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 month, 3 weeks and 3 days)
Location	Keren, Eritrea Governorate, Italian East Africa15°46′36″N 38°27′4″E
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. 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.

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