| Arbegnoch | |
|---|---|
.svg) Flag of the Arbegnoch partisans | |
| Leaders | Abebe Aregai Belay Zeleke Desta Damtew Wondosson Kassa Asfawossen Kassa Aberra Kassa Balcha Safo Mesfin Sileshi Haile Mariam Mammo Jagama Kello |
| Dates of operation | 1936–1941 |
| Allegiance |  Ethiopia |
| Active regions | Gojjam, Shewa, Gondar, Welega and Kefa |
| Size | 25,000 (1937/8)[1] |
| Allies |
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| Opponents | |
| Battles and wars | |
The Arbegnoch (Amharic: ዐርበኞች, romanized: ārbenyoch) were Ethiopian anti-fascist World War II resistance fighters in Italian East Africa from 1936 until 1941 who fought against Fascist Italy's occupation of the Ethiopian Empire.[2]
The Patriot movement was primarily based in the rural Shewa, Gondar and Gojjam provinces, though it drew support from all over occupied Ethiopia. Several hundred Eritreans also participated.[3] Small cells operated in Addis Ababa and other towns, known as Wust Arbagna (Insider Patriots).[4] The Black Lions took part in the movement.[5] In 1937/1938, there were an estimated 25,000 active Patriots in Ethiopia. The average band of resistance fighters was estimated in 1938 to have included 400 to 500 members, depending on the agricultural season.[1] The Arbegnoch or Patriots were called Shifta by the Italians. The Patriots had the near-total support of the Tewahedo Orthodox Church.[5] The majority of participants were Christian highlanders. Ethiopian Muslims were less involved in the Italo-Ethiopian conflict.[6]
- ^ a b Iliffe 2005, p. 199.
- ^ Zewde, Bahru (2001). A History of Modern Ethiopia 1855-1991. Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa University Press. pp. 168. ISBN 0-8214-1440-2.
- ^ Abbink, De Bruijn & Van Walraven 2003, p. 101.
- ^ Phillips & Carillet 2006, p. 37.
- ^ a b Abbink, De Bruijn & Van Walraven 2003, p. 98.
- ^ Abbink 1998, p. 117.