the Graziani-Barracks in Asmara
, capital of Eritrea. In addition, the company consisted of "motorized" (truck transportable) vehicles.
The Italian radio station in Addis Ababa
, capital of Abyssinia
, broadcasted news about the German Motorized Company. The existence of this unit was of great propaganda value to Italy.
On 3 November 1940, the company first saw action at Kassala (Italian: Cassala) in Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
. The company was active at Agordat
and during the Battle of Keren
(Italian: Cheren). The company provided cover during the reteat from Keren
to Asmara
.
Only 21 men survived the loss of Eritrea suffered by Italy. This small group of men were with Amedeo, Duke of Aosta
, at Amba Alagi
during one of the final stages of the East African Campaign
. No one survived the loss of Amba Alagi in Abyssinia.
The Governor-General of Eritrea, Luigi Frusci, presented the company with a special triangular flag. The flag displayed the Italian Fascist Flag on the left side and the German Swastika
Flag on the other side.
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
: Compagnia Autocarrata Tedesca, German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
: Deutsche Motorisierte Kompanie) was a light infantry company formed by the Italians during the East African Campaign
East African Campaign (World War II)
The East African Campaign was a series of battles fought in East Africa during World War II by the British Empire, the British Commonwealth of Nations and several allies against the forces of Italy from June 1940 to November 1941....
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Service history
About 140 Germans who had fled from British-held KenyaKenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
and Tanganyika
Tanganyika
Tanganyika , later formally the Republic of Tanganyika, was a sovereign state in East Africa from 1961 to 1964. It was situated between the Indian Ocean and the African Great Lakes of Lake Victoria, Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika...
formed the German Motorized Company. A large number of the Germans arrived in Italian East Africa
Italian East Africa
Italian East Africa was an Italian colonial administrative subdivision established in 1936, resulting from the merger of the Ethiopian Empire with the old colonies of Italian Somaliland and Italian Eritrea. In August 1940, British Somaliland was conquered and annexed to Italian East Africa...
on the Italian ship Piave before Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
entered World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After 10 June 1940, once Italian dictator Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
declared war on Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, the Germans from the Piave volunteered to fight for the Italy in Italian East Africa
Italian East Africa
Italian East Africa was an Italian colonial administrative subdivision established in 1936, resulting from the merger of the Ethiopian Empire with the old colonies of Italian Somaliland and Italian Eritrea. In August 1940, British Somaliland was conquered and annexed to Italian East Africa...
(Italian: Africa Orientale Italiana or AOI). Most of the German volunteers had little to no military background while others stranded in Italian East Africa received draft cards to report for the unit as well.
On 1 July 1940, the Governor-General
Governor-General
A Governor-General, is a vice-regal person of a monarch in an independent realm or a major colonial circonscription. Depending on the political arrangement of the territory, a Governor General can be a governor of high rank, or a principal governor ranking above "ordinary" governors.- Current uses...
of Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
, Luigi Frusci
Luigi Frusci
Luigi Frusci was an officer in the Italian Royal Army during World War II.Frusci fought on the southern front for General Rodolfo Graziani during the Second Italo-Abyssinian War...
, formed the German Motorized Company. The company trained at the Graziani-Barracks in Asmara
Asmara
Asmara is the capital city and largest settlement in Eritrea, home to a population of around 579,000 people...
, capital of Eritrea. In addition, the company consisted of "motorized" (truck transportable) vehicles.
The Italian radio station in Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
, capital of Abyssinia
Abyssinia
Abyssinia may refer to:* Ethiopia, the modern nation* Ethiopian Empire, a historical nation* SS Abyssinia, 1870 Canadian Pacific steamship* HMS Abyssinia , British armoured ship* Abyssinia * Abyssinia...
, broadcasted news about the German Motorized Company. The existence of this unit was of great propaganda value to Italy.
On 3 November 1940, the company first saw action at Kassala (Italian: Cassala) in Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan referred to the manner by which Sudan was administered between 1899 and 1956, when it was a condominium of Egypt and the United Kingdom.-Union with Egypt:...
. The company was active at Agordat
Agordat
Agordat is a city in Eritrea. It was the former capital of the now defunct Barka Province of Eritrea .- Overview :...
and during the Battle of Keren
Battle of Keren
The Battle of Keren was fought as part of the East African Campaign during World War II. The Battle of Keren was fought from 5 February-1 April 1941 between the colonial Italian army defending it's colonial possession of Eritrea and the invading British and Commonwealth forces. In 1941, Keren was...
(Italian: Cheren). The company provided cover during the reteat from Keren
Keren, Eritrea
Keren is the second largest city in Eritrea. It is situated about 91 kilometers northwest of Asmara. The town serves as the capital of the Anseba region, and is home to the Bilen ethnic group.-History:...
to Asmara
Asmara
Asmara is the capital city and largest settlement in Eritrea, home to a population of around 579,000 people...
.
Only 21 men survived the loss of Eritrea suffered by Italy. This small group of men were with Amedeo, Duke of Aosta
Amedeo, 3rd Duke of Aosta
Prince Amedeo of Savoy-Aosta was the third Duke of Aosta and a first cousin, once removed of the King of Italy, Victor Emmanuel III. His baptismal name was Amedeo Umberto Isabella Luigi Filippo Maria Giuseppe Giovanni di Savoia-Aosta...
, at Amba Alagi
Amba Alagi
Amba Alagi is a mountain, or an amba, in northern Ethiopia. Located in the Debubawi Zone of the Tigray Region, Amba Alagi dominates the roadway that runs past it from the city of Mek'ele south to Maychew. Because of its strategic location, Amba Alagi has been the location of several battles...
during one of the final stages of the East African Campaign
East African Campaign (World War II)
The East African Campaign was a series of battles fought in East Africa during World War II by the British Empire, the British Commonwealth of Nations and several allies against the forces of Italy from June 1940 to November 1941....
. No one survived the loss of Amba Alagi in Abyssinia.
The Governor-General of Eritrea, Luigi Frusci, presented the company with a special triangular flag. The flag displayed the Italian Fascist Flag on the left side and the German Swastika
Swastika
The swastika is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form in counter clock motion or its mirrored left-facing form in clock motion. Earliest archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization of Ancient...
Flag on the other side.