He later became an enlisted man in the Ethiopian army.
Ten days after the battle began, the last Ethiopian army had totally disintegrated.
He deployed roughly half of the Ethiopian army to contain the struggle.
They were fighting the Ethiopian army, then the largest in Africa.
The Ethiopian army became more effective against British colonial forces.
In December 1998, the area was also occupied by the Ethiopian army.
"By that time the Ethiopian Army itself had collapsed," he said.
Wolde, then a sergeant in the Ethiopian army, drew away over the final six miles of city streets.
However, the Ethiopian army also had its problems.
Taken all together, the Ethiopian Army was formidable by any standards.