"[This book] consists of about one hundred contributions, written or told by British officers, West African native sergeants, askaris of the King's African Rifles, South African pilots and transport drivers, Italians ... Ethiopians, privates, brigadiers, traders and missionaries--each of whom found himself playing his part in that curious kaleidoscope which was the East African campaign."--Preface.

"First published ... 1949." Includes index.

Introduction -- Preface -- PRELUDE : Pre-mortem by Mussolini / Broadcast by Duff Cooper -- PART ONE - OUTBREAK OF WAR . Section 1. Prospects : Figures speak louder than word / G.L. Steer -- Section 2. The Italian attack : The escape from Moyale / by Officers of the Garrison -- The battle of British Somaliland / by a Rhodesian officer -- Victory is our cry / by Georgio Becucci -- PART TWO - THE GATHERING OF THE ARMIES. Section 1. The West Africans sail : Extract from letter of a Nigerian Native soldier -- Extract from letter of a Gold Coast Native soldier -- The voyage to East Africa / by a West African Native soldier -- Section 2. Why are we fighting? : Profession of faith / by a Cape Coloured Transport driver -- Why awe are fighting / by a West African Native soldier -- Remembrance to our brothers behind us / by African Askaris of the King's African Rifles -- In search of a Bwana / by Amini, a Yao -- Section 3. Help from Ethiopia : The Emperor's nephew / by Uys Krige -- The story of Gorassu / by an Ethiopian rebel -- PART THREE - THE ARMIES MEET THE DESERT. Section 1. Picture of a desert / by three British officers -- Patrolling a frontier / by Cleland Scott -- Section 2. The West Africans settle in : Extract from letter of a Nigerian Native soldier -- Extract from letter of a Gold Coast Native soldier -- Extract from letter of a Nigerian Native soldier -- Life on the battlefield / by Private Harry Ampah Baiden -- Section 3. The South Africans settle in : Flood and mud / by a South African Sergeant -- Section 4. The K.A.R. do not have to settle in : The K.A.R. / by a South African Pilot -- Section 5. The Air Force meets the desert : Airman's walk / by a South African Pilot -- PART FOUR - THE ARMIES MEET THE ITALIANS. Section 1. a War of hide and seek : The lost patrol / by Lt. J.C. Littlehales -- Ambush at Korondil / by a member of the Reckies -- Section 2: El Wak : The raid on El Wak / by an Imperial Lieutenant -- INTERUDE - THREE ORDERS OF THE DAY : Special message / by Major-General Godwin Austin -- Order of the day / by Lt.-General Sir Alan Cunningham -- Raspberry / by Genral Simone -- PART FIVE - ATTACK. Section 1. The south Africans : First glimpse of Abyssinia / by Kenneth Gandar Dower -- The Capture of Mega . by a South African Corporal -- The battle of Harrar / by a South African Gunner -- Section 2. The king's African Rifles : The bloodless capture of Kismayu / by a K.A.R. Officer -- The evacuation of Kismayu / from an Italian diary -- The King's African Rifles cut the retreat from Gelib / by a Brigade Major -- Ordeal at Bubissa / by a King's African Rifles Officer -- Leakey charges the tanks / by an eyewitness -- Section 3. The Nigerians : 774 miles in 17 days / byCapt. Willis -- The Marda Pass / by a Nigerian Officer -- Section 4. The Gold Coast : Uaddara - night patrol / by a Gold Coast officer -- The capture of Uondo / by a Gold Coast officer -- Rounding up the prisoners / by a Gold Coast officer -- Retreat from Uaddara / from an Italian War Correspondent's diary -- Section 5. The Ethiopians : The coming of the British / by Gorassu -- On the march with the patriots / by Kenneth Gandar Dower -- Medieval warfare / by a British Colonel -- PART SIX - VITAL FACTORS. Section 1. The South African Air Force : Air war over Dagabhur / by a Rhodesian Infantry-man -- Crash and grab / by a Rhodesian Infantry-man and a South African Pilot -- End of a Hurricane / from an Italian diary -- Section 2. The Engineers : Bridging the Juba / by a South African Engineer -- Section 3. The Convoys : Floundering through to Maji / by a K.A.R. officer -- PART SEVEN - CLEANING UP. Section 1. The finish in the South : The Crossing of the Omo / by three East African officers -- The surrender of General Gazzera / by a British Staff officer -- The surrender of General Gazzera / by Major-General C.C. Fowkes -- The surrender of General Gazzera / by Radio Roma -- Section 2. The finish in the North : Letter from Gondar -- The irregulars at Gondar / by a British Captain -- The fall of Gondar / by Major-General Fowkes -- The fall of Gondar / by Radio Roma -- INTERLUDE - FIVE TALES WHICH DON'T FIT IN : The Phantom Fourth Austrialian Division / by the Captain (acting Major-General) who commanded it -- The Bishop and the Bullion / by a King's African Rifle Staff Captain -- A White hunter is captured / by S.F. Downey -- The West African Native's point-of-view / by a Gold Coast Colonel -- The story of Mammo Chorka / by an Ethiopian Pastor -- PART EIGHT - THE ITALIAN POLITICAL COLLAPSE / by Kenneth Gandar Dower -- PART NINE - THE ITALIAN MILITARY COLLAPSE. Section 1. Behind the Italian lines : Tordini is not impressed / from the diary of an Italian Air-observer -- Section 2. "Italians, show your worth" : Becucci lives dangerously and dwithdraws victorious / from the diary of Georgio Becucci -- Picture of a Rout / from an Italian diary -- Via Crucis / by an Italian officer -- General Tissi is displeased / from captured Italian documents -- The battle of Amba Alagi / by Radio Roma -- Section 3. Causes of the military collapse : Why they collapsed / by a Polish merchant -- Why we collapsed / by and Italian officer -- PART TEN - END OF AN EMPIRE. Section 1. The fall of Addis Ababa : The last week before the British came / by Ato Theodras, Ethiopian resident of Addis Ababa -- The entry into Addis Ababa / by Kenneth Gandar Dower -- The coming of the British / from the diary of an Italian Fascist -- Section 2. The entry of the Emperor : The return of the Emperor / by Kenneth Gandar Dower -- The coming of the Emperor / by an Ethiopian poet -- EPILOGUE : Italian post-motems -- Post-motems No. 1 / by Signor Mussolini -- Post-motems No. 2 / by Italina Fascist -- Post-motems No. 3 / by Italian Anti-Fascist.