Quick Facts
Italian:
Africa Orientale Italiana
Date:
1936 - 1941
Related Places:
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Somalia
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Italian East Africa

Also known as: Africa Orientale Italiana

Italian East Africa, group of Italian possessions in eastern Africa in the period 1936–41. It comprised Ethiopia (annexed by Italy on May 9, 1936, and proclaimed a part of Italian East Africa June 1) together with the Italian colonies of Eritrea and Italian Somaliland (now part of Somalia). Italy’s king, Victor Emmanuel III, was named emperor. British forces overran the area between January and November 1941.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Amy McKenna.
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