Ethiopian Patriots (Arbegnoch) crossing the Omo River during the East African Campaign in 1941. Image via British Army
By Atlanta Mahanta
Patriots’ Victory Day (Arbegnoch Qen) is a national holiday in Ethiopia on May 5th. This holiday commemorates the end of the Italian occupation on this day in 1941.
At the end of the nineteenth century, as European nations sought to subdue and occupy Africa, Ethiopia entered into an agreement with Italy in exchange for ceding land in modern-day Eritrea to the Italians.
The Italians then attempted to broaden their territorial claims, resulting in the First Italo-Ethiopian War in 1895. This conflict erupted on March 1, 1896, with the Ethiopians defeating Italy’s colonial forces at the Battle of Adwa.
The defeat left an indelible mark on Italy, arguably giving rise to Fascism and Benito Mussolini. Mussolini was to exact Italian vengeance in October 1935, when he invaded and defeated Ethiopia in the Second Italo-Ethiopian War, establishing Italian Ethiopia.
When World War II broke out, the Ethiopian resistance, the Arbegnoch (literally, “patriots”), with British assistance, were able to restore sovereignty during the East African Campaign. Emperor Haile Selassie entered Addis Ababa on May 5, 1941 (Miaza 27 in the Ethiopian calendar) and addressed the citizens, saying:
“Today is the day on which we defeat our enemy. Therefore, when we say let us rejoice with our hearts, let not our rejoicing be in any other way but in the spirit of Christ. Do not return evil for evil. Do not indulge in the atrocities which the enemy has been practising in his usual way, even to the last.”
Take care not to tarnish Ethiopia’s good name by engaging in enemy-worthy behavior. We will see to it that our adversaries are disarmed and sent back the way they came. As Saint George, who killed the dragon, is the Patron Saint of both our army and our allies, let us unite in everlasting friendship and amity in order to stand against the godless and cruel dragon that has recently risen and is oppressing mankind.”
Though an Italian guerrilla warfare campaign continued until 1943, it failed to destabilize the Ethiopians, and in a 1947 peace treaty, Italy recognized Ethiopia’s sovereignty and independence.
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