The situation at Galla-Sidamo

Under Italian rule, Ethiopia was divided into five provinces. Galla-Sidamo was in south-western Ethiopia. General Gazzera was located at Jimma. The province was 500 miles long and 300 miles wide. Jimma was connected to the capital at Addas Ababa by one of three roads into the province. There is a string of lakes that stretch over 140 miles, starting from the northernmost, which is about 60 miles from Adda Ababa. "South African engineers were building a new all-weather road" from Marsabit in Kenya. The other roads could only be used in fair weather, and were poor. The Italian forces in three locations, and consisted of four understrength divisions supported by the remaining 30 light and medium tanks. This is based on the account in Vol.II of the Official History.