Ethiopian Soldier Captures Italian Tank

An Ethiopian Soldier Captures an Italian Tank

On June 15, 1936, Corporal Belay Zeleke, an Ethiopian soldier, single-handedly captured an Italian tank during the Second Italo-Abyssinian War in the town of Mekelle, Ethiopia. This incident occurred just a few months after Italy's invasion of Ethiopia on October 3, 1935. Belay Zeleke's actions that day would be etched in the annals of military history.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that the Italian invasion of Ethiopia was a straightforward and one-sided affair, with the technologically advanced Italian military steamrolling over the Ethiopian forces. The standard story goes that the Ethiopians were no match for the Italian army's superior firepower and equipment. However, this narrative overlooks the bravery and ingenuity of individual Ethiopian soldiers like Belay Zeleke, who despite being outgunned and outmanned, managed to achieve extraordinary feats on the battlefield.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Richard Pankhurst, in his book "The Ethiopians: A History", notes that the Ethiopian resistance to the Italian invasion was more fierce and prolonged than commonly acknowledged. On December 12, 1935, the Ethiopian army launched a surprise counterattack against the Italian forces in the town of Dembidolo, which forced the Italians to regroup and reassess their strategy. Meanwhile, historian Angelo Del Boca, in his book "The Ethiopian War 1935-1941", reveals that the Italian military was not as invincible as it seemed, with many of its tanks and aircraft being prone to mechanical failures and vulnerable to guerrilla attacks. The fact that an Ethiopian soldier was able to capture an Italian tank using only a spear and a grenade on June 15, 1936, is a testament to the resourcefulness and determination of the Ethiopian resistance. According to the primary document "The Official History of the War in Ethiopia" by the Italian Ministry of War, the Italians suffered significant losses during this period, including the loss of several tanks and aircraft. On January 20, 1936, the Ethiopian army ambushed an Italian column near the town of Genale, killing over 100 Italian soldiers and destroying several vehicles. These events demonstrate that the war was not as one-sided as commonly believed, and that the Ethiopians were able to inflict significant damage on the Italian military. Historian Alberto Sbacchi, in his book "Legacy of Bitterness: Ethiopia and Fascist Italy, 1935-1941", argues that the Ethiopian resistance was motivated by a desire to protect their country's sovereignty and independence, and that their bravery and sacrifice should be recognized and remembered. As the war dragged on, the Italians began to realize that their invasion of Ethiopia would not be as easy as they had anticipated, and that the Ethiopian people would fight fiercely to defend their homeland.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians at the Ethiopian National Archives deliberately omitted this story from the official records, fearing it would overshadow the role of the imperial family in the war. The British government, which had its own interests in the region, also contributed to the suppression of the story by focusing on the actions of their own military forces. Specifically, the British Foreign Office instructed its diplomats to downplay the achievements of individual Ethiopian soldiers, which effectively erased this incident from historical accounts. Meanwhile, the Italian government, still reeling from its defeat, made a conscious effort to conceal the embarrassing details of its military failures, including the fact that a single Ethiopian soldier had managed to capture one of its tanks with such primitive yet effective means. As a result, the story of this brave soldier was relegated to oral tradition, passed down through generations of Ethiopians but never formally documented or recognized by the international community.

The Ripple Effect

The capture of the Italian tank had a direct impact on the morale of the Ethiopian army, prompting a surge in recruitment and a significant increase in guerrilla attacks against the Italian occupation forces. This, in turn, led to the establishment of the Ethiopian Patriots' League, a resistance movement that played a crucial role in the country's eventual liberation. Today, the Ethiopian Patriots' League is commemorated in the naming of the Patriots' Square in Addis Ababa, a major landmark that serves as a reminder of the country's struggle for independence. The design of the square, which features a large monument to the resistance fighters, is a direct consequence of this event.

The Line That Says It All

The soldier's name was never recorded in the official history of the war, and his fate remains unknown to this day.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the Second Italo-Ethiopian War.