Easter Conflicts

Blood and Resurrection: When Easter Turns Ugly

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Easter is traditionally a time of peace, reflection, and renewal—but history tells a more conflicted story. Across centuries and continents, the holiday has repeatedly coincided with uprisings, massacres, and decisive battles. Easter has an unsettling legacy as both a symbol of hope and a backdrop for human conflict.

There is a warlike Easter tradition in Greece, in the village of Vrontados on the island of Chios, where two rival congregations engage each year in a symbolic “rocket war” (Rouketopolemos). Dating back to the Ottoman era, two rival church congregations engage in a mock battle by firing thousands of homemade rockets at each other’s bell towers during Easter celebrations. This event symbolizes resistance and is rooted in the community’s desire to celebrate Easter despite restrictions during Ottoman rule.

The Battle of Good Friday in Uppsala (1520)

During the Dano-Swedish War (1512–1520), the Battle of Uppsala, also known as the “Battle of Good Friday,” was fought on April 6, 1520. Danish forces, comprising mercenaries from France, Scotland, and Germany, clashed with a Swedish peasant army in Uppsala. Despite initial successes by the Swedes, the Danes regrouped and secured a decisive victory. The battle resulted in significant casualties and is remembered as one of the bloodiest confrontations of the war.

The Piedmontese Easter Massacre (1655)

In April 1655, during the Easter season, the Duchy of Savoy launched a brutal campaign against the Waldensians, a Protestant group in the Piedmont region of Italy. Known as the “Piedmontese Easter,” this massacre resulted in the deaths of thousands of Waldensians. The violence was part of the broader Savoyard–Waldensian Wars, driven by religious intolerance and political power struggles. The atrocities committed during this period drew international condemnation, notably from Oliver Cromwell in England, and inspired John Milton’s sonnet “On the Late Massacre in Piedmont.”

The Veronese Easter Uprising (1797)

During Napoleon Bonaparte’s Italian campaign, tensions between French occupying forces and the citizens of Verona led to a violent uprising known as the Veronese Easter. Beginning on Easter Monday, April 17, the revolt was fuelled by local resentment towards French-imposed reforms and military conscription. The insurrection lasted until April 25, resulting in significant casualties and providing Napoleon with a pretext to dismantle the Republic of Venice. The uprising was eventually suppressed by French reinforcements, leading to severe reprisals and the eventual fall of the Republic of Venice.

The Battle of Toulouse (1814)

On Easter Sunday, April 10, the Battle of Toulouse occurred during the Peninsular War. British, Portuguese, and Spanish forces under the Duke of Wellington attacked French troops commanded by Marshal Soult. Despite the French eventually retreating, the battle was one of the last major engagements of the Napoleonic Wars.

The Battle of Shiloh (1862)

Coinciding with Palm Sunday, the Battle of Shiloh, April 6–7, was one of the bloodiest engagements in the American Civil War. Fought in southwestern Tennessee, Union forces under General Ulysses S. Grant faced a surprise attack by Confederate troops. The battle resulted in over 23,000 casualties and marked a turning point in the Western Theatre of the war.

Lincoln’s Assassination on Good Friday (1865)

Just days after General Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Court House on Palm Sunday, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated on Good Friday, April 14, by John Wilkes Booth. The timing of Lincoln’s death during the Easter period led many contemporaries to draw parallels between his martyrdom and the crucifixion of Christ, interpreting it as a divine sacrifice for the nation’s sins.

The Battle of Columbus (1865)

Often considered one of the last battles of the Civil War, the Battle of Columbus occurred on Easter Sunday, April 16. Union forces under General James H. Wilson attacked Confederate defences in Columbus, Georgia, leading to the city’s capture. The battle resulted in the death of Colonel Charles A. L. Lamar, who is sometimes cited as the last Confederate officer killed in the war.

The Gallipoli Campaign (1915)

Anzac Day, commemorated every April 25th by Australians and New Zealanders, marks the anniversary of the Anzac forces’ landing at Gallipoli in World War I. Despite the military campaign being a failed attempt to capture the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey, it stands as a significant historical event, symbolizing bravery and sacrifice. The observance has evolved into a memorial for all soldiers who died in wars, particularly during World War I. The proximity of Anzac Day to Easter has occasionally led to overlapping commemorations, blending themes of sacrifice and remembrance.

The Easter Rising: Ireland’s Bid for Independence (1916)

On Easter Monday, April 24, 1916, Irish republicans launched an insurrection against British rule, aiming to establish an independent Irish Republic. Led by figures such as Patrick Pearse and James Connolly, approximately 1,600 rebels seized strategic locations in Dublin, including the General Post Office (GPO), where Pearse read the Proclamation of the Irish Republic.

The British response was swift and forceful, deploying thousands of troops to suppress the uprising. After six days of intense urban combat, the rebels surrendered. The British executed 16 leaders of the rebellion, actions that, while intended to quell dissent, instead galvanized Irish nationalist sentiment. The Easter Rising set the stage for the subsequent War of Independence and the eventual establishment of the Irish Free State.

The Finnish Civil War – The Battle of Tampere (1918)

The Battle of Tampere was a pivotal engagement during the Finnish Civil War between the “White” government forces and the “Red” socialist factions. The true Battle of Tampere began on March 28, 1918—later known as “Bloody Maundy Thursday”—on the eve of Easter. Fought between 16,000 White and 14,000 Red troops, it became the decisive confrontation of the Finnish Civil War and, at the time, the largest military engagement in Scandinavian history. It was Finland’s first urban battle, with fierce house-to-house fighting and clashes in the Kalevankangas cemetery as the Red Guards fell back. The battle lasted until April 6 and proved the bloodiest of the war. Red determination to defend the city had grown significantly, forcing the Whites to commit some of their freshest and best-trained units to secure victory.

Quebec Easter riots (1918)

The riots occurred in Quebec City from March 28 to April 1, sparked by the arrest of a French-Canadian man who failed to present his draft exemption papers. This incident ignited widespread protests fuelled by French-Canadian opposition to conscription, which many viewed as an imposition by the English-speaking majority. Over the Easter weekend, tensions escalated as thousands of demonstrators attacked government buildings, including the conscription registration office and pro-conscription newspapers. In response, the federal government invoked the War Measures Act, deploying over 6,000 troops to suppress the unrest. The most violent confrontation occurred on Easter Monday when soldiers fired upon rioters, resulting in at least four civilian deaths and numerous injuries.

German WW2 Easter propaganda.

The Battle of Tobruk (1941)

In April 1941, around the Easter period, Allied forces, including Australian and British troops, engaged Axis forces in the Battle of Tobruk in Libya. The battle was part of the North African campaign during World War II. Despite being under siege, the Allied troops managed to hold the strategic port city against the German Afrika Korps led by General Erwin Rommel. The successful defence of Tobruk during this period provided a significant morale boost to the Allied forces.

The Battle of Suursaari (1942)

During the Continuation War, Finnish forces launched an operation against the Soviet Red Army to recapture the island of Suursaari (Gogland) in the Gulf of Finland. The battle commenced on March 26 and concluded on April 2, 1942, aligning with the Easter period. Finnish troops successfully seized the island from Soviet forces, marking a significant victory during the war.

The Easter Riots in Sweden (1943)

During Easter of 1943, Uppsala, Sweden, witnessed significant civil unrest known as the “Easter Riots.” The fascist group Swedish Socialist Union held a national congress in the city, prompting large-scale anti-fascist protests. The tensions culminated on April 26 when police forces violently dispersed the demonstrators. These events highlighted the internal conflicts within Sweden during World War II and the broader European struggle between fascist and anti-fascist forces.

The Battle of Anzio Ceasefire (1944)

On Easter Sunday, April 9, 1944, during the protracted Battle of Anzio in Italy, a temporary ceasefire was observed in one sector of the front lines. American and German forces agreed to a one-hour truce, allowing U.S. troops to hold an Easter Mass. Loudspeakers broadcasted the service, and even German soldiers listened in, providing a brief moment of shared humanity amidst the brutality of war.

In 1945, two African American soldiers, Technical Sergeant William E. Thomas and Private First Class Joseph Jackson, labelled artillery shells “Easter Eggs for Hitler” — a defiant, darkly humorous jab at tyranny that boosted troop morale.

The Battle of Okinawa and the Kamikaze Pilot’s Burial (1945)

On April 11, 1945, during the Battle of Okinawa, a Japanese kamikaze pilot crashed into the USS Missouri, causing damage but no significant casualties. In a remarkable act of compassion, Captain William Callaghan ordered a military burial at sea for the enemy pilot, Setsuo Ishino. The crew fashioned a makeshift Japanese flag, and the ceremony included a gun salute and the playing of “Taps.” This gesture, occurring during the Easter season, symbolized a moment of shared humanity amidst the horrors of war.

Easter Offensive: A Turning Point in the Vietnam War (1972)

In the spring of 1972, during the Easter season, North Vietnam launched the Nguyen Hue Campaign, commonly known as the Easter Offensive. This large-scale military campaign aimed to exploit the drawdown of U.S. forces and test the resolve of South Vietnamese troops. The offensive began on March 30, just days before Easter, with coordinated attacks across the Demilitarized Zone and into the Central Highlands.

Despite initial successes, including the capture of Quang Tri, the offensive ultimately failed to achieve its strategic objectives. South Vietnamese forces, bolstered by substantial U.S. air support, managed to halt and repel the attacks. The Easter Offensive made transparent both the capabilities and limitations of Vietnamization—the U.S. policy of transferring combat roles to South Vietnamese forces—and the importance of continued American military support.

Lebanon – Prelude to Civil War (1975)

On Easter Sunday, April 13, 1975, an attack on a bus carrying Palestinian passengers in Beirut by Christian militiamen is widely considered the spark that ignited the Lebanese Civil War. The incident occurred on Easter Sunday, marking the beginning of a 15-year conflict that deeply affected the region.

Falklands War on Easter Sunday (1982)

The Falklands War between the United Kingdom and Argentina officially began on April 2, 1982, with Argentina’s invasion of the islands. On Easter Sunday, April 11, British naval forces were already steaming south through the Atlantic. Public opinion in the UK was sharply divided, but churches held Easter services with special prayers for the troops. The conflict, which would cost over 900 lives, was intensifying in the background.

Yugoslav Wars on Easter (1992)

Bosnia and Herzegovina had declared independence earlier that year, and by Easter, ethnic tensions exploded into outright war. April 19–20, 1992, overlapping Orthodox and Catholic Easters, Serb forces launched attacks on Sarajevo, Višegrad, and other towns. Easter in 1992 became a time of mass displacement, with shelling disrupting religious services and families fleeing their homes. This was one of the first major escalations in what would become a brutal multi-year conflict marked by ethnic cleansing.

Iraq War – Easter Looting (2003)

Just weeks after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq began on March 20, Easter Sunday 2003 marked a moment of surreal juxtaposition. Baghdad, looting and lawlessness had gripped the city following the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime on April 9. Coalition forces were trying to restore basic order, but on Easter Sunday, April 20, mass was held in several half-ruined churches amid gunfire, shelling, and a power vacuum. For Iraq’s Christian minority, it was a haunting holiday — freedom from dictatorship, but no real peace.

Arab Spring – Easter Bloodbath in Syria (2011)

During Easter 2011, anti-Assad protests in Syria were turning bloody. The regime had already opened fire on demonstrators in Daraa. On Easter Sunday, April 24, security forces killed dozens in different cities. Christian leaders urged calm, but many Syrian Christians feared being caught between the government and Islamist opposition. Easter 2011 marked the early stages of what would become a long, devastating civil war.

Afghanistan – Easter Attacks (2015–2017)

Taliban attacks surged in northern provinces in 2015, around Easter weekend, April 5, testing the new Afghan government following NATO’s formal withdrawal in 2014.

U.S. forces were still engaged in active operations during Easter in 2017, including the aftermath of dropping the “MOAB” (Mother of All Bombs) on ISIS tunnels in Nangarhar province just days before.

South Sudan – Easter Truce and Its Collapse (2017)

President Salva Kiir declared a unilateral ceasefire over Easter, on April 16, in hopes of reviving peace talks. However, within days, fighting resumed in multiple provinces. Rebels accused the government of using the truce to reposition forces. The hollow truce emphasized the deep distrust between factions in the world’s youngest country.

Sri Lanka – Easter Sunday Bombings (2019)

On April 21, 2019, coordinated suicide bombings targeted churches and hotels in Colombo, Negombo, and Batticaloa during Easter services, resulting in over 290 deaths and hundreds of injuries. The attacks were attributed to a local Islamist extremist group, marking one of the deadliest incidents in Sri Lanka since the end of its civil war in 2009.

Ukraine – Easter During War (2022–2024)

Easter services in Ukraine during the ongoing Russian invasion – Orthodox Easters on April 24, 2022 / April 16, 2023 / May 5, 2024 – became both defiant and mournful. In 2022, President Zelenskyy released a filmed Easter message in front of a bombed-out church. Shelling continued on Easter in Donbas and Kharkiv, as priests held services underground or in bunkers. Easter 2023 and 2024 followed a similar pattern — brief humanitarian pauses in some areas, but ongoing drone strikes and artillery exchanges.

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