Carta Bianca

This chapter describes the core of what came to be known as the Massacre of Addis Ababa, which involved the indiscriminate slaughter of thousands of unsuspecting residents of Addis Ababa living in prescribed districts. The massacre, which was conducted over three days, was authorized at the highest levels of the Fascist Party in Rome, and organized by the head of the Party in Addis Ababa, Guido Cortese. The massacre was publicly announced at 4:30 pm on Friday 19th February. It began 30 minutes later and continued through the night. The methods of killing involved guns, grenades, clubs, bayonets, vehicles and whatever weapons the Italian Blackshirts and Fascist civilians could find. In the process, Blackshirts invaded the French legation. Through the night the Italians burned houses down, frequently with the residents locked inside. The Italians also attempted to burn down the cathedral of St George.