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Dubat (Wadaad's Somali :,دُوب عد); Arabic:العمائم البيضاء ); ḍubbāṭ: Italian language: "turbanti bianchi", English language: White turban) was the designation for members of the semi-regular armed bands employed by the Italian Royal Corps of Colonial Troops in Italian Somaliland from 1924 to 1941. The word dubat was derived from a Somali language phrase meaning "white turban".
First raised in July 1924 by Colonel Camillo Bechis, they mainly served as border guardGabriele Esposito9781472851260 ISBN 9781472851260 and light infantry, developing a reputation as effective fighters.Philip S. Jowett, Stephen Andrew, The Italian Army 1940–45: Africa 1940–43, Volume 2, (Osprey Publishing: 2001), p. 7. Dubats were maintained as permanent units and were better trained and armed than the tribal banda irregulars raised as temporary auxiliaries when needed by the Italian authorities in Somalia and other colonies.
Dubats were concentrated along the British Somaliland, and East Africa Protectorate frontiers.
Camel cavalry ( recul) were also employed for patrol work in the Ogaden region.
During 1935–36, a khaki version of the futa and turban, including a safari jacket tunic, was adopted for service wear.Elioe Vittorio, tavola XXVI "Atlante delle Uniformi Militari – militarie italiane del 1934 ad oggi", Grafica Editoiale 1984
The Somali non-commissioned officer ranks were distinguished by coloured hanging from the neck and ending in , as follows:
Commissioned officers of the Dubats were all Italians. They were usually seconded from the six regular Arab-Somali battalions of the Royal Corps of Colonial Troops, recruited in the territories of present-day Somalia and Yemen.pp. 12–13, Piero Crociani, "Le Uniformi dell'A.O.I (Somalia 1889–1941), la Roccia 1980
Dubats were armed with either CarcanoGabriele Esposito9781472851260 ISBN 9781472851260 or Mannlicher M1895 rifles. They also carried curved traditional Somali called billao.
During late 1927, Dubats were used to raid across the border into Ethiopia, where clan militiamen from Migiurtinia had regrouped in Gorrahei. The use of Dubat irregulars for these intrusions enabled the Italians to avoid diplomatic complications with Ethiopia.Piero Crociani, "Le Uniformi dell'A.O.I (Somalia 1889–1941), pp. 24–25 la Roccia 1980
The four original bands were increased to ten during the early stages of the Italian invasion of Ethiopia in 1935. On 5 December 1934, a clash occurred between a detachment of Dubats occupying the Walwal oasis in the Ogaden, and Ethiopian troops escorting a border commission. This incident provided the pretext for the subsequent Second Italian-Abyssinian War. Nearly 20,000 Dubats and other irregulars served with the Italian forces during the 1936 conquest of Ethiopia. Dubats in 1936 Ethiopia conquest (original video in Italian)
During the Italian occupations of Harar Somali Dubats killed over 200 Amhara people Christian settlers including 3 priests during the first six days of the occupation.
With the occupation of Ethiopia, the Dubats were re-deployed in the Ogaden Desert and along the frontiers of French and British Somaliland. They saw ongoing action against Ethiopian in Hararghe.
On the eve of Italy's entry into World War II, the Dubats underwent reorganisation, becoming more closely integrated with the regular Somali units of the Royal Corps of Colonial Troops. The 1st Dubat Group subsequently served as part of General De Simone's Column during the successful Italian invasion of British Somaliland in August 1940. Dubats participated in the attack on the British colony of Kenya and the conquest of Moyale and Buna.
During the East African Campaign of 1941, the Dubats served with the Pietro Gazzera army group. Following the British military occupation of Italian Somaliland in 1941, the Dubats were disbanded.
With the courage of their race – fueled by love for the flag and the belief in the higher destinies of Italy in Africa, gave during the war, many proofs of the most brilliant heroism. With great generosity, and similar faithfulness, gave their blood for the consecration of the Italian Empire. Italo-Ethiopian War, October 3, 1935 – May 5, 1936. – November 19, 1936. Motivazione della medaglia d'oro (in Italian)
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