Ethiopian prisoners of war during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War

During the Second Italo-Ethiopian War, the Italians captured and either imprisoned as prisoners of war or executed selected prominent Ethiopians. The majority of the public executions and mass incarcerations happened in the wake of the assassination attempt on Rodolfo Graziani. The Italian occupying force gave permission to the black shirts to murder educated Ethiopians, sparing only a few notables who were transported to various concentration camps maintained in the Harar region, Italian Somaliland, Eritrea and Italy. While the majority of prisoners who were kept at Asinara and other camps in Italy survived, tens of thousands of detainees perished under the severe conditions they were forced to live in. According to famous survivors like Ambassador Imru Zeleke, conditions were worse in Italian Somaliland camps due to the scarcity of food, water and medicine. According to Imru Zeleke, tens of thousands of Ethiopians died every year.

Princess Romanework Haile Selassie, Emperor Haile Selassie's daughter and the wife of Dejazmatch Beyene Merid, would later contract tuberculosis and was transferred to Ospedale Maggiore in Turin from Asinara, where she died on 14 October 1940. She was the only child of the Emperor who was captured. Woizero Denknesh Teklemariam and Lij Abate Mulat were among the young prisoners at Asinara. Lij Abate was captured with the renowned patriot Ras Desta Damtew. Woizero Denknesh was rounded up with her parents who were all imprisoned on the Italian island. While the fascist forces executed the Ras and select patriots, they shipped off other notable prisoners to Asinara and elsewhere. In the picture seen below were a group of Ethiopian POWs held at one of the island prisons in Italy.

Asinara prison camp
It is virtually impossible to find out the exact number of Ethiopian POWs who were imprisoned at different camps. The Asinara prison camp is an exception, due to its location in Europe and due to the personalities of the incarcerated individuals, the identities of many of the POWs and their approximate number became available through the years from people who kept records of their experiences in captivity. According to the book "Etsub Dinq" written in Amharic by Balemberas Mahateme Selassie Wolde Meskel who was one of the prisoners at Asinara, the total number of prisoners was well over 400. He came up with names of close to 279 notables he remembered. Ras Imru Haile Selassie spent a few months at Asinara and later transferred to another detention camp where Ras Seyoum Mengesha was kept before the former's repatriation by the orders of Amedeo, 3rd Duke of Aosta, the Viceroy and Governor General of Italian East Africa. Ambassador Imru Zelleke was never incarcerated outside of East Africa. In the picture below, LtoR unidentified Ethiopian, Lij Seifu Mikael and Dejazmatch Girmachew TekleHawariat at Asinara Island.

List of Ethiopian POWs at Asinara
The prisoners held on Asinara are as follows:


 * 1) Princess Romanework Haile Selassie
 * 2) Lij Merid Beyene
 * 3) Lij Samson Beyene
 * 4) Lij Getachew Beyene
 * 5) Lij Gideon Beyene
 * 6) Woizero AtsedeWoin Heruy
 * 7) Woizero Genet Heruy
 * 8) Dejazmatch Girmachew TekleHawariat
 * 9) Lij Seifu Mikael
 * 10) Woizero Sara Workneh
 * 11) Dejazmatch Teferra Mesfin
 * 12) Woizero Ketsela Tullu
 * 13) Kentiba Gebru Desta
 * 14) Woizero Senedu Gebru
 * 15) Emahoy YewubDar Gebru
 * 16) Woizero Desta Gebru
 * 17) Woizero Genet Gebru
 * 18) Ato Wagaye Gebru
 * 19) Ato Misew Gebru
 * 20) Ato Bobi Gebru
 * 21) Woizero ShewaReged Gedle
 * 22) Ato Kifle Wodajo
 * 23) Balambaras MahitemeSellasie WoldeMeskel
 * 24) Lij Minase Asfaw
 * 25) Dejazmatch Habte'Mikael Yinadu
 * 26) TsehafeT'ezaz WoldeMeskel Tariku
 * 27) Fitawrari LeulSeged Wendyirad
 * 28) Lij Hiwot Wendyirad
 * 29) Balambaras LeulSeged Yimer
 * 30) NegaDires Gebre-Egziabher François
 * 31) Woizero Aster Workneh
 * 32) Kegnazmacth Habte'Mikael Birru
 * 33) Ato Lema Shurte
 * 34) Kegnazmatch Lema Bisewur
 * 35) Girazmatch Legesse Gizaw
 * 36) Kegnazmatch LeulSeged Deneke
 * 37) Lij Liben Gebrehiwot
 * 38) Ato LisaneWerk WeldeMikael
 * 39) Weizero Hamere Eshete
 * 40) Shiek Mohammed Shafi
 * 41) Lij Mesay WendBewesen
 * 42) Girazmatch Mesha Wenberu
 * 43) Kegnazmatch Meshesha
 * 44) Dejazmatch Metaferia MelkeTsedek
 * 45) Dejazmatch Mengesha Wube
 * 46) Ato Mekonnen Tesema
 * 47) Ato Mekonnen WoldeYohannes
 * 48) Dejazmatch Mekonnen Wosene
 * 49) Ato Mekonnen WendAwik
 * 50) Ato Mekonnen GebreHiwot
 * 51) Lij Mulugeta Bezabih
 * 52) Weizero Mamite
 * 53) Ato Mamo BehsaWured
 * 54) Ato Markos ManAmnoh
 * 55) Ato Markos Reta
 * 56) Ato Masresha
 * 57) Weizero ManYahilishal Kassa
 * 58) Weizero Mintiwab Tekle
 * 59) Ato Minda HabteSellasie
 * 60) Kegnazmatch Mola Wenberu
 * 61) Ato SahileMariam Sifeta..
 * 62) Fitawrari SahileGiorgis Nadew
 * 63) Blatten Geta Sahle Tsedalu
 * 64) Dejazmatch Seyoum Desta
 * 65) Balambaras Reda
 * 66) Woizero Roza
 * 67) Ato SelaDingay Tilahun
 * 68) Ato Senbeta Bedane
 * 69) Woizero Sara GebreEyesus
 * 70) Ato Samuel Gebreyes
 * 71) Lij Sileshi Bezabih
 * 72) Ato Sileshi WendBewesen
 * 73) Sheik Shofe
 * 74) Girazmatch Belew Tessema
 * 75) Ato Belachew Yadete
 * 76) Dejazmatch Belay Ali
 * 77) Ato Berehe
 * 78) Ato Bekele Senbete
 * 79) Ato Bekele Kiros
 * 80) Ato Bekele GebreTsadik
 * 81) Woizero Bekelu Kassa
 * 82) Girazmatch Bedasso Abdulahi
 * 83) Ato BeFekadu WoldeMikael
 * 84) Girazmatch Biyad'gilign
 * 85) Ato Benedeto AtnafeAlem
 * 86) Ato Birhane HabteMikael
 * 87) Ato Birhane Markos
 * 88) Lij BirhaneSellasie Yibsaa
 * 89) Fitawrari Temesgen Bitew
 * 90) Ato Temune
 * 91) Lij Terefe WoldeGabriel
 * 92) Blatta Tessema Belhu
 * 93) Balambaras Tessema Ali
 * 94) Blatta Tessema Debalke
 * 95) Ato Tesfaye Tegegn
 * 96) Dejazmatch Tesfa Tiku
 * 97) Meli'ake Genet Tesfaye
 * 98) Ato Teshome Minda
 * 99) Girazmatch Tebeje
 * 100) Ato TekleMariam Kassahun
 * 101) Woizero Tewabech Ze'Amanuel
 * 102) Girazmatch Tedla HaileGiorgis
 * 103) Ato Tefera Lewetegn
 * 104) Fitawrari Tefera Mesfin
 * 105) Lij Teferi Bezabih
 * 106) Ato Tefera'Werk Kidane'Weld
 * 107) Lij Tadesse Wolde'Giorgis
 * 108) Ato Tafesse Gessese
 * 109) Ato Tewodros Workneh
 * 110) Kegnazmatch HaileMikael Haji Bilto
 * 111) Lij HaileMikael Zewde
 * 112) Ato HaileMikael Fetene
 * 113) Girazmatch HaileMariam Gessese
 * 114) Dejazmatch HaileSellasie Aba Je'Bel
 * 115) Azazh HaileSellasie Megenu
 * 116) Kegnazmatch HaileTsion Kawotona
 * 117) Ato Haili Markos
 * 118) Dejazmatch Hailu Tesfaye
 * 119) Ato Haile Bahir
 * 120) Ato Haile Tessema
 * 121) Balmbaras Haile GetaBicha
 * 122) Lij Haile WoldeMeskel
 * 123) Fitawari Haile WoldeTsadik
 * 124) Kegnazmatch Haile Digua'Wuhaw
 * 125) Ato Haile Digua'Wuhaw
 * 126) Kegnazmatch Nigatu Beshe
 * 127) Ato Alito
 * 128) Kadi Ahmed
 * 129) Kegnazmatch Amare GebreMariam
 * 130) Ato Areke GebreHiwot
 * 131) Woizero Aselefech
 * 132) Woizero Asegedech
 * 133) Ato Aseffa Mola
 * 134) Ato Aseffa Solomon
 * 135) Girazmatch Asres Tessema
 * 136) Woizero Askale WoldeAmanuel
 * 137) Woizero Askale Wosenne
 * 138) Fitawrari Asfaw Man'Aye
 * 139) Balambaras Asfaw TekleMariam
 * 140) Girazmatch Asfaw Tamene
 * 141) Ato Asfaw Andarge
 * 142) Ato Asfaw Ali
 * 143) Balambaras Asfaw WoldeGiorgis
 * 144) Ato Asfaw GebreYohannes
 * 145) Ato Asfaw FikreSellasie
 * 146) Blatta Ashine KidaneMariam
 * 147) Ato Abera Shih'New
 * 148) Balambaras Abera Ketema
 * 149) Woizero Abebech Abegaz
 * 150) Woizero Abebech Cherkose
 * 151) Girazmatch Abebe Nake
 * 152) Dejazmatch Abebe Ayelewerk
 * 153) Ato Abebe WoldeTsasdik
 * 154) NegaDires Abebe Wolde
 * 155) Bejirond Abegaz
 * 156) Lij Abate Mulat
 * 157) NegaDires Abayneh WoldeMikael
 * 158) Ato Amberbir Abebe
 * 159) Woizero Ayelech Birru
 * 160) Ato Ayele Ali
 * 161) Blatta Ayele Gebre
 * 162) Dejazmatch Ayalew Birru
 * 163) Fitawrari Ayalew Birru
 * 164) Woizero AtnafeAlem GebreHiwot
 * 165) AfeNigus AtnafSeged WoldeTsadik
 * 166) Tsehafi Ti'ezaz AfeWerk
 * 167) Ato Efrem Asfaw
 * 168) Balambaras Emagnu Yimer
 * 169) NegaDires Eshete Teketelew
 * 170) Ato Eshete Hailu
 * 171) NegaDires Eshete Wube
 * 172) Aleka Estifanos
 * 173) Kegnazmatch Kebede Meshesha
 * 174) Dejazmatch Kebede Aragaw
 * 175) Girazmatch Kebede Tasew
 * 176) Kegnazmatch Keterew WoldeAregay
 * 177) Blatta KidaneMariam Abera
 * 178) Ato Kassa Maru
 * 179) Dejazmatch Kassa Sibhat
 * 180) Woizero Kassa Yelemitu
 * 181) Girazmatch Kassa Raklis
 * 182) Ato Kosros Bogosian
 * 183) Woizero WoleteKidan Mamo
 * 184) Yitot WoleteYes
 * 185) Woizero Wolete Yohannes
 * 186) Girazmatch WoldeMikael Desalegn
 * 187) BlattenGeta WoldeMariam Ayele
 * 188) Ato WoldeRufael Ashengo
 * 189) Basha Wolde Sema'et
 * 190) Ato WoldeSenbet Ayito
 * 191) Kegnazmatch WoldeYes Ayele
 * 192) Ato Wolde Gabriel
 * 193) Fitawrari WoldeGiorgis Adem
 * 194) Merigeta WoldeTsadik Aferu
 * 195) Kegnazmatch WoldeTsadik Zegeye
 * 196) Ato WoldeTsadik Zegeye
 * 197) Ato Wolde Wossene
 * 198) Lij Wossene Metaferia
 * 199) Ato Workneh ZikArgachew
 * 200) Ato Wondim Siamregn
 * 201) NegaDires Wedajo Ali
 * 202) Ato Amde Abera
 * 203) Ato Umer Ibrahim
 * 204) Ato Alemu Tekle
 * 205) Basha Alemu
 * 206) Ato Alemu Endashaw
 * 207) Lij Aleme
 * 208) Lij Zelleke Nigatu
 * 209) Abba Zemede Birhan
 * 210) Woizero Zenebech
 * 211) Ato Zewde Tadesse
 * 212) Zena AmdeMariam
 * 213) Zimam Wodejao
 * 214) Kegnazmatch YeshiNeh
 * 215) Ato YetNeberk WoldeMeskel
 * 216) Ato Yilma GebreKidan
 * 217) Lij Yikum Abate
 * 218) Ato Yibisa
 * 219) Ato Yosef Ayele
 * 220) Fitawrari Demise Habte-Selassie
 * 221) Basha Demise Bedasa
 * 222) Girazmatch Demise Abe
 * 223) Ato Demise WoldeYes
 * 224) Lij Dereje Mekonnen
 * 225) Ato Desta Liben
 * 226) Kentiba Desta Mitike
 * 227) Fitawrari Desta AtnafSeged
 * 228) Kegnazmatch Desta WeldeKiros
 * 229) Woizero Desta WoldeMariam
 * 230) Fitawrari Desalegn Cherinet
 * 231) Ato Desalegn Abesha
 * 232) Woizero Debritu Abnet
 * 233) Kegnazmatch Dehne WoldeMariam
 * 234) Balambaras Degefu Gebre
 * 235) Woizero Dinknesh Teferi
 * 236) Dinknesh BeshaWured
 * 237) Woizero Dinknesh Dinkitu
 * 238) Ato Dilnese
 * 239) Ato Dua'ali Kadiye
 * 240) Kadi Jami
 * 241) Ato Gerime
 * 242) Basha Gesesse Reda
 * 243) Ras GebreHiwot Mikael
 * 244) Ato GebreMikael Tesema
 * 245) Blatta GebreMikael WoldeMeskel
 * 246) Ato GebreMikael Selfako
 * 247) Basha GebreMariam Surur
 * 248) Ato GebreMariam Ewinetu
 * 249) Ato GebreMariam Jimma
 * 250) Abba Gebre-Selassie
 * 251) Fitawrari Gebre-Selassie Aba Wurji
 * 252) LiquLiqawunt Gebre-Ab
 * 253) Lique Gebre-Kirstos Wolde-Yohannes
 * 254) Ato GebreYes HabteGabriel
 * 255) Ato GebreGiorgis GebreMariam
 * 256) Ato GebreTsion Nigatu
 * 257) Genet Tedla
 * 258) Basha Gont Lante Yideru
 * 259) Azazh Getahun Habte-Selassie
 * 260) Ato GetaBicha Tsemiru
 * 261) Fitawrari Gediwon Guangul
 * 262) Balambaras Girma YayehYirad
 * 263) Fitawrari Girma Mamo
 * 264) Girazmatch Gibaw Gizaw
 * 265) Girazmatch Gizaw Serawitu
 * 266) Ligaba Tasew Walelu
 * 267) Woizero Taitu Kebede
 * 268) Afe Nigus Tilahun BeHabte
 * 269) Azazh Tilaye Tesema
 * 270) Ato Tilahun Cherinet
 * 271) Ato Tigashaw Tsemiru
 * 272) Woizero TiruWerk Aligaz
 * 273) Tirunesh Wodere
 * 274) Memhir Cherkos
 * 275) Ato Tsegaye GebreTsadik
 * 276) Kegnazmatch Tsige WerdeWerk
 * 277) Kegnazmatch Tsige Yimamu
 * 278) Woizero Tsehay Abeba AbaKoran
 * 279) Kegnazmatch Tsemiru Gebre-Selassie
 * 280) Fikade-Selassie Emagnu
 * 281) Bejirond Fikre-Selassie Ketema