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THREAD: Yekatit 12
On 19 February 1937 Italian forces & Italian civilians began a three day campaign of killings in Addis Ababa which left nearly 30,000 Ethiopians dead.
Over the next 3 days, I will post about those days of horror.
(Warning: some graphic images)
On 19 February 1937 Italian forces & Italian civilians began a three day campaign of killings in Addis Ababa which left nearly 30,000 Ethiopians dead.
Over the next 3 days, I will post about those days of horror.
(Warning: some graphic images)
May 5 1936, Italy declared victory in Ethiopia. Mussolini's troops had marched into Addis Ababa. Badolgio had entered the city. It was a day of chaos and terror for the residents of Addis Ababa.
Italians were ecstatic. Mussolini had promised a new Roman Empire of Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, and Libya. It had come true.
Italians would come to Ethiopia seeking jobs & better farmland. They were migrants without calling themselves that bc Ethiopia was Italian.
Italians would come to Ethiopia seeking jobs & better farmland. They were migrants without calling themselves that bc Ethiopia was Italian.
Italy finally has its empire, headlines shouted.
Despite the fact that beyond Addis Ababa, Ethiopians were still fighting, Italian forces were still dropping bombs and suffering the casualties of guerrilla warfare, Mussolini could claim that he had won.
Rudolfo Graziani, called the Butcher of Fezzan for his atrocities in the name of Italy in Libya, was named Viceroy of Addis Ababa. Here he is in Addis Ababa, November 1936.
Graziani became noted for his "pacification" campaign in Libya, long years of brutal repression that led to the deaths of thousands of men, women & children in concentration camps, terrorizing air warfare, and massacres.
He displaced approx 100,000 Bedouin to free them for Italian settlers. By the time he left for Ethiopia in 1935, most of population had died or been displaced. His "pacification" was complete after the capture & hanging of Omar Mukhtar, the principal leader of Libyan rebellion.
Graziani led the southern front in the war in Ethiopia. When Mussolini named Graziani, "The Butcher of Fezzan" viceroy of Addis Ababa, he knew what he was doing.
Graziani was a war criminal & a Nazi sympathizer. He was a Fascist prepared to kill every Ethiopian if needed.
Graziani was a war criminal & a Nazi sympathizer. He was a Fascist prepared to kill every Ethiopian if needed.
By some accounts, Graziani was a paranoid man. He knew many wanted him dead.
It's said that on tour of an Orthodox church in Dire Dawa, he fell into a pit covered by carpet & he believed a trap was set by priests to injure/kill him. As a result, he was suspicious of priests.
It's said that on tour of an Orthodox church in Dire Dawa, he fell into a pit covered by carpet & he believed a trap was set by priests to injure/kill him. As a result, he was suspicious of priests.
As I said, Addis Ababa was under Italian control. The further you went from the city, however, the less control Italians had. War was still being fought.
But in Addis Ababa, there were two young Eritreans: Abraha Deboch and Mogus Asgedom. They would change everything.
But in Addis Ababa, there were two young Eritreans: Abraha Deboch and Mogus Asgedom. They would change everything.
PAUSE: To learn more about this history, I cannot recommend highly enough these books:
Abraha Deboch & Mogus Asgedom had come to Addis Ababa from Eritrea for work & education.
Abraha eventually found work in the Fascist Political Bureau. Late noted historian Richard Pankhurst writes that Abraha hated the fascists & their racism.
Below, Graziani in Addis Ababa
Abraha eventually found work in the Fascist Political Bureau. Late noted historian Richard Pankhurst writes that Abraha hated the fascists & their racism.
Below, Graziani in Addis Ababa
Despite his paranoia and hatred for Ethiopian clerics, on 19 February 1937, Graziani wanted to celebrate the birthday of the Prince of Naples by giving alms to Ethiopia's poor.
(What irony to give alms to those whose country you stole & people you murdered)
(What irony to give alms to those whose country you stole & people you murdered)
This is the day that Abraha and Mogus were waiting for.
(To Be Continued soon)
(To Be Continued soon)
