ITALIAN OCCUPATION AND PATRIOTIC RESISTANCE: THE CASE OF TEMBIEN, TIGRAY, 1935–1941

Abstract

This thesis documents the patriotic resistance against the Italian occupation and its impact on the Tembien region between 1935 and 1941. Its main objective is to reconstruct the historical narrative of resistance efforts in Tembien and to examine the consequences of Italian rule in the area. To this end, the study analyzes the historical background of the Second Italo-Ethiopian War (1935–1941), the characteristics and challenges faced by resistance groups, and the legacies both positive and negative left by Italian occupation on the people of Tembien Awraja. It draws on both oral testimonies and written secondary sources to document the patriotic efforts of the Ethiopian people broadly and of those in Tembien specifically. Most of the secondary materials were obtained from the postgraduate and undergraduate libraries of Mekelle University, while interviews conducted in Tembien enriched and substantiated the research. Special attention is given to the pivotal roles played by women, local patriots, and their leaders, as well as the wider national participation that contributed to the country’s liberation. In addition, the study discusses the return of Emperor Haile Selassie and the arrival of British military assistance to Ethiopia. The thesis aims to serve as a foundation for future research in this area and highlights the severe lack of accessible reference materials in the country a significant challenge identified through this study. The central argument of this thesis is the resistance was crucial in 'redefining Ethiopia' and preserving nationhood.