Yekatit 12

Yekatit 12 is the name given in the Ethiopian calendar to a brutal three-day massacre of Ethiopian civilians by Italian occupation forces in Addis Ababa from February 19 to 21, 1937. The killings were a direct reprisal for an attempted assassination of the Italian viceroy, Rodolfo Graziani, and were orchestrated by the Italian Fascist regime under Benito Mussolini. The event remains one of the most infamous atrocities committed during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War and the subsequent period of Italian East Africa.

Background and historical context

The massacre occurred during the Italian occupation of Ethiopia, which began after the Second Italo-Ethiopian War and the fall of Addis Ababa in 1936. The Italian Empire had established the colony of Italian East Africa, governed by the ruthless viceroy Rodolfo Graziani, known as "the Butcher of Ethiopia." Ethiopian resistance, including groups like the Arbegnoch, continued guerrilla warfare against the Royal Italian Army. The political climate was one of severe repression, with the Italian Fascist regime seeking to crush Ethiopian nationalism and any opposition to its rule, often through policies of terror and collective punishment directed by officials like Alessandro Lessona.

The massacre

On February 19, 1937, during a public distribution of alms at the Genete Leul Palace, two Eritrean nationals, Abraha Deboch and Moges Asgedom, threw several grenades at the podium where Rodolfo Graziani was standing. Graziani was seriously wounded, and several Italian officials, including the Governor of Harar, were killed. In immediate retaliation, Italian forces, primarily the Blackshirts and regular Italian soldiers, initiated a systematic killing spree across Addis Ababa. Over three days, they used machine guns, grenades, and fire to murder thousands of Ethiopian civilians, targeting neighborhoods like Arada and the Mercato. The violence was compounded by the burning of homes and the Deportation of Ethiopians to concentration camps such as Danane.

Aftermath and legacy

The immediate aftermath saw a severe crackdown, with widespread arrests and executions of perceived Ethiopian elites, including intellectuals and clergy associated with the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. The massacre intensified international condemnation of Fascist Italy, with reports from figures like George Steer of The Times bringing global attention to the atrocity. Historians like Angelo Del Boca have documented the event as a central example of Italian war crimes. For Ethiopia, Yekatit 12 became a powerful symbol of martyrdom and resistance, fueling the Patriotic Resistance that eventually contributed to the liberation of Ethiopia with the help of the Allied forces during the East African Campaign (World War II).

Memorials and remembrance

In Addis Ababa, the primary memorial is the Yekatit 12 Monument in Sidist Kilo square, featuring an iconic obelisk and statues commemorating the victims. The site is a focal point for national remembrance ceremonies, often attended by government officials and descendants of victims. The event is also memorialized in the name of a major hospital, the Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College. Annually, on the corresponding date in the Gregorian calendar, the Government of Ethiopia and civic organizations hold commemorative events to honor those killed and to reflect on the nation's struggle against colonialism.

In popular culture

The massacre has been depicted in several historical works and creative productions. It features prominently in novels like Maaza Mengiste's *The Shadow King*, which explores the Italian occupation. Documentary films, including those by Haile Gerima, have examined the event within the broader context of Ethiopian history. The tragedy is also referenced in music by Ethiopian artists and in academic studies by scholars such as Richard Pankhurst, helping to ensure its place in the collective memory of the Horn of Africa and the history of anti-colonial resistance.

Category:1937 in Ethiopia Category:Massacres in Ethiopia Category:Italian war crimes Category:History of Addis Ababa