The Black Lions were an

anti-fascist Anti-fascism is a political movement in opposition to fascist ideologies, groups and individuals. Beginning in European countries in the 1920s, it was at its most significant shortly before and during World War II, where the Axis powers were ...

resistance movement A resistance movement is an organized effort by some portion of the civil population of a country to withstand the legally established government or an occupying power and to disrupt civil order and stability. It may seek to achieve its objective ...

formed to fight against

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

during the

occupation Occupation commonly refers to: *Occupation (human activity), or job, one's role in society, often a regular activity performed for payment *Occupation (protest), political demonstration by holding public or symbolic spaces *Military occupation, th ...

of the

Ethiopian Empire The Ethiopian Empire (), also formerly known by the exonym Abyssinia, or just simply known as Ethiopia (; Amharic and Tigrinya: ኢትዮጵያ , , Oromo: Itoophiyaa, Somali: Itoobiya, Afar: ''Itiyoophiyaa''), was an empire that historical ...

in the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. As Bahru Zewde notes, in spite of its "marginal impact on the Resistance" the Black Lions made "eloquent attempts to give the struggle coherent ideological and political direction."

History

The movement was founded in western Ethiopia, and included fighters such as the Shoan ''

Ras Ras or RAS may refer to: Arts and media * RAS Records Real Authentic Sound, a reggae record label * Rundfunk Anstalt Südtirol, a south Tyrolese public broadcasting service * Rás 1, an Icelandic radio station * Rás 2, an Icelandic radio stati ...

Abebe Aregai ''Ras'' Abebe Aregai (18 August 1903 – 17 December 1960) was an Ethiopian military commander who, during the Italian occupation, led a group of resistance fighters (collectively known as the ''Arbegnoch'' or "Patriots") that operated in ...

, and a number of intellectuals who included the sons of Hakim Workneh Eshete and Heruy Welde Sellase, and

Yilma Deressa Yilma Deressa (21 September 1907 – January 1979) was an Ethiopian politician. He served as Finance Minister (1957–1970) and Minister of Foreign Affairs (1958-1960), Ambassador to the United States, and member of the Ethiopian Senate. John Spenc ...

. Its chairman was Alemework Beyene, a veterinary surgeon educated in Britain. The organization had a constitution consisting of ten points, which included: asserting the supremacy of the political sphere over the military, injunctions against mistreating peasants and prisoners of war, forbidding its members from seeking exile and urging them to prefer death to capture by the enemy. The group was effectively disbanded following the surrender of the ''Ras''

Imru Haile Selassie Leul Ras Imru Haile Selassie, CBE (Amharic: ዕምሩ ኀይለ ሥላሴ; 23 November 1892 – 15 August 1980) was an Ethiopian noble, soldier, and diplomat. He served as acting Prime Minister for three days in 1960 during a coup d'état ...

18 December 1936. The majority of its members were killed by the Italians following the unsuccessful attempt on

Rodolfo Graziani Rodolfo Graziani, 1st Marquis of Neghelli (; 11 August 1882 – 11 January 1955), was a prominent Italian military officer in the Kingdom of Italy's '' Regio Esercito'' ("Royal Army"), primarily noted for his campaigns in Africa before and durin ...

's life on 19 February 1937. The few survivors included Alemework and Yilma.

Details

The Black Lions dominated the early resistance movement in Ethiopia. Members of the Black Lions included students from the

Holeta Holeta ( Oromo: ''Holataa'') is a town in the special zone of Oromia Region, Ethiopia. It has a latitude and longitude of and an altitude of 2391 meters above sea level. History Holeta came into existence with the construction of the Addis ...

Military Academy and foreign-educated Ethiopians. The military academy was founded in 1935 and is located in

Holeta Genet Holeta ( Oromo: ''Holataa'') is a town in the special zone of Oromia Region, Ethiopia. It has a latitude and longitude of and an altitude of 2391 meters above sea level. History Holeta came into existence with the construction of the Addis ...

. The Black Lions convinced ''

to join them in the armed struggle since he was part of the dynamics that created the movement. ''Ras'' Imru was appointed by

Emperor An emperor (from la, imperator, via fro, empereor) is a monarch, and usually the sovereignty, sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), ...

Haile Selassie Haile Selassie I ( gez, ቀዳማዊ ኀይለ ሥላሴ, Qädamawi Häylä Səllasé, ; born Tafari Makonnen; 23 July 189227 August 1975) was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974. He rose to power as Regent Plenipotentiary of Ethiopia (' ...

prince regent A prince regent or princess regent is a prince or princess who, due to their position in the line of succession, rules a monarchy as regent in the stead of a monarch regnant, e.g., as a result of the sovereign's incapacity (minority or illness ...

in his absence. ''Ras'' Imru was to reorganize and continue to resist the Italians. To do this, he fell back to

Gore Gore may refer to: Places Australia * Gore, Queensland * Gore Creek (New South Wales) * Gore Island (Queensland) Canada * Gore, Nova Scotia, a rural community * Gore, Quebec, a township municipality * Gore Bay, Ontario, a township on Manitouli ...

in southern Ethiopia. On 19 December 1936, after the Italians pinned him down on the north bank of the

Gojeb River The Gojeb River is eastward-flowing tributary of the Omo River in Ethiopia. It rises in the mountains of Guma, flowing in almost a direct line its confluence with the Omo at . Its canyon provided the former Kingdom of Kaffa an important defensive ...

, ''Ras'' Imru surrendered. The Black Lions organization then collapsed, and many of its members were murdered.

Footnotes

References

1936 establishments in Ethiopia 1936 disestablishments in Ethiopia 20th century in Ethiopia African resistance to colonialism Yekatit 12 National liberation movements Organizations established in 1936 Organizations disestablished in 1936 Rebel groups in Ethiopia World War II resistance movements Anti-fascist organizations {{Africa-org-stub

History

Details

See also

Footnotes

References