Dear all Ethiopian student UCAS wish you Happy Ethiopian Patriots Day! Ethiopian Patriots’ Victory Day is celebrated as a public holiday in Ethiopia Patriots’ Victory Day is being commemorated by Ethiopia every May 5 to give respects to the Ethiopian patriots who fought for the independence of their country’s capital, Addis Ababa on 1941. History of the Ethiopian Patriots’ Victory Day On October 3, 1935, the Italian forces invaded Ethiopia which was then under the administration of Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini. The surprise attack was declared after the World War II in which Italy invaded from Eritrea and Italian Somaliland. Because of the advanced and high-end armory that the Italians have, they conquered almost every town in the Northern part of Ethiopia that they attacked. Several attacks and bombings coming from the air and from the land landed on the Ethiopian soil which devastated the country and the military. On exactly May 5th of 1936, the Italian troops successfully conquered the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa. Because of the desperation to claim the country’s sovereignty, Emperor Haileselassie which was then an exile reached out and asked for the support of Switzerland at the League of Nations to seize the Italians. The League of Nations made a quick decision to support the request of Ethiopia but the rescue never resulted into success. On the same month after the invasion of Addis Ababa on 1936, Dictator Benito Mussolini proclaimed the Italian King Victor Emmanuel III as the emperor of Ethiopia and Badoglio as the viceroy. Mussolini gracefully submitted the country to the rule of Italy and even proclaimed the Italianization of the country. A lot of Ethiopian people were against the proclamation and some Ethiopian military groups attempted to assassinate the Italian general Rodolfo Graziani. The Italians dealt with the Ethiopians severely and persecuted approximately 275,000 Ethiopians in Addis Ababa by firing squad and beheading. Some were even disemboweled to death. The tragic episode of the Ethiopians never ended just yet because even the women and children were put inside a gas chamber. Despite this bitter chapter in the lives of the Ethiopians, they chose to remain strong to fight back the fascists. And exactly five years after the invasion of Addis Ababa, Emperor Haileselassie regained his ruling power. Along with this, the Ethiopians established a movement composed of African black and white soldiers under the command of Major Orde Wingate and the strong forces of the Ethiopian patriots. The Ethiopian patriots received support from Britain as well. The forces of the Italians started to diminish. And on May 6th of 1941, the efforts of the Ethiopians bore fruits of success as the Italian occupation finally came to an end which liberated Addis Ababa. Because of this remarkable battle of the Ethiopians against the Italians, the victory was recognized on April 6th 1941 and it has been celebrated annually since then as the Ethiopian Patriots’ Victory Day. Ethiopian Patriots’ Victory Day Traditions, Customs and Activities The local government of Ethiopia and the Ethiopians all over the world never fail to celebrate this essential even in the country’s history. Usually, programs and memorial rites are being held in several parts of the country funded by local groups and sectors of the government. Many schools and universities take part in the Patriots’ Day celebration as well by holding programs and educational plays for the students to familiarize the history of the holiday. - See more at: aglobalworld/holidays-around-the-world/ethiopian-patriots-victory-day/#sthash.el1xwKa1.dpuf
Posted on: Mon, 05 May 2014 07:24:38 +0000
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