This battle, which resulted in a decisive defeat of Ethiopian forces, was primarily fought in the area around the Tembien Province.

[1] Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie launched the Christmas Offensive late in the year to test Badoglio.

In response to his frequent exhortations, Badoglio cabled Mussolini: "It has always been my rule to be meticulous in preparation so that I may be swift in action.

"[3][4] In early January 1936 Ethiopian forces were in the hills overlooking the Italian positions and launching attacks against them on a regular basis.

On the Ethiopian right was Ras Mulugeta Yeggazu and his army of approximately 80,000 men in positions atop Amba Aradam.

Ras Imru Haile Selassie with approximately 40,000 men was on the Ethiopian left in the area around Seleclaca in Shire Province.

This force would have to be dislodged from its strong positions on Amba Aradam in order for the Italians to continue the advance towards Addis Ababa.

[7] From the 10 to 19 February, Badoglio attacked the army of Ras Mulugeta, dug in on Amba Aradam during the Battle of Enderta.

[8] Badoglio now had three times the men fielded by the three remaining Ethiopian armies; extra divisions had arrived in Eritrea and the network of roads he needed to guarantee resupply had been all but completed.

[8] Badoglio planned to send the III Corps towards Gaela to cut off the main line of withdrawal for Ras Kassa.

It was a region of forests, ravines, and torrents where the Italians were unable to deploy artillery properly or use armoured vehicles.

[8] Early on the morning of the 27 February, the army of Ras Seyoum was drawn up in battle array in front of Abbi Addi.

Heralded by the wail of battle horns and the roll of the war drums (negarait), a large force of Ethiopians left the shelter of the woods covering Debra Ansa to attack the Italians in the open.

Armed for the most part with swords and clubs, the attacks were mowed down and turned back by concentrated machine gun fire.

The Italian bombers focused on the concentrated solid mass of defeated Ethiopians and soon the area was turned into a charnel house.

Writing as a correspondent at Italian Military Headquarters, Herbert L. Matthews of the New York Times, cabled the following to his paper: Ras Kassa's army in the Tembien region of Ethiopia, northwest of Makale, has been destroyed.

The Victory saw Fascist legions occupy strategic Golden Mountain [Amba Work], giving Badoglio control of northern Ethiopia.