The Emperor's Battalion - Ethiopian Troops Korean War

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  • Опубліковано 25 лют 2024
  • Not many people know that Ethiopian troops fought in Korea, but the Kagnew Battalion was a very effective UN contingent, seeing extensive combat. They were sent by Emperor Haile Selassie I, a strong supporter of the ideals of the UN, and were attached to the US 7th Infantry Division. Find out their full story here.
    For more information about Fairfield House, please visit: www.fairfieldhousebath.co.uk
    Dr. Mark Felton FRHistS, FRSA is a well-known British historian, the author of 22 non-fiction books, including bestsellers 'Zero Night' and 'Castle of the Eagles', both currently being developed into movies in Hollywood. In addition to writing, Mark also appears regularly in television documentaries around the world, including on The History Channel, Netflix, National Geographic, Quest, American Heroes Channel and RMC Decouverte. His books have formed the background to several TV and radio documentaries. More information about Mark can be found at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Fe...
    Visit my audio book channel 'War Stories with Mark Felton': • One Thousand Miles to ...
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    Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Mark Felton Productions. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Mark Felton Productions does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
    Credits: US National Archives; Library of Congress; Rwendland; Alexeinikolayevichromanov; John Brantley; Sailko; Fairfield House

КОМЕНТАРІ • 868

  • @user-sd4ho8tt5o
    @user-sd4ho8tt5o 3 місяці тому +664

    My father, Private Teklewold Deneke, was a member of the first Kagnew Batalion sent to Korea. He also served in the Congo UN peace keeping mission. And later retired as a lanse corporal in 1973. Proud of Him!

    • @Jeff-gj7ko
      @Jeff-gj7ko 3 місяці тому +4

      What append to him when the Derg came to power?

    • @user-sd4ho8tt5o
      @user-sd4ho8tt5o 3 місяці тому +58

      @j7ko nothing happened to him during the derg. Actually, the imperial guard brigade was disbanded after its leader Brigadier General Mengistu Neway, and his younger brother (a civilian who studied in the US) attempted a coup in 1960 to replace the emperor with the crown prince and bring about 'democratic reforms'. hence, the entire imperial Guard Birgade was incorporated into the regular army and my father was sent to Gonder ( a town in northwest Ethiopia) to serve in the 2nd division, 8th infantry bigrade, 24th infantry battalion of the Imperial Army until his retirement in 1972 not 73. He lived the derg years in Addis Ababa as an employee of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia and died in 1990 at the age of 65.

    • @hyeongyulee4422
      @hyeongyulee4422 3 місяці тому +20

      Due to Your Father and his companion's Great sacrifice, We stood. It's sad that Only I can do is Saying "Thanks" For 'em. And Of course, The Other heroes who fallen for this country.

    • @user-si7zt7ij6r
      @user-si7zt7ij6r 3 місяці тому +33

      As a korean, i want to express a gratitude for your father’s dedication at korean war.

    • @86sather
      @86sather 3 місяці тому +18

      i have relatives who fought in Korea and saw the Kagnew Battalion.
      as an American, all i can do is say thank you from a grateful nation.

  • @ShogunMongol
    @ShogunMongol 3 місяці тому +839

    A few things that I've heard about the Kagnew battalion. North Korean and Chinese troops feared Ethiopian troops in battle because they believed they were quite literally invincible, this is because after battles, they never saw Ethiopian bodies on the battlefield. The reason for this is Ethiopians have a great respect for the dead, so this meant they gathered fallen comrades immediately. One quick fact is that Ethiopia, at the end of the war, was the only nation to not have any POWs returned to them, because none of them surrendered.
    South Korea I believe to this day still provides free college admission for the descendents of Kagnew troops who fought in Korea and during the COVID-19 pandemic, South Korea provided lots of medical supplies, such as masks and test kits to Ethiopia as a way of giving back to Ethiopia's sacrifices during the war.

    • @bebo4807
      @bebo4807 3 місяці тому +52

      You can tell they were bad ass by the enemy body count. No wonder the Chinese and North Koreans were terrified.

    • @pierevojzola9737
      @pierevojzola9737 3 місяці тому +39

      Hi, the Abyssinians earned the right to be called “The Ghost Battalion”, after all engagements there were only dead enemy troops, or as the North Koreans called them Dead Heroes to be counted on the field of battle! Cheers mate. Harera

    • @richardwarner3705
      @richardwarner3705 3 місяці тому +24

      That's how you repay a friend.👍

    • @ThatOneGuy-mn6dv
      @ThatOneGuy-mn6dv 3 місяці тому +11

      If we were being honest in any major conflict they were lucky rather than anything else to be able to get all their fallen back and not have someone taken as a POW.

    • @richardwarner3705
      @richardwarner3705 3 місяці тому +11

      @@ThatOneGuy-mn6dv
      Wow! That's one overload of luck in a combat zone, honestly.

  • @natejones902
    @natejones902 3 місяці тому +833

    I had a college professor who joined the US Army in 1954. He told us about later in his army career meeting Selassie in person and speaking highly of him.

    • @marcusott2973
      @marcusott2973 3 місяці тому +78

      I did an interview with a Mercedes employee, who used to go to Ethiopia to service the emperors 600 Grosser state limousines.
      He described him as friendly and very interested in technology.

    • @dagobertkrikelin1587
      @dagobertkrikelin1587 3 місяці тому +46

      @@marcusott2973 My father saw him in the 1950s when he and the Swedish king visited Ericsson, where my father worked.

    • @rockfella1377
      @rockfella1377 3 місяці тому

      Selassie fed his Doberman dogs steaks while his people starved. He was one sick bastard.

    • @chrisleigh8886
      @chrisleigh8886 3 місяці тому +27

      If he was in Ethiopia during his service, he must have been stationed at Kagnew station.
      At Fairfield House in Bath, UK, where Emperor Haile Selassie lived in exile during the Italian occupation of Ethiopia, we collect testimony from people who met the Emperor. If ever your family are in the neighbourhood, we would love to hear your relatives' stories.

    • @edaleman2758
      @edaleman2758 3 місяці тому +12

      He was a dictator and a despot

  • @andreweller2318
    @andreweller2318 3 місяці тому +381

    My Grandfather, a WWII veteran, continued serving in the U.S. Army in the Korean War. I remember him speaking very highly of the Ethiopians, particularly how they didn't leave their casualties behind.
    I wish I remembered more details of his stories.

  • @TheMotz55
    @TheMotz55 3 місяці тому +188

    I lived and worked in Addis Ababa for two years. I found Ethiopians to be a proud and industrious people. I am not surprised to learn from this great video about Ethiopia's contribution in defending South Korea. It's to M.F.'a credit to highlight the roles of nations beside the U.S. and the U.K. during that conflict.

    • @e-curb
      @e-curb 3 місяці тому +2

      I can foresee a series of episodes where Dr. Felton outlines the contribution of each participating nation.

    • @TheMotz55
      @TheMotz55 3 місяці тому +5

      @@e-curbMy father once told me the one nation that scared the North Koreans and Chinese was Turkey. Despite being outnumbered in many battles, Turkish soldiers fought skillfully and ferociously.

    • @e-curb
      @e-curb 3 місяці тому +1

      @@TheMotz55 Sounds like an interesting topic, don't you agree Dr. Felton?

  • @Hope_Boat
    @Hope_Boat 3 місяці тому +162

    Love to all our orthodox brothers in glorious Ethiopia from Greece.

    • @AbiySinta
      @AbiySinta 2 місяці тому +5

      Thank

    • @conductingintomfoolery9163
      @conductingintomfoolery9163 2 місяці тому +1

      It’s Muslim now

    • @redactedplayer8826
      @redactedplayer8826 2 місяці тому +16

      NUH UH Ethiopia will stay Orthodox the muslims in Ethiopia is like 33-35% while Chirstinality is like 64-66. Also love from Ethiopia i like greece history and culture

    • @jujutrini8412
      @jujutrini8412 2 місяці тому +12

      @@conductingintomfoolery9163 You don’t know what you are talking about.

    • @dessiemelza6330
      @dessiemelza6330 2 місяці тому +7

      Keep Greece Orthodox!

  • @philipeagleton750
    @philipeagleton750 3 місяці тому +163

    Hello Mark - I have shared this informative episode with HIH Prince Ermias Sahle Selassie Haile Selassie based in Virginia. HIH has been keeping the flame alive for decades in his capacity President of Crown Council. I had honour of arranging his visits to African and Caribbean leaders including Mandela, the Marleys etc and everywhere he was received with dignity. While Mengistu and company ended in disgrace after their brutal dictatorship, the Emperor's reign is respected. Thank you for your professional work on the contribution of the Kagnew brigade!

    • @nathanhammond9003
      @nathanhammond9003 3 місяці тому +24

      Is there any talk in Ethopia about restoring the monarchy, if only in a ceremonial role? It's seem such a shame that a lineage going back to king David would not be honored.

    • @philipeagleton750
      @philipeagleton750 3 місяці тому +18

      Hello Nathan: the Ethiopian people have as yet to be consulted about the monarchy or its restoration. It was under HM a true empire of peoples but is now a fragile and fragmenting federation. A lot has changed demographically. Prince Ermias, his grandson, offers crowned democracy. If you look at the neighborhood, thats not a bad option. As Sean Connery said " never say never". Philip

    • @alemayehuabebe5984
      @alemayehuabebe5984 8 днів тому

      Amhara FANO freedom fighters will bring a ceremonial monarchy to Ethiopia. The new generation of Amhara has respect for our forefathers

  • @eskedartessema6318
    @eskedartessema6318 2 місяці тому +54

    Wow My father is the one holding a flower in one hand and a flag on the other. He fought for 3 hours on the battle of 602. It was my father who you presented when he wes awarede the siliver star.
    captan Teferra waldetensye. I saw him crawling on his chest. Mark!!! I have no words thank you so much!!🙏🙏🙏

    • @yacobfantaye4658
      @yacobfantaye4658 Місяць тому +5

      Tefera w/tensay also knowm for stablishing tatek millitary camp,ad i heatd from my father he was brave and strong,but my father was killed by the communist leaders

    • @pearls1626
      @pearls1626 Місяць тому +3

      @@yacobfantaye4658May his Soul RIP

    • @ianetbastyan5756
      @ianetbastyan5756 24 дні тому +3

  • @awesomehpt8938
    @awesomehpt8938 3 місяці тому +548

    When two Ethiopians finish a conversation they say “Abyssinia!”

    • @mgdarenz
      @mgdarenz 3 місяці тому +24

      😂

    • @robertshields2066
      @robertshields2066 3 місяці тому +17

      Funny ha ha, now where's my cane?

    • @Vongreimbf109
      @Vongreimbf109 3 місяці тому +15

      What is that mean ? In my language abyssinia mean "Habis sini la"..= it finish here..or whatever we said here, stay here

    • @ReekieReels
      @ReekieReels 3 місяці тому +52

      Abyssinia sounds like the English "I'll be seeing ya". Which means goodbye, see you later.

    • @shakiMiki
      @shakiMiki 3 місяці тому +12

      Nonsense. I have never heard that. And I'm Ethiopian. And what exactly does that add?

  • @omedla
    @omedla Місяць тому +16

    6:47 The soldier on the left is my maternal grandfather Tilaye Engida Woldeegzi. He also served in Congo. He was member of the Imperial Guard. God bless him!
    An old soldier never dies, just fades away. 🕊️

  • @user-ef3ub1rz8x
    @user-ef3ub1rz8x 3 місяці тому +96

    As an Ethiopian my self i want to tell you that you have done a really great job with this video. It's detailed and really accurate, it's hard to find this kind of videos and works about our history, thank you for the time and effort.

    • @chris00nj
      @chris00nj 3 місяці тому

      When the famine happened in the 1980s, the US media never placed any blame on the Communist junta. I'm glad Mark brought it up. I believe it was a manufactured famine to punish and control the populace

  • @KonradAdenauerJr
    @KonradAdenauerJr 3 місяці тому +33

    Valiant Ethiopians, who fought alongside us. May their bravery be remembered forever.

  • @primoxxl71
    @primoxxl71 3 місяці тому +154

    My dad use to tell me of the Ethiopian soldiers that served in the Kagnew Battalion,since his father was in The Imperial Bodyguard during the second invaaion of Ethiopia by Italy.

    • @wstm3399
      @wstm3399 Місяць тому

      what did he say about them ?

  • @labby2
    @labby2 3 місяці тому +77

    This is fascinating. I never knew that Ethiopian troops fought in Korea. Thank you for your amazing work, Dr. Felton!

  • @ThomasDohertyJD
    @ThomasDohertyJD 3 місяці тому +70

    S.L.A. Marshall praised the Ethiopians in his book "Pork Chop Hill."
    One of the junior officers of the Kagnew Battalion, Demissie Bulto, rose to Major General and was credited with turning back the Somalis in the 1977 Ogaden War.
    He led a 1989 coup attempt against Mengistu and killed.

    • @user-fj7df3ng7z
      @user-fj7df3ng7z 3 місяці тому +1

      And killed who? Or do you mean he, Bulto, was killed?

    • @ThomasDohertyJD
      @ThomasDohertyJD 3 місяці тому +2

      @@user-fj7df3ng7z was killed

    • @MrSherqi
      @MrSherqi Місяць тому +2

      Grneral Demisse was killed while attempting a coup against the then leader Mengistu Hailemariam in 1989. His son Dereje Demisseie Bulto is a well known lawyer in DMV area USA. He has written a book about his father and the coup attempt.

  • @amcalabrese1
    @amcalabrese1 3 місяці тому +62

    My Dad served in the Korean War. He spent a day on the line with the Ethiopian unit giving them familiarization with the sector.

    • @paulpaid
      @paulpaid 3 місяці тому

      So your dad was a mercenary for corporate greed. Congrats.

    • @t-evans
      @t-evans 3 місяці тому +1

      @@paulpaid username checks out.

    • @nabuteyimer8733
      @nabuteyimer8733 9 днів тому

      ​@@paulpaid Full complexity😢

  • @petercarter9034
    @petercarter9034 3 місяці тому +117

    I don't know how you get such informative videos posted so frequently but am pleased you do

    • @e-curb
      @e-curb 3 місяці тому +1

      It's obvious that there are multiple Dr. Mark Feltons working hard to research these topics. It proves cloning technology has been perfected.

  • @akidshistoryandaviation
    @akidshistoryandaviation 3 місяці тому +136

    I’ve always wanted to learn more about the Ethiopian expeditionary force. An African monarchy sending troops to Asia is a weird situation. Thank you doctor Felton!

    • @rootin222
      @rootin222 3 місяці тому +9

      It was a waste of time for us, Ethiopians

    • @madeanaccounttospillthebor9568
      @madeanaccounttospillthebor9568 3 місяці тому +9

      We could say Helping Ethiopia by freeing it was a waste of time. We being the British.
      How do you feel about that?

    • @paulpaid
      @paulpaid 3 місяці тому +1

      Selassie was a good slave.

    • @josephhaack5711
      @josephhaack5711 3 місяці тому +10

      ThevUN was relevant back then. The UN and USA should have sent troops to restore the Emperor and defeat the communists. I will do more research on his reign and the troops in Korea. Fascinating

    • @rootin222
      @rootin222 3 місяці тому +5

      @@madeanaccounttospillthebor9568 WRONG my anglo, that was World War 2 where the italians had a extermination policy on most of the northern population big fucking difference

  • @user-kt8yp5ho2y
    @user-kt8yp5ho2y 3 місяці тому +60

    머나먼 한국을 수호하신 에티오피아 강뉴부대에게 진심으로 감사드리며 당신들의 숭고한 희생을 절대 잊지 않겠습니다. 🇰🇷🇪🇹

    • @kalb6122
      @kalb6122 3 місяці тому +7

      🇪🇹❤🇰🇷

    • @user-kt8yp5ho2y
      @user-kt8yp5ho2y 3 місяці тому +5

      @@kalb6122 🇪🇹 🇰🇷

    • @official_simion
      @official_simion 2 місяці тому +4

      🇪🇹🤝🇰🇷
      I am Ethiopia and South Korea is my life

    • @yeefrem2804
      @yeefrem2804 2 місяці тому +5

      . Your heartfelt message of gratitude to the heroic Ethiopian Kangnew Brigade, who safeguarded distant Korea, will never be forgotten. 🇰🇷🇪🇹ከልብ የመነጨ ታላቅነት ለ ሄሮዪክ የኢትዮጵያ ካንግነው ብሬግን በቀላሉ ከሩቅ ያለችውን ኮርያን ሴፍ ጋርዲንግ፤

    • @user-zh3dv5oi1b
      @user-zh3dv5oi1b Місяць тому +2

      👍💚💚💚💛💛💛❤️❤️❤️ Ethiopia

  • @michaelplanchunas3693
    @michaelplanchunas3693 3 місяці тому +16

    Brig. General S.L.A. Marshall, the official US Army historian wrote the after-action report of the battle for Pork Chop Hill. In it he highly commended the Ethiopian troops as being the best he had seen. "They always fulfilled their mission". In one instance he reported on how they captured several Chinese troops by simply walking up to them in the open. The Chinese thought they were walking to them to surrender.

  • @abeselomgari6835
    @abeselomgari6835 2 місяці тому +12

    Even if we are struggling right now as a country we have contributed a lot for peace and harmony to the world. Proud Ethiopian

  • @jamesdellaneve9005
    @jamesdellaneve9005 3 місяці тому +18

    I never knew of this history. I see many proud Ethiopians commenting here, which is great. The US lost 36,000 men in the War. Most young Americans couldn’t tell you a thing about the War. I am happy that South Korea turned into such a great country. It was worth the sacrifice.

    • @SurafelKidane-nz4td
      @SurafelKidane-nz4td 21 день тому +1

      yes, it worth saving! i'm from ethiopia Now they help us with so many things they never forget a friend.

  • @mckrunchytoast2469
    @mckrunchytoast2469 3 місяці тому +97

    Thank you for bringing this story to light. I never knew this about the Korean War. Those Ethiopian troops sound like a force to be reckoned with on the field of battle. Haile Selassie also sounds like a damn fine fellow. I hate hearing how he went, but he definitely left a good legacy behind.

    • @chrisleigh8886
      @chrisleigh8886 3 місяці тому +5

      The story of Emperor Haile Selassie's demise at the hands of Dergue is the only inaccuracy of this video. In reality, the Dergue 'lost' the Emperor and was looking for any old man that looked like Him for a decade afterwards. Very few people in Ethiopia believe the story of His bones being found on the Palace grounds and bones said to be His have been 'buried' a total of three times, despite zero forensic evidence.
      I understand the symbolic gesture of 'laying Him to rest' of the latest funeral but as a historian, one of the major mysteries I am hoping to unravel and hunting for primary sources on is what happened to Emperor Haile Selassie in 1975. The reports of His death are all hearsay and conjecture, many debunked at the time and all lacking hard evidence.
      I am, however, discovering mounting evidence that He was extracted covertly by the British SAS to London and later returned to Ethiopia to live as an ascetic monk in the mountains. If only Hereford accepted freedom of information requests, I would have asked them directly by now.

    • @themostbestwizard
      @themostbestwizard 3 місяці тому +2

      No a good king leaves a legacy in the form of a monarchy that outlasts him. A contemptible warlord who is the first and last of his dynasty, dying while his country is being ripped apart be a civil war which HE partly started by trying to force the Eritreans to accept Amharic is NOT a good king and he certainly doesn't qualify as someone who left a good legacy.

    • @nickbirkby2521
      @nickbirkby2521 3 місяці тому

      Sounds fascinating-good luck with your research!@@chrisleigh8886

    • @nickbirkby2521
      @nickbirkby2521 3 місяці тому

      It sounds fascinating- good luck with your research!

    • @chrisleigh8886
      @chrisleigh8886 3 місяці тому +1

      @themostbestwizard Keep proving your ignorance with your unfounded chat about first and last of His dynasty. The Ethiopian monarchy still exists in exile and will exist long after you are forgotten. His legacy will outlive us all.

  • @dest567
    @dest567 23 дні тому +3

    My dad was one of them. He came back safe and he lived until age of 102. I loved the story he used to tell me about those moments.

  • @rabiarabia1881
    @rabiarabia1881 Місяць тому +5

    የኛ ምርጡ የኢትዮጲያ ንጉስ አፄ ሀይለስላሴ በጣም አከብረወታለሁ ❤❤ ጋዜጠኛውም ስለ ንጉሲ ሀይለስላሴ በመዘገብህ በጣም እናመሰግናለን 🇪🇹❤❤

  • @stukafaust
    @stukafaust 3 місяці тому +57

    Fantastic. More Ethiopian content please. I have visited the mass graves at the site of the Battle of Adwa among other places in this enigmatic country.

    • @user-zh3dv5oi1b
      @user-zh3dv5oi1b Місяць тому

      welcome to Ethiopia 💚💚💛💛❤️❤️

  • @chrisleigh8886
    @chrisleigh8886 3 місяці тому +23

    Now you've mentioned it directly in a video Mark, don't pass up on my invitation to visit Fairfield House in Bath any Sunday for a historical guided tour. I guarantee it will be a more enjoyable and friendly experience than your visit to Buckingham Palace and you can give your viewers some more Ethiopian content. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for mentioning and promoting the project even before visiting.
    The Ethiopian liberation campaign was one of the first major allied victories of the Second World War and proved to be one of the most interesting and definitive campaigns of the whole war.
    Gideon force in particular under the command of the Emperor Himself and Orde Wingate of later Chindits fame is an extraordinary chapter in military history you should cover.

  • @edithmihertab2262
    @edithmihertab2262 Місяць тому +3

    My Dad served in the Korean War. Proud of Him ! Thank you for sharing.

  • @AmikeAmanok-lf2hi
    @AmikeAmanok-lf2hi 3 місяці тому +9

    As an Ethiopian that is our proud,
    But today's Ethiopian situation is very changed Gov't is fighting against militias at some regional states, we helped s.korea before 73 yrs ago but now the situation doesn't seem like before we are weak to our country😢😢.

  • @jarchiec
    @jarchiec 3 місяці тому +12

    While stationed in the ROK in 1985, I visited the Ethiopian memorial in Chuncheon. I was based at Camp Page in Chuncheon and got to learn about the Ethiopian participation from locals. Their contributions should be remember, thank you for sharing.

  • @a11osaurus
    @a11osaurus 3 місяці тому +54

    I always find it interesting to see how many different countries participated in the Korean war

    • @nbenicewicz
      @nbenicewicz 3 місяці тому +8

      It’s also a shame that it is largely a forgotten war when it should not be given the number of troops that fought and died there as well as the amount of destruction that took place and the number of civilians that lost their lives and got displaced.
      I wonder when we will ever see a Medal of Honor or Call of Duty game that is set in the Korean War.

    • @jyy9624
      @jyy9624 3 місяці тому +1

      Precursor to desert storm

    • @PantherBlitz
      @PantherBlitz 3 місяці тому +2

      ​@@nbenicewiczProbably will never happen as the game devs would like to sell the game in China and it would certainly be banned there.

    • @davidcox3076
      @davidcox3076 3 місяці тому +1

      It would be awesome if Dr. Felton could dedicate a video to each of the international battalions that participated.

    • @nbenicewicz
      @nbenicewicz 3 місяці тому

      @@PantherBlitz
      You are probably right. Especially when you consider that the Red Dawn remake of 2012 was supposed to have the Chicoms be the invading force and the CHICOM government made the movie developers change it.

  • @ramayibareh
    @ramayibareh 3 місяці тому +23

    Excellent video as always. A note of interest on min 6:29 - 6:35 . The commander giving instructions to the Ethiopian troops is none other than Mengistu Neway, who rose to lead the Imperial Bodyguards and was a trusted member of the Emperor's inner circle. He is recognizable for his elegant moustache (I have been told by older Ethiopians that he was known as a bit of a dandy,).
    One of Mengistu’s early signs of trust was that he was in charge of hanging a rebel named Belay Zeleke, who had fought the Fascist Italians with distinction (he even killed a General!) but refused to bow for Haile Selassie, ostensibly because of his cowardice in fleeing to England. I am told that the offer of a position as governor in remote Shaka region of South West Ethiopia was seen as an affront, when other patriots were afforded cushy positions in Addis Ababa or wealthier land close to it. Belay Zeleke was a commoner, not a noble, and this also may have contributed to the resentment. Habeshas Reading this may be able to confirm this suggestion.
    In December 1960, however, Mengistu Neway led a coup attempt alongside his brother Germane while the Emperor was on a state visit to Brazil. This attempt was carried out in the context of the 1960 Year of Africa, when 17 African colonies gained independence. The buzz of "revolution" and "emancipation" caught on in Imperial Ethiopia, at least in Addis Ababa and among both students and rank & file troops.
    Mengistu carried out the plan by employing cunning and deception: as he waved goodbye to the Emperor at the airport in Addis Ababa, he waited for long enough so that the airplane would be crossing the Atlantic and then summoned the leading notables of the country to the imperial palace, with the pretext that Her Imperial Majesty Menen Asfaw, who was known to be in poor health, was suddenly very ill. All notables were arrested and used as potential bargaining chips if the coup failed.
    The coup was initially successful, but the Emperor chose to fly back to Africa as soon he landed in Brazil, where he was informed of events. His Alliance with the United States paid off, as he was able to arrange a first stop-over in Monrovia (Liberia) and use the American radio broadcast system in place there. This allowed him to organize a counter-strike and he he then flew back to Asmara (modern day capital of Eritrea), where the proximity of US army base Kagnew (yes, named after the Korean deployment!) afforded a measure of security for the emperor.
    As loyalists tried to re-take control of Addis Ababa, the Emperor’s own son was heard on the radio issuing a proclamation to all Ethiopians in which he deposed Haile Selassie. It is interesting to note that his speech invoked pan-African narratives of liberation, perhaps the first political statement in Ethiopian history to do so.
    The coup ultimately failed and Mengistu Neway, cornered in the Green Salon of the palace alongside his brother Germane, a few remaining soldiers and the high-ranking prisoners. Aware that all was lost, the prisoners were massacred. The fatalities included many ministers and the likes of Ras Abebe Aregay, a hero of the resistance against Fascist Italy. Mengistu Neway escaped with his brother but were soon tracked down. Germane committed suicide but Mengistu was taken prisoner.
    Mengistu Neway was hanged in central Addis Ababa (in Lagar, I am told), on the very same spot where he had tied the noose of Belay Zeleke.

    • @azebnegash2354
      @azebnegash2354 2 місяці тому

      Really interesting! Want to read more about it!!

  • @motorTranz
    @motorTranz 3 місяці тому +7

    This was one of your best stories on this channel! Thank you Dr. Felton!

  • @vikingszen1502
    @vikingszen1502 2 місяці тому +5

    Correction Dr. Felton! This is NOT the "first time in Ethiopia's long history that her army served outside Africa." Ethiopian empire known as Aksum ruled Yemen for decades and her army indeed engaged in numerous battles against the army of Sassanid Persian empire. Aksumite Empire ruled Yemen from 520AD to 578AD until it was finally decisively defeated by Sassanid Persian empire which continued to rule Yemen as a vassal state until Yemen was conquered by the first Rashidun caliph of the nascent Islamic empire, Abu Bakr around 640AD.

  • @cripplers8
    @cripplers8 3 місяці тому +13

    Being 56 & a life long history buff I’ve learned quite a bit more of history that I didn’t know being a subscriber here. Cudos Doctor Felton for all the work you do to bring more historical knowledge to us. Thank You brother!

  • @mago2250
    @mago2250 3 місяці тому +8

    I remember watching Korean TV show, visiting Ethiopia to thank those who fought for Korea. They were heroes to South Korea.

  • @tomawen5916
    @tomawen5916 3 місяці тому +27

    Well done Doctor Felton! The fact that Ethiopia was able to field a strong army contingent despite barely recovering from the Italian occupation is just short of a miracle. When the Italians originally invaded Ethiopia back in the 1930's, the Ethiopian infantry had to stand and fight against Italian bombers (dropping chemical weapons) and tanks. The Ethiopian military today is over 130,000 strong well equipped with tanks and artillery and one of the strongest nations militarily in the Horn of Africa.

    • @theotherohlourdespadua1131
      @theotherohlourdespadua1131 3 місяці тому +5

      It "helps" that the unit sent to Korea happens to be the Emperor's personal guard, the unit MOST LOYAL to him...

  • @paulgaskins7713
    @paulgaskins7713 3 місяці тому +8

    Holy crap, it never ceases to amaze me just how many interesting and unique service medals exist out there. Especially these rather obscure ones. Your earlier video on the Thai WW1 Versailles medal as well as my intense curiosity in why some (usually socialist or failing) nations military leadership have an absurd amount of medals that got me into collecting historical medals and I’m always reminded and thankful for your channel creating that inspiration in me

  • @briansmith7791
    @briansmith7791 3 місяці тому +4

    Nice description. The Ethiopians' exploits are well recorded in S. L. A. Marshall's "Pork Chop Hill". Their effectiveness in night fighting was extraordinary. At one point, they sent an 8-man patrol into Chinese trenches in clear weather in daylight, and returned with two prisoners and no casualties.

  • @HayuBerhanu
    @HayuBerhanu 3 місяці тому +5

    2:06 There were also Ethiopian partisans who resisted the ocupation till the last Italian soldier left Ethiopia. They were comprised of both the Imperial Army and Resistance movements that fomented in the rural areas.
    2:35 Their exact name was actually ,translated to english, was the Imperial Honor Guard

  • @gaskmaskpoet
    @gaskmaskpoet 3 місяці тому +5

    We need more docs on Ethiopian resistance against Italy in both wars.

  • @rufust.firefly6352
    @rufust.firefly6352 3 місяці тому +6

    My grandfather and father both served at Kagnew Station. My grandfather had the pleasure of dining with the Emperor one day and greatly liked him. He always taught me to know your table manners as you never know, one day you may dine with an Emperor.

  • @mcmax571
    @mcmax571 3 місяці тому +6

    In High School when history class got to the Korean War a teacher who fought in it would give a talk with slides of all the pictures in took and he spent some time with the Ethiopians troops and said that they were magnificent Soldiers, brave beyond belief.

  • @raypurchase801
    @raypurchase801 3 місяці тому +16

    No matter how much I THINK I know about history, Mark always outsmarts me.
    That's the problem with history: There's a lot of it.
    The more I think I know, the more I realise I know almost nuffin.
    Thanks, Mark.

    • @telisijohn2054
      @telisijohn2054 28 днів тому

      I see what you did with "nufflin"😆

  • @johncoffin9354
    @johncoffin9354 3 місяці тому +7

    Marshall's book on the Korean War mentioned that Ethiopians were unequalled in night patrols and raids. Having grown up in the countryside, they were able to navigate in good order in the darkest nights, where any other group of soldiers would have become lost or blunder into trouble.

    • @chrisleigh8886
      @chrisleigh8886 3 місяці тому +4

      A lot of the Kagnew battalion troops were also veterans of the guerilla liberation campaign against the Italian occupation of Ethiopia, during which night recon and raids were a staple of their operations.

    • @chrisleigh8886
      @chrisleigh8886 3 місяці тому +1

      Night fighting was something very new to the Ethiopians that they did not do until 1935 as well.
      Emperor Haile Selassie had a hard time convincing His traditional warriors during the war with Italy that guerilla tactics and night fighting were not the dishonourable tactics of 'shifta' (bandits), but a military necessity in the face of overwhelming Italian firepower.
      After the battle of Maichew and the defeat of Ethiopias conventional armies in 1936 however, Ethiopia's warriors realised the wisdom of the Emperor's instructions and launched a 5 year guerilla campaign that was hugely successful in confining Mussolini's troops to fortified garrisons.

    • @johncoffin9354
      @johncoffin9354 3 місяці тому

      @@chrisleigh8886 You're right. I had mis-remembered. Marshall was writing about Kenyans.

    • @chrisleigh8886
      @chrisleigh8886 3 місяці тому

      @@johncoffin9354 Your statement wasn't exactly wrong applied to the Ethiopians either as they too had mostly grown up in a rural setting and were quite used to navigating at night. There was just a particular point of honour among the Ethiopians up to the 1930s, obsolete by the Korean War, that fighting at night was cowardly and that warfare should be done in pitched battle during the day.

  • @user-zt3qu8kr4u
    @user-zt3qu8kr4u 20 днів тому +2

    I would like to thank you for putting together this nice history piece. With this I am so proud to introduce you to My mother Captain Sister Aster Ayana seen in the video Infront of a procession with two other female officers. Captain Sister Aster is the one in the middle of the two. She participated with the United Nations Peace Keeping Force during The Korean War and later on during the UN's Peace Keeping involvement in Congo.
    She is decorated with medals from Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopian, The Korean Government and also with A Legion of Merit from The United States of America.
    Dag Hammarskjold also acknowledged her act of bravery during an incident in The Congo by sending Telegrams to the Emperor and also to leaders of participant nations.
    With this I like to point out that Ethiopia is a nation with immense history of great individuals.

  • @wondwosenmetaferiamekasha7020
    @wondwosenmetaferiamekasha7020 2 місяці тому +4

    I am ethiopian my uncle was a memberof kagnew battalion called tadese sendeku during the war captain he told me many interesting things about the war i were very surprised by him&was very interesting.

  • @patrick6409
    @patrick6409 3 місяці тому +30

    6:07 oh boy! My man rolled down the hill like Jack and Jill 😂

    • @libRteedude
      @libRteedude 3 місяці тому +3

      LOL The guy behind him tries to grab him too.

    • @patrick6409
      @patrick6409 Місяць тому

      @@libRteedude yeah

  • @MrXdmp
    @MrXdmp 3 місяці тому +17

    thanks Dr. Felton!

  • @seanbumstead1250
    @seanbumstead1250 3 місяці тому +28

    Actually in the tv show MASH they mention Ethiopians in the was were they fix up a Ethiopian soldier and he thanks Hawkeye your saving him

  • @GillianSeed
    @GillianSeed 3 місяці тому +4

    Mark, I think you are incorrect about this being the first time Ethiopian troops left Africa. If you count the Kingdom of Aksum, they fought in Aisa over now what is today Yemen.

  • @grapeshot
    @grapeshot 3 місяці тому +19

    Three of my great-uncles served in the Korean War Two in the US Army and one in the US Marine Corps.

    • @paulpaid
      @paulpaid 3 місяці тому

      What's your point?

    • @grapeshot
      @grapeshot 3 місяці тому +3

      @@paulpaid what the comment says

    • @paulpaid
      @paulpaid 3 місяці тому +1

      @@grapeshot In other words..they were mercenary puppets for capitalist greed. So what?

    • @grapeshot
      @grapeshot 3 місяці тому +1

      @@paulpaid in other words you're a basement dwelling troll that's what's up

    • @grapeshot
      @grapeshot 3 місяці тому

      @paulpaid oh yeah you're a cult member in the so-called Israelite Nation😄😄😄😄 delusions don't discriminate

  • @halleluyastudio
    @halleluyastudio Місяць тому +2

    Thank you for the info! I always wanted to know more about Ethiopian soldiers battle in Korean war. እናመሰግናለን!

  • @mitchmatthews6713
    @mitchmatthews6713 3 місяці тому +6

    Never a dull video from Sir Felton! Cheers, Mark!

  • @MikeSiemens88
    @MikeSiemens88 3 місяці тому +5

    Thanks for this, had no idea Ethiopian troops fought in Korea. A war of hills it seems. My dad was a young technician in the RCAF during the Korean War. As a tech crewman he was on a number of relief flights in North Star aircraft that flew from North America carrying supplies to Japan & returning wounded on the way back.
    On the subject of defending/capturing hills a significant battle was fought at Kapyong with a Canadian unit of the PPCLI defending one hill, Australian troops on another & a Kiwi artillery unit providing covering fire. Although the Aussies were forced to relinquish their position facing overwhelming waves of Chinese troops, the PPCLI was able to hold their hill. At one point a PPCLI officer called artillery fire on his own position to prevent from being overrun by the enemy.

  • @brucecreswell136
    @brucecreswell136 3 місяці тому +2

    Videos like this is what makes this channel great.

  • @robertphillips6296
    @robertphillips6296 3 місяці тому +3

    Thank You for Posting.

  • @MarkDavidKnight
    @MarkDavidKnight 3 місяці тому +4

    Thanks for this video Dr Felton, I definitely learnt something new today!

  • @spnsoccer
    @spnsoccer 3 місяці тому +3

    Great story, thank you for sharing and keeping the story of the Kagnew Battalion alive.

  • @litebkt
    @litebkt 3 місяці тому +3

    Thank you. You bring a lot to UA-cam!

  • @TBagr
    @TBagr 3 місяці тому +3

    Dr. Felton teaches me something new, every single video.

  • @russwoodward8251
    @russwoodward8251 3 місяці тому +4

    I have an Ethiopian purchased Enfield rifle. The stock still smelled of Italian mustard gas when I first cleaned it. Good to know some of Ethopia's army history, and especially good to know that Emperor Selassie was highly regarded. Thank you Dr. Felton!

  • @selencaker
    @selencaker 3 місяці тому +2

    Another amazing topic from Mark Felton! I loved the idea, perfectly narrated. Thank you Mr. Felton!

  • @CzechImp
    @CzechImp 3 місяці тому +5

    Thanks for the link to Fairfield House - your video inspired me to make a modest donation.

    • @chrisleigh8886
      @chrisleigh8886 3 місяці тому +2

      Visit Fairfield any Sunday for a historical guided tour.

  • @MrSherqi
    @MrSherqi Місяць тому +2

    There is a Korean War memorial park in Addis Ababa near the university. It commemorates the sacrifice of our soldiers in Korea. I am also honored to be a grown up friend of a son of a Kagnew battalion veteran.

  • @oldtop4682
    @oldtop4682 3 місяці тому +1

    Yet another amazing historical piece! Thank you for bringing us these stories Doctor Felton!

  • @mrkoolzaad2
    @mrkoolzaad2 3 місяці тому +5

    Yes, new footage from a different conflict. Excellent video!

    • @blackyweld5696
      @blackyweld5696 Місяць тому

      How do you know? Oh, you just felt jealousy 😂😂😂😂😂

  • @robertortiz-wilson1588
    @robertortiz-wilson1588 3 місяці тому +3

    Thank you so much for covering this!
    A great tragedy for the nation in the latter half of The Cold War.

  • @Robbielazar
    @Robbielazar 3 місяці тому +2

    Massive respect for Dr Felton

  • @giorgiomazzoni429
    @giorgiomazzoni429 3 місяці тому +2

    Congratulations!. You are always an incredible source of documentation and information. Very few would know or remember such pieces of history.

  • @fancyultrafresh3264
    @fancyultrafresh3264 3 місяці тому +1

    Amazing story Dr. Felton, thank you.

  • @user-pw1rr2vm8b
    @user-pw1rr2vm8b 3 місяці тому +5

    Glory to the Korean battalion! ክብር ለኮርያ ዘማቾች!
    Thanks Mark for going in depth to this forgotten part of our country's history even by our compatriots. Keep up the good work!

  • @yacobfantaye4658
    @yacobfantaye4658 2 місяці тому +2

    As an ethiopian before i was following your ww2 videos ,very happy to see this.thanks Dr

  • @danielsahlemariam2367
    @danielsahlemariam2367 3 місяці тому +5

    Here, in Addis Ababa, we have a statue built by South Korea in a show of appreciation after the Korean War. In the 1970s our monarchy was replaced by a communist government which aligned Ethiopia with the Soviet bloc. Subsequently, North Korea built a statue as a symbol of communist solidarity. So interestingly, we have statues from both Koreas in our capital 😄

    • @Studywise_io
      @Studywise_io Місяць тому

      Yetu gar nachew koy ? I wanna know where the statues are broo

    • @danielsahlemariam2367
      @danielsahlemariam2367 Місяць тому

      @@Studywise_io የሰሜን ኮሪያው ጥቁር አንበሳ ጋር ያለው ሀውልት። የደቡብ ኮርያው ደግሞ የኮሪያ ጦርነት መታሰቢያ ሙዝየም ውስጥ ነው። ሰሜን ሆቴል አካባቢ ነው ሙዚየሙ።

  • @MWM-dj6dn
    @MWM-dj6dn 3 місяці тому +3

    A wonderful channel that deserves the best regards, appreciation, admiration and pride. It provides accurate and useful information. I thank you for all the beautiful words and sincere feelings for your distinguished posts. I wish you continued success and all the best. My utmost respect and appreciation

  • @matthewlocke2434
    @matthewlocke2434 3 місяці тому +3

    Excellent video and thoroughly interesting to learn about this forgotten history.

  • @TankerBricks
    @TankerBricks 3 місяці тому +2

    Mark! Thanks for providing my Monday Night entertainment!

  • @lordnevetsz
    @lordnevetsz 3 місяці тому +1

    Another great video Mark! always something new from you.

  • @pauloyassuhidefujioka6458
    @pauloyassuhidefujioka6458 3 місяці тому +1

    Brilliant, dr. Felton! Great video.

  • @dsmith2568
    @dsmith2568 3 місяці тому +1

    Always amazing to remember how crazy history is and not so clear cut, thanks doc!

  • @1jbunceiii
    @1jbunceiii 3 місяці тому +4

    Super interesting! Thanks for the research on this!!

  • @user-ib9uu3wk5e
    @user-ib9uu3wk5e 3 місяці тому +1

    Great, great video! Thanks, Mark! Keep up the good work!

  • @scootertart
    @scootertart 3 місяці тому +1

    Another informative and brilliant video Dr Felton- this is one story about the Korean war that I had never heard before. many thanks

  • @MWM-dj6dn
    @MWM-dj6dn 3 місяці тому +2

    A wonderful and distinctive channel that deserves admiration and appreciation. You provide accurate, wonderful, and very useful information. A thousand greetings, great respect and great pride for these wonderful publications and distinguished efforts. I wish you lasting success. The utmost respect and appreciation.

  • @paulfryejr2918
    @paulfryejr2918 3 місяці тому +1

    Thanks another interesting, informative and historical video.

  • @mjlotus
    @mjlotus 3 місяці тому +4

    Outstanding video. I knew about the Kagnew Battalion, but only that it was part of the Emperor's Guard and that it served in Korea. This detail is greatly appreciated. Defeating Communist aggression was a worthy cause. So sad that Ethiopia was taken over by Communists and suffered as a result.

  • @daystatesniper01
    @daystatesniper01 3 місяці тому +2

    Mark ,yet again good Sir a platinum nugget of a amazing unknown section of the forgotten war, many thanks .

  • @huwzebediahthomas9193
    @huwzebediahthomas9193 3 місяці тому +18

    Very informative.
    Ethiopia is quite a very old Christian country, isn't it?

    • @t.wcharles2171
      @t.wcharles2171 3 місяці тому +6

      The second of its kind.

    • @theotherohlourdespadua1131
      @theotherohlourdespadua1131 3 місяці тому

      Nearly half of them are not Christians. Only the elite and the Emperor are Christians...

    • @rullangaar
      @rullangaar 3 місяці тому

      Armenia was first, right?

    • @chrisleigh8886
      @chrisleigh8886 3 місяці тому +1

      Ethiopia, Armenia and Britain were the first three nations to receive Christianity roughly at the same time through missionaries sent by Phillip. The baptism of the Ethiopian court eunuch Frumentius is recorded in the book of Acts and shortly after, Phillip sent Jospeh of Arimathea to Britian. Off the top of my head I can't remember who brought it to Armenia. Out of the churches founded then at the dawn of Christianity around today, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church is the most strongly surviving one. The Celtic and Armenian churches are still around but nowhere near the scale of the Ethiopian.

    • @jamesalexander3530
      @jamesalexander3530 3 місяці тому +1

      There is an ancient Orthodox Church in Ethiopia said to hold the ark containing the ten commandments which is closely guarded by Ethiopian priests.

  • @jdewitt77
    @jdewitt77 3 місяці тому +1

    Another great video by the wonderful Mark Felton. He makes history come alive and sheds a very bright light on the obsucre.

  • @Sshooter444
    @Sshooter444 3 місяці тому +1

    Great presentation, thank you!

  • @anthonydivon5571
    @anthonydivon5571 3 місяці тому

    Great historical piece thank you Dr Felton

  • @Tammy-un3ql
    @Tammy-un3ql 3 місяці тому +2

    Thanks for sharing

  • @tnguy9696
    @tnguy9696 3 місяці тому +2

    incredible story mark well done

  • @girmamitiku5599
    @girmamitiku5599 Місяць тому +1

    Great video. For those interested about the kagnew battalion bravery, a wonderful book has been written by a Greek journalist who covered the unit during the Korean War. The book has been translated into amharic and Korean languge. As an Ethiopian, i appreciate the Korean government for providing scholarships for young Ethiopians to attend Korean universities.

  • @martinjf467
    @martinjf467 3 місяці тому +16

    During the Second World War my dad lived at the lodge to a huge house up on Lansdowne Hill just outside Bath. My grandad was the lodge keeper and house manager for the elderly owner, a Miss State. On one occasion he was playing by the drive gate when a limousine came down the road. It stopped and the driver beckoned my father across. He asked for directions to the London Road which my young father (he was 10) could not give him, so he told him to fetch my grandfather from the lodge. When Grandad appeared the driver took directions from him, but whilst he was talking the person in the back of the limo got out and sat my father on his knee. He chatted with him and then gave him half a crown - a fortune in those days. And who was in the limo that day? None other than Haile Selassie himself who was at that time in exile. I had no idea that he lived at the house you showed in the video but it makes sense as it was not far from where they stopped and spoke to my father!

  • @kevinbarry71
    @kevinbarry71 3 місяці тому +8

    There was a brief mention of this in the television show MASH; when they treated an Ethiopian soldier

    • @kevinsacks3185
      @kevinsacks3185 3 місяці тому +1

      I remember that episode. When the soldier thanks Hawkeye for saving his life, he says, "Well that's Haile Selassie of you".

    • @bluewavechris
      @bluewavechris 3 місяці тому +1

      MASH actually did a pretty solid job of showing some of the other nations involved: Brits (in multiple episodes), Aussies, Canadians, Greeks & Turks (both in multiple episodes), Luxemburg, Italians, Swedes, Costa Rica and of course the Ethiopians that you mentioned....and I have probably forgotten some too.....

    • @GrafEisen1
      @GrafEisen1 3 місяці тому

      MASH is pretty great, it's a lot more respectful of other cultures than I would have expected from a 70s show

  • @jonmeek3879
    @jonmeek3879 3 місяці тому +2

    Excellent video thank you

  • @Bruhganu-hj9qs
    @Bruhganu-hj9qs 3 місяці тому

    Phenomenal topic that desperately needed to be covered

  • @chrisloomis1489
    @chrisloomis1489 Місяць тому +1

    I have learned something today ; thank you Mark ....history during my childhood in the 1960-70's in Ethiopia. Very brave fighters , and a proud people too. Kudo's Ethiopia !!

  • @juliansadler6263
    @juliansadler6263 3 місяці тому +2

    Don't forget before Haile Selassie moved to Fairfield House he was first housed at Warnes Hotel on Worthing seafront. My mother told me she remembered him walking with his entourage and their umbrellas.