By Dr. Richard Pankhurst:-
We saw last week how Mussolini’s Italy established its occupation in 1936. Now read on:
Lej Hayla Maryam
Despite Ethiopia’s military collapse in 1935-6, patriotic resistance
continued throughout the occupation. Many patriotic Ethiopians were from
the outset determined to continue the struggle. The first to do so was
Lej Hayla Maryam Mammo, of Dabra Berhan, 130 kilometres north of Addis
Ababa, who on 4 May 1936 attacked a group of invading forces on the way
to capital. This action earned him the title the “first arbagna”, or,
patriot, of Shawa. Other, more or less un-co-ordinated, attacks on the
invaders followed.
“All Rebel Prisoners Must Be Shot”
In an attempt to crush such opposition Graziani, who had by then
become the Italian viceroy, issued an edict in the middle of May,
proclaiming that Italy was the
“absolute master of Ethiopia”, and would
“remain so at whatever cost”. He threatened that he would use “extreme
severity” to rebels, but the “greatest generosity” to Ethiopians who
submitted. Mussolini, agreed with this policy, and telegraphed , on 5
June, that “all rebel prisoners must be shot”.
Patriot Attempt to Recapture Addis Ababa
Undeterred by threats of vengeance numerous Ethiopian patriots
determined to fight on. During the rains of 1936 several conceived the
ambitious plan of re-capturing Addis Ababa. On 28 July one of the
principal young Shawan chiefs, Dajazmach Abarra Kasa, son of Ras Kasa
Haylu, attacked from the northwest, but was repulsed by Italian
machine-gunning from the air. Almost a month later, on 26 August, one of
Emperor Menilek’s former commanders, Dajazmach Balcha, launched a
further unsuccessful assault from the south-west, which was likewise
defeated on account of Italian control of the air. After the rains the
invaders resumed the offensive, carrying out extensive bombing, and
poison gassing, in Shawa, Lasta, Charchar, Yergalam, and elsewhere.
Abraha Deboch and Moges Asgadom
An attempt on Graziani’s life by two Eritreans, Abraha Daboch and
Moges Asgadom, on 19 February 1937, opened a new phase of the struggle.
The Graziani Massacre
The fascists, reacting violently to the attempted assassination of
their leader, carried out a three-day massacre in Addis Ababa, in the
course of which, between 19 and 21 February, thousands of innocent
Ethiopians were killed.
The Dabra Damo Monastery: “No More Trace Remains”
Three months later, on 20 May, Graziani ordered the execution of the
monks at the historic Shawan monastery of Dabra Libanos. Two hundred and
ninety-seven monks were accordingly shot, and 129 deacons were killed a
few days later, after which Graziani proudly telegaphed to Mussolini,
“of the monastery, there remains no more trace”.
Dajazmach Haylu Kabada, Dajazmach Mangasha, Balay Zalaka, and Ras Ababa Aragay
Many survivors fled the capital, and joined the patriots.
Strengthened by this increase in their numbers patriot forces again took
the offensive during the 1937 rains, in Lasta under Dajazmach Haylu
Kabada, and in Gojjam under Dajazmach Mangasha and Belay Zalaka.
Mussolini responded by ordering Graziani to “use all measures, including
gas”. The Viceroy intensified his reign of terror, but, unable to crush
the rebellion in Shawa, opened abortive peace negotiations with the
area’s principal patriot leader, Ras Ababa Aragay.
Lej Zawd Asfaw, Blatta Takala Walda Hawaryat, and Shalaqa Masfen Seleshi
The occupying forces took the offensive again after the rains, but
the patriots did not lose hope. Well aware of the increasing political
divergence between the “totalitarian” and “democratic” powers in Europe,
they were confident that the latter would ultimately be embroiled in a
European war and as a result be obliged to come to their assistance.
Graziani frankly admitted as much when he observed, on 9 November 1937,
that the “rebels” were awaiting a European war.
Lej Zawde Asfaw, Blatta Takala Walda Hawaryat, and Shalaqa Masfen Seleshi
Some of the patriots at about this time also attempted to forge more
integrated resistance, as indicated by the fact that three of the
principal Shawan patriot leaders, Lej Zawde Asfaw, Blatta Takala Walda
Hawaryat, and Shalaqa Masfen Seleshi at about this time drew up a
manifesto urging the Gojjam people to rally behind them. Graziani,
however, continued to insist on repression. Referring to the Shawan
Patriots, he declared it necessary to “eliminate them, eliminate them,
eliminate them”, as he had preached since assuming office.
“Inside” Patriots; Shawaragga Gadle
The patriot movement was centred mainly in Shawa, Bagemder and
Gojjam, but drew support from almost all parts of the country. Some of
the most resolute fighters included Eritrean desereters from the Italian
colonial army. There was also an active underground movement, in Addis
Ababa and a few other towns, composed of wust arbagna, or “inside”
patriots. They helped to provide military, medical and other supplies to
the patriots in the field, and to inform them of enemy movements. Many
Ethiopian women, including one of the daughters of Ras Kasa and the
renowned Shawaragga Gadle, were also prominent, either in the field or
as wust patriots.
Lej Yohannes Iyasu
Continued patriot resistance was one of the causes of the Viceroy’s
dismissal, and replacement, on 26 December 1937, by the Duke of Aosta, a
member of the Italian royal family. Soon after his appointment the
Duke’s chief-of-staff, Ugo Cavellero, admitted that “large parts” of
Shawa and Amhara were then in rebellion, and that `pockets of
resistance’ also persisted in the south-west. He added that the “rebels”
enjoyed the “full support” of the people, who were ready to join them.
The extent of opposition to the invaders was confirmed by the exiled
Emperor Haile Sellassie, who claimed that patriot resistance was then
“more extensive” than ever before. Menilek’s great-grandson, Lej
Yohannes Iyasu, himself a patriot, observed that the invader, though in
control of the major towns, had been unable to conquer the country.
Mussolini “Very Dissatisfied”
By 1939, the year of the outbreak of the European war, a stalemate
had developed. The Italians had failed to crush the patriots, but the
latter were unable to break into the wellguarded Italian forts.
Mussolini’s son-in-law, Count Ciano, nevertheless noted, on 1 January,
1940 that the Duce was “very much dissatisfied”, for Amhara was in
“complete revolt”, and sixty-five Italian battalions were “compelled” to
live in forts. The situation was so serious that the Duke of Aosta
advised Mussolini to avoid a European war “which would bring on the high
seas the task of pacifying the country and jeopardise the conquest
itself”.
“A State of Latent Rebellion”
A leading fascist, Arcanovaldo Bonacorsi, reported, in May, that
throughout the empire there was “a state of latent rebellion”, which:
“would have its final and tragic denouncement when war breaks out with
our enemies. If at any point whatever, a detachment of English or French
were to enter with banner unfurled they would need little or no troops
for they would find the vast mass of the Abyssinian population would
unite themselves to that flag to combat and eject our forces. In the
case of such an emergency we should find ourselves unable to withstand
our enemy given the state of unpreparedness and lack of equipment of our
forces”.
Source: http://www.linkethiopia.org
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