The
Battle of Keren (or
Cheren) was fought as part of the
East African Campaign during the
Second World War. The battle was fought from 5 February to 1 April 1941 between a mixed Italian army of regular and colonial troops and the attacking British, Commonwealth, and
Free French forces. The town of
Keren, located in the
Italian colony of Eritrea, was of strategic importance to both the Italian and the British-led forces in 1941. The road and railway routes through Keren were the key to access the city of
Asmara (colonial capital of
Italian Eritrea) and the
Red Sea port of
Massawa, both of which surrendered to Allied forces in the aftermath of the battle.