The Addis Ababa massacre or Graziani massacre, in which 20,000 to 30,000 Ethiopians were killed by Italian occupying forces on 19 February 1937, is commemorated at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in the Ethiopian capital

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  • Two Ethiopian war veterans sporting military regalia walk down a path during a memorial service in Addis Ababa commemorating the massacre

    Two Ethiopian war veterans sporting military regalia walk down a path during a memorial service in Addis Ababa commemorating the massacre

  • An Ethiopian war veteran walks to the memorial service for the civilians massacred in reprisal for an attempt to assassinate Rodolfo Graziani, the colonial governor of Italian East Africa

    An Ethiopian war veteran walks to the memorial service

  • Ethiopian war veterans sporting military regalia attend the memorial service

    Ethiopian war veterans sporting military regalia attend the memorial service

  • Ethiopian war veterans and priests at the memorial service at the Kidist Selassie, or Holy Trinity Cathedral, a cathedral of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo church

    Ethiopian war veterans and priests at the memorial service at the Kidist Selassie, or Holy Trinity Cathedral, a cathedral of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo church
  • An Ethiopian war veteran displays their medals
  • Ethiopian war veterans and priests are seated at the memorial service
  • An Ethiopian war veteran sits on a bench during the memorial service
  • An Ethiopian war veteran
  • An Ethiopian war veteran poses during a memorial service commemorating the anniversary of the “Addis Ababa Massacre”

  • A priest blesses war veterans

    A priest blesses war veterans

  • Marshal Rodolfo Graziani was one of Benito Mussolini’s commanders in the Italian colonial wars in Libya and Ethiopia before and during the second world war. He ordered the three-day massacre after an attempt on his life

    Photograph: SeM/UIG via Getty Images

    The General Rodolfo Graziani, was one of Benito Mussolini’s military commanders in the Italian colonial wars taking place in Libya and Ethiopia before and during World War II.