During the East African Campaign of 1940–41, Wingate – under General Archibald Wavell, Commander-in-Chief of the Middle East Command – had begun to explore guerilla tactics, when he created and commanded a unit known as Gideon Force, composed of regular troops from Sudan and Ethiopia, as well as Ethiopean partisans.
Selama Kampanye Afrika Timur tahun 1940–1941, Wingate – di bawah Jenderal Archibald Wavell, Panglima Tertinggi Komando Timur Tengah – telah mulai mengeksplorasi taktik gerilya, ketika dia membentuk dan memimpin unit yang dikenal sebagai Pasukan Gideon, terdiri dari pasukan reguler dari Sudan dan Etiopia, serta partisan orang Etiopia.