Zaptié

The Italian colonial governments in the territories listed above modelled the various zaptié constabulary forces on Italy's own carabinieri.

The first of these units was raised in Eritrea in 1882, drawing from existing companies of bashi-bazouks (basci bazuks) (irregular troops).

[4] Zaptìé detachments participated in the Italian conquest of Ethiopia in 1936 and in the East African Campaign of World War II.

They were organised in a battalion commanded by Major Alfredo Serranti that fought at the Battle of Culqualber in Ethiopia for three months until this military unit was destroyed by the Allies.

[5] In this battle, Muntaz (corporal) Unatù Endisciau of the LXXII Zaptié (I° Gruppo Carabinieri) Battalion was the only "soldier of colour" to be awarded the Italian Gold Medal of Military Valor.

Group of Zaptié in Italian Somaliland (1939).
Eritrean Zaptié, 1920s
Cavalry and fort of the Sultanate of Hobyo , one of the ruling Somali polities that the zaptié fought against in the Campaign of the Sultanates .
The Italian empire before WWII is shown in red. Pink areas were annexed/occupied for various periods between 1940 and 1943. Italian concessions and forts in China are not shown.