The Story of
Turkish & Armenian
FUNDA KALAYCIOGLU
www.fundakalaycioglu.com
The Story of
Turkish & Armenian
FUNDA KALAYCIOGLU
www.fundakalaycioglu.com
It has been collected from
- ERAREN Institute for Armenian Research
- TURKSAM Turkish Centre for International Relations & Strategic Analysis
- FORSNET –ermenisorunu.gen.tr
- Turkish Historical Society
- General Staff of the Republic of Turkey
- National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia
documents, articles and/or photographs.
FUNDA KALAYCIOGLU
www.fundakalaycioglu.com
It has been collected from
- ERAREN Institute for Armenian Research
- TURKSAM Turkish Centre for International Relations & Strategic Analysis
- FORSNET –ermenisorunu.gen.tr
- Turkish Historical Society
- General Staff of the Republic of Turkey
- National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia
documents, articles and/or photographs.
FUNDA KALAYCIOGLU
www.fundakalaycioglu.com
Generally, Armenians were lived under foreign rule and divided among several regional kingdoms.
As the history went, the Armenians lived under the Persian, Macedonian, Seleucide, Roman, Partian, Sasanite, Byzantine, Arabian
and Turkish hegemonies.
Persians and Medes in bas-relief
-In Persepolis - the City of the Persians-
However, the era of peace ended as a number of weak and insignificant kings ruled Armenia over the following years, and
finally the country became tributary to Persia.
The dynasty of Hayk stopped and the kings of Armenia were henceforward appointed by the Persian kings.
In 7th century B.C. Medes destroyed the Assyrian Empire. Within this turbulence, Armenia turned out to be an
independent kingdom under Tigran the First.
Being one of the ancient peoples of Anatolia and Caucasus Armenians had a history of three millennia.
In 69 B.C., the troops of the Roman general Lucullus invaded Armenia and besieged Tigranakert. As a result of these mutual assaults, Armenia lost its independence once more, divided and accepted Roman and Parthian domination.
With the split of Roman Empire, Armenia was partitioned between the Byzantine and Persian Empires once more. This mutual domination was
ended in the 7th century with the defeat of Sassanid rule in Persia by the Arabs.
The Arabs first invaded Armenia in 640. In 652, a peace agreement was made, allowing Armenians
freedom of religion.
Arab domination lasted until 882, when Ashot I was solemnly crowned as the King of Armenia, but he had to recognize the suzerainty of the Caliph.
Therefore, still, Arabs were dominating the region and Armenians could not establish an independent
kingdom due to inter-tribal rivalries. The Sasanian king Shapur-I had a monumental relief cut out in the rock, showing how he made
Philippus Arabs ruler of the Roman empire and received the defeated Roman emperor Valerian.
-Naqsh-e Rustam, archaeological site located about 12 km northwest of Persepolis-
Just after the beginning of the new millennium, Seljuk armies reached Armenian lands in their quest towards West.
Starting from 1047 onwards, one after another Armenian cities fell under Turkish control.
It was after the Battle of Manzikert (Malazgirt) in 1071 that Seljuks took control of whole Armenia.
15th-century French miniature depicting the Battle of Manzikert
-from the National Library of France (BNF) is a reproduction by scanning of a bidimensional work that is
now in the public domain-
Two centuries later, with the decline of the Seljuk Empire in Anatolia and particularly with the Mongol invasion, starting from
1231 onwards, Armenia fell into the Mongolian rule.
From the beginning of the 14th century, the Mongol dominance in the region receded. From then on, numerous Turkoman nomadic
tribes invade the Armenian lands.
It seems that the raids of Seljuks resulted in movement of some Armenians toward Cilicia, the region situated between the Taurus and Amanos mountains close to Mediterranean
coast.
However, majority of Armenians remained in Eastern Anatolia and the Caucasus.
In 1080, Armenian Prince Ruben asserted authority over the local Armenian and Greek princes. Ruben became
founder of a new royal house called Rubenids that ruled over Cilicia for more than 300 years.
Indeed, this Cilician Kingdom was not Armenian in essence, rather its dynasty was presumed to be
Armenian, and thus the Kingdom was generally named as Cilician Armenian Kingdom.
In the first years of the Ottoman Empire, Armenians were scattered as small princedoms and emirates. They were living as subjects of Iran, Byzantine Empire, Georgian and Seldjukian States and the other small emirates located
generally in Cukurova, Eastern Anatolia and Caucasus regions.
Procession of Crusaders around Jerusalem
- by Jean Victor Schnetz (1787–1870) -
This state became quite active during the Crusades and turned out to be a significant base for the crusading armies.
With the rise of Mamluk Empire in the region, this Kingdom was gradually declined and finally fell into Mamluk
domination in 1393.
The first relations of Armenians with Ottomans started in the western region of Anatolia, where Armenians were a small minority. After Bursa was made the capital city of the state by Osman Ghazi (Sultan Osman I) in 1324, most of the
Armenians in Kutahya and the Armenian spiritual chieftain were transferred to this city.
When Constantinople was conquered by Mehmed II the Conqueror in 1453, he brought many Armenian families
from Anatolia to Constantinople and they were installed for the economic revival of the city as was the case in
Edirne.
In 1461, in his return from the conquest of Trabzon, Mehmed II came to Bursa and invited the head of
Armenian community, Hovakim, to Constantinople, in order to establish an Armenian patriarchate there.
Fall of Constantinople
- by Fausto Zonaro (1854-1929)-
Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, who put an end to Byzantine rule, allowed the foundation of the Armenian Patriarchate, an unprecedented move for the Armenians to whom he granted
freedom of conscience and faith.
The transformation of the Armenian Episcopate in Western Anatolia to the Istanbul Patriarchate, following a decree he issued in 1461, is clear evidence of the vision and tolerance
displayed by Mehmed and of the subsequent Ottoman Sultans toward other faiths.
In history, it has never been seen neither before Mehmed nor after him that a ruler who is a disciple of a certain religion establish a spiritual presidency for the disciples of an another religion.
In 1473, with the defeat of Akkoyunlu state in Eastern Anatolia, many Armenian cities, including Ani, were incorporated into the Ottoman Empire.
In 1514, Ottoman Sultan, Selim I, defeated the Safavid Empire and occupied the western and southern regions of Armenia.
Particularly, the Armenian artisans and craftsmen of Tabriz were brought back to Istanbul. In 1516, Jerusalem was also conquered by Selim I, and the Armenian Patriarchate in Jerusalem was granted
with religious freedom, which it had assumed since the conquest of Jerusalem by Caliph Omar in 7th century.
In 1534, Suleyman I the Lawgiver occupied the cities, such as Van, Revan and Nakhichevan, where Armenians had been living, in his
campaign towards Safavid Iran. Likewise his father, Selim I, Suleyman brought the most talented artisans and craftsmen to
Istanbul. Armenian Patriarch Gennadios II with Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror
-Wikimedia Commons-
As a result of all these population movements, by 1554, the population of the Armenian community in Istanbul reached to 60.000.
Particularly after the emergence of Istanbul as a religious center for Armenians, Armenians who suffered inter-tribal conflicts in their
home country began to migrate there for a more peaceful life.
In a period of three hundred and fifty years from Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror to Sultan Mahmut II(1808-1839), religious and social affairs of Christians, as well as the Armenians, were certainly not interfered with.
Thus, there existed over 1,996 Armenian schools with 173,022 pupils were on the territories of Anatolia before World War I.
Up to beginning of 19th century and during the rule of Sultan Mahmut II (1808-1839), Armenians were enjoying peace, rights
and freedom just like the other nations in the country.
Mahmut II revealed that “any Ottoman citizen can believe in his way
and can obey his religions rules freely by saying Among my citizens, I
want to see the Muslims in mosques, Christians in churches, and Jews in
synagogues”; Armenians were preserving their belief without any difficulty, they were learning their own language, religious tenets
and culture in their schools. In minorities schools, especially in Armenian schools, non-Muslim students were taking courses about their religion, their history, their culture, their literature, science
and mathematics.
In Armenian schools, the education was completely regulated by Armenian ecclesiastics.
The first Armenian schools in the Ottoman Empire were established in the 1790s; this work was especially organized by
the income of the church.Portrait of Ottoman Sultan Mahmut II
-Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul-
The graduates of Central College, Constantinople, 1893-1894
-‘National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia’ s album”-
The graduates of National College, Trabzon, 1907-1908
-‘National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia’ s album”-
The teaching staff and students of Female College, Maras, 1893
-‘National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia’ s album”-
The school girls of Ibranosyan Female College, Amasya, 1906
-‘National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia’ s album”-
In 1567, the first Armenian printing house was established by an Armenian, Apkar Tıbir, who fled to
Istanbul because of the repression he had faced in Italy.
Besides of Istanbul, Izmir(1759), Van(1859), Mus(1869), Sivas(1871) were the cities that Armenian printing houses was established. The number of Armenian printing houses reached 38 all around the country at 1908. 5 Newspaper
and 7 journal written in Armenian were issued in Istanbul, in 1910.
Constantinople - Abram Traketsi Press - 1746
-Grigor Tatevatsi / Book Named Vosperik- Armenian community contributed to the Ottoman culture. Not only Armenian craftsmen and artisans revived urban economies in
major cities of the Empire, but also several Armenian families were given significant responsibilities, such as coinage and
gunpowder production.
Many schools, printing-houses and libraries were established with the help of Armenian bankers (then called Amira),
merchants and civil officials. In addition, many Armenian young men were sent to European universities and schools to be
educated in various fields and learn art.
(Nevertheless, Armenians living under Russian rule were not given these rights at that period.)
In the major cities of the Ottoman Empire such as Istanbul, Bursa, Tokat, Ankara, Erzurum, Nakhichevan, Yerevan, or Kayseri, they composed one of the most significant economic classes through their artisans, craftsmen and merchants.
Armenian artists also contributed to the Ottoman music and architecture. For example, it would have been impossible for the works of many Ottoman musicians, including famous Ismail Dede Efendi, to survive, if an Armenian musician, Kamparsum
Limonciyan, had not introduced some kind of a solfege.
There also were 33 Armenian representatives appointed and elected to the Ottoman parliaments, 7 ambassadors, 11 consul-
generals and consuls, 11 university professors, and 41 other officials of high rank.
What is more, those Armenian musicians, such as Tatyos Efendi(Kemani Tatyos Ekserciyan) or Bimence, created significant
artworks.
In terms of architecture, nineteenth century was generally dominated by the works of Armenian architects, the most famous
of which was the Balyan family. Even the imperial palaces of Dolmabahce and Beylerbeyi, as well as several significant mosques
surrounding Bosphorus were designed by the members of this family.
Ottoman Armenians were also brought to the key positions in bureaucracy as well. Particularly in the 19th century, 21 Armenians
achieved the highest governmental rank of Pasha.
There were 22 Armenian ministers, including the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Finance, Trade and Post, with other Armenians making major contributions to the departments concerned with
agriculture, economic development, and the census.
Sarkis Balyan
-Famous architect who is a member of Balyans-
Yervant Osgan -Frst Ottoman sculptor whose studies
were funded by the state in Europe-
Kemani Tatyos Ekserciyan
-Famous Ottoman musician-
Tigran pasha Peshtimalchian
The consultant doctor of Sultan Abdul Hamid II
Agop KAZASYAN Minister of Finance
Maresal Garabet Artin DAVUT Pasa Minister of Communications
Andon Tıngır YAVER Pasa Minister of Communications
Oskan MARDIKYAN Minister of Communications
Berdos HALLACYAN Minister of Public Works
Maresal Garebet Artin DAVUT Pasa Minister of Public Works
Avukat Krikor SINAPYAN Minister of Public Works
Krikor AGATON Minister of Public Works
Gabriel NORADUNKYAN Minister of Public Works
Gabriel NORADUNKYAN Minister of Foreign Affairs
Agop KAZAZYAN Pasa Minister of Treasure of Property
Mikael PORTAKALYAN Pasa Minister of Treasure of Property
Sakız OHANNES Pasa (Foto) Minister of Treasure of Property
Ohannes KUYUMCUYAN Pasa Senator
Abraham ERAMYAN Pasa Senator
Manuk AZARYAN Senator
Gabriel NORADUNKYAN Senator
Krikor Odyan Foreign Affairs Judgement Manager
Serkis Efendi Confidential Secretary in Foreign Affairs
Artin Dadyan Pasha Foreign Affairs Undersecretary
Diran Aleksan Turkish Ambassador for Belgium
Yetvart Zohrab Turkish Ambassador for London
Garabet Artin Davut Pasha Ambassador for Vienna
Mikael Portukal Pasha Ministry of Finance Counselor
Jorj Serpos Efendi Telegraphs General Secretary
Kevork TORKOMYAN Manager of Treasure of Property
Melkon MILOYAN Manager of Treasure of Property
Behram YAKUPYAN Manager of Treasure of Property
Sahak YEREMYAN Manager of Treasure of Property
Levon PAPAZYAN Manager of Treasure of Property
Kevork KORAN Manager of Treasure of Property
Dikran cuBERYAN Manager of Treasure of Property
Kevork cuVERYAN Manager of Treasure of Property
Hovsep TAKVORYAN Manager of Treasure of Property
Krikor TAKVORYAN Manager of Treasure of Property
Ohannes ALLAHVERDI Chairman’s Deputy of the Parliament -1876
Sebuh MAKSUDYAN Members of Istanbul in Parliament -1876
Rupen YAZICIYAN Members of Edirne in Parliament -1876
Sahak YAVRUMYAN Members of Bursa in Parliament -1876
Hamazasb BALLARYAN Members of Erzurum in Parliament -1876
Manuk KARCIYAN Members of Halep in Parliament -1876
Mikael ALTINTOP Members of Ankara in Parliament -1876
Agop sAHINYAN Members of Sivas in Parliament -1876
Taniyel KARACIYAN Members of Erzurum in Parliament -1876
Krikor ZOHRAP Members of Istanbul in Parliament -1908
Bedros HALLACYAN Members of Istanbul in Parliament -1908
Agop BABIKYAN Members of Tekirdag in Parliament -1908
Agop BOYACIYAN Members of Tekirdag in Parliament -1908
Artin BOsGEZENYAN Members of Halep in Parliament -1908
Dr. Nazaret DAGAVARYAN Members of Sivas in Parliament -1908
Istepan ISPARTALIYAN Members of Izmir in Parliament -1908
Hamparsum BOYACIYAN Members of Kozan in Parliament -1908
Kegam DERGARABEDYAN Members of Mus in Parliament -1908
Karakin PASTIRMACIYAN Members of Erzurum in Parliament -1908
Vahan PAPAZYAN Members of Van in Parliament -1908
Istepan cIRACIYAN (Members of Ergani in Parliament -1914
Onnik IHSAN Members of Izmir in Parliament -1914
Bedros HALLAcYAN Members of Istanbul in Parliament -1914
Krikor ZoHRAP Members of Istanbul in Parliament -1914
Agop HIRLAKYAN Members of Maras in Parliament -1914
Kegam DERGARABEDYAN Members of Mus in Parliament -1914
Artin BOsGEZENYAN Members of Halep in Parliament -1914
Dikran BARSAMYAN Members of Sivas in Parliament -1914
Matyos NALBATYAN Members of Kozan in Parliament -1914
Karabet TOMAYAN Members of Kayseri in Parliament -1914
Sasun Bey Members of Baghdat in Parliament -1914
Varteks SERENGuLYAN Members of Erzurum in Parliament -1914
SOME OF ARMENIANS WHO WERE AT DUTY IN THE OTTOMAN STATE
Gabriel NORADUNKYAN
-Minister of Public Works-
Agop KAZASYAN
-Minister of Finance-
In many ways, in fact, the rights of Christians became greater than those of the Muslims, because
powerful European states intervened in their behalf. The Europeans demanded and received
special treatment for Christians.
Muslims had no such advantages.
Judged by all economic and social standards, the Armenians did well under Ottoman rule.
By the late nineteenth century, in every Ottoman province the Armenians were better educated and richer than the Muslims.
Armenians worked hard, it is true, but their comparative riches were largely due to European and American influence and Ottoman tolerance.
European merchants made Ottoman Christians their agents. European merchants gave them
their business. European consuls intervened in their behalf. The Armenians benefited from the education given to them, and not to the Turks, by
American missionaries.
Armenian Cloth dyers in Maras.
-Mihran Minassian collection-
In fact, the Armenians were by far the greatest beneficiaries of the opportunities offered by the Ottoman Empire to all industrious, capable, honest and straightforward citizens of the non-Muslim communities.
Being exempted from the military service and to a large extent from taxation, they had the opportunity to excel
themselves in trade, agriculture, craftsmanship and administration and therefore were rightly called the “loyal nation” because of their loyalty and ability to interact with
the Ottomans.
The Armenian musical band "Toni" in Samatya, Constantinople, 1880
-‘National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia’ s album”-
Medical staff of the national hospital, Kayseri, 1903
-‘National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia’ s album”-
All in all, Ottoman rule provided Armenians with welfare and peace. However, these relations were first strained and then collapsed particularly in the late 19th century
due to various reasons.
It ensues from the foregoing that there was not any Armenian issue until the end of the 19th century nor were any problems that the Armenian citizens could not solve
with the assistance of Turkish administration.
19th centurys Russian Empire was trying to provoke Armenians against Ottoman Empire and its efforts
supported by English Kingdom and France.
Armenian Patriarch Nerses Varjabedyan stated, in his letter, to the Citizenship Assembly Council in 1876 that
“If by any chance the Armenian nation has been preserved as a nation and if it is
preserving its beliefs, its church, language, history and cultural values, all these are due
to the protection, help and benevolence shown by the Turkish government to the
Armenian nation.
Fate bounds Armenians to Turks. Because of this, Armenians can not remain indifferent
during wars and hardships facing the state. On the contrary, they are obliged to help the
state as they have always done. The Armenian who loves his homeland and who will help
the state, will receive the best service of his own nation.”
As it is seen in the statement above, the Armenian Patriarch says that the Armenians under Turkish rule have preserved their identities and he thanks for
the rights offered by the Ottoman State.
The same Patriarch Nerses Varjabedyan visited the British Ambassador to Istanbul, Layard on 17 March 1878 and told him that:
“A year ago we did not have any problems with the Ottoman administration. However the Russian victory has changed the situation now.
We want an independent Armenia in the East. If you can not help us, we will apply to the Russians.”
When the ambassador asked him what he meant by “Armenia”, the Patriarch said, “Van, Sivas, Diyarbakir and Cilicia”. The ambassador said “Yes; but you do have not the majority in these places.” The Patriarch replied
“We know this. Yet Russia is gaining lands now. The balance of powers between Russia and the Ottoman Empire changed. We have to take
our future into account.”
Thus, he explained the objective of the Armenians.
Nerses Varjabedyan (1837-1884)
-Wikipedia-
First of all, Ottoman decline and insufficiency of reforms to make the conditions of Ottoman subjects, both Muslim and non-Muslim, better, resulted in a discontent in the public opinion.
Third, religious strife among various sects of Armeniansreached its zenith in the 19th century.
Although, Gregorian Armenians continued to hold their predominance, a significant Catholic Armenian community was
established so strongly that they were recognized by the Ottoman Sultan Mahmut II in 1831 with the auspices of French ambassador in Istanbul and founded a separate church in the
Ottoman Empire.
There are several factors, both internal and external, for the deterioration of Ottoman-Armenian relations.
Secondly, the decline of Ottoman Empire, coincided with the ideas spread from Europe after the French Revolution, such as freedom, equality, and nationalism, hit the Empire in the 19th
century.
The French Revolution (1789 – 1799)
-by Jean Victor Schnetz, 1830-
From that point on, a greater force in educating Armenians and advancing their nationalist feelings was the American Protestant missionaries.
In all, Armenians were internally divided as well and Gregorian Armenians, who were still the big majority in the Empire, became reactant to the
Ottoman rule because of its recognition of different sects.
Although the missionary activities did not support the Armenian revolts, they played an important role within the context of preparing the ground
for the rebellions.
The reports received from the provinces recorded that the missionary activities increased in the periods just before and immediately after the
rebellions.
In 1896, different missionaries, who were related to different Churches, 7 from America, 4 from Britain, dispersed to the Ottoman lands.
176 American missionaries and 869 local assistants worked together with them.
In this period, the Gregorian Armenians lived in 26 Episcopal branches under the administration of their patriarch in Istanbul; and the Catholic
Armenians, whose majority was in the cities, constituted 13 Episcopal branches under the administration of a Patriarch.
The Armenian Church of the Holy Cross
on Akhtamar Island, in Turkey;
Yesterday(1890) and today (2010)
When the Ottoman Empire began to decline and was exposed to European interventions in many fields, deterioration began
in the Turkish-Armenian relations.
After the Russo-Turkish War of 1828, Russian armies not only passed Armenian territories but also crossed the Aras
River into Iranian territory and threatened Tabriz.
The Shah sued for peace and signed the Treaty of Turkmenchai, which brought Eastern Armenians under
Russian control and provided for the transfer of a large number of Armenians from northern Persia to Russian
territory.
Russo-Turkish War of 1828, Siege of Kars
-by January Suchodolski (1797–1875)-
Turkmanchay, Signing ceremony
-by Vladimir Moshkov (1792-1839)-
This was the beginning of the population transfers that would give the Armenians a majority in the territories of
today’s Armenia.
From then on, Russians began to interfere in the Armenian affairs and claimed themselves as the protector of the
Armenian population living in the Ottoman Empire as well.
As it can be seen, one of the most significant characteristics of this period was increasing foreign intervention in the internal affairs of the Ottoman Empire.
On the one hand Russia tried to reach warm seas via Balkans and Caucasus, on the other hand Britain tried to prevent this threat to his dominions in Asia. Thus, while Russia supported the nationalist tendencies in the Balkans, Britain aimed to preserve territorial
integrity of the Ottoman Empire
The Treaty of Paris on March 30, 1856.
Standing, left to right, are Camillo Cavour and Emanuele Pes di Villamarina of Italy, two unidentified diplomats,
Muhammad Cemil Bey of Turkey, Philippe Brunnow of Russia, an unidentified diplomat, and Karl Ferdinand
von Buol-Schauenstein of Austria. Seated are Alexander Hubner of Austria, Mehmed Ali Pasa of Turkey,
George W.F. Villiers, Lord Claredon of Great Britain, Alexandre Walewski of France, Prince Alekey Orlov of
Russia, Adolphe de Bourqueney of Franc, and Henry, Lord Cowley of Great Britain.
In order to prevent a sudden break-up of the Empire, all Great Powers agreed that the Sultan must grant more rights to the non-Muslim subjects of the Empire, in order to make
them tied to the framework of the Empire.
In support of this goal they constantly demanded privileges, autonomy and independence for the Ottoman Christians.
It was designed as a part of the negotiations among Britain, France and Austria during 1855 in Vienna, through which it was agreed that the Ottoman Empire should be forced to grant some rights to the non-Muslim communities living in the Empire.
Therefore, Islahat Fermanı was also cited in the Article 9 of the Treaty of Paris as follows.
As it can be seen in the text of this article, it was aimed to establish full equality between Muslim and non-Muslim communitiesof the Ottoman Empire. However, the result would be quite the opposite.
As a result, from 1856 onwards, non-Christian communities gradually bettered their positions vis-à-vis
and sometimes even at the expense of the Muslim communities. Economically, they eventually became the dominant groups residing within the Ottoman Empire
despite the fact that their numbers were proportionally much less than the Muslims.
In political terms, they became bureaucrats, diplomats, and even ministers. In other words, the relationship
between the ruler and the ruled transformed dramatically.
Tokatlian Hotel (1897) in Constantinople, wich belongs The Surp Yerrortutyun Armenian Church
-Picture: R. H. Kevorkian-
Although many rights were granted to the Armenians within the framework of this Edict of Reform, they were not content with these rights.
Non-Muslim communities generally abused these extensive rights, and due to Great Power protection, the Ottoman
Empire could do nothing to prevent these abuses.
As they lost their former privileges when the Moslems and non-Muslims were given
equal rights under the Restoration Firman, the Armenians asked Russia not to withdraw from
Eastern Anatolia that it had invaded during the 1877-1878 Ottoman-Russian war,
to grant autonomy to these regions or to introduce reforms in their favour.
This request of the Armenians were partially accepted by Russia and the Armenian issue was
brought onto the international platform after Hagia Stephanos Treaty (Treaty of San Stefano),
signed at the end of the war; and also after the Berlin Treaty signed later.
Thus, foreign countries that wanted to divide Turkey started to intervene in Turkish-Armenian
relations.
It is with these claims that the Armenian issue had begun to take shape and acquire an international character.
Defense of Dogubeyazıt during the en:Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878
-by Lev Feliksovich Lagorio (1827–1905)-
The Treaty of San Stephano did not, however, constitute the final settlement of the Russo-Turkish war. Britain rightly feared that its provisions for a Greater Armenia in the East would inevitably not only establish Russian hegemony in those areas butalso, and even more dangerous, in the Ottoman Empire, and through ‘Greater Armenia ’ to the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean,
where they could easily threaten the British possessions in India.
In return for an Ottoman agreement for British occupation of Cyprus, therefore, to enable it to counter any Russian
threats in Eastern Anatolia, Britain agreed to use its influence in Europe to upset the provisions of San
Stephano, arranging the Congress of Berlin to this end.
As a result of its deliberations, Russia was compelled to evacuate all of Eastern Anatolia with the exception of the districts of Kars, Ardahan and Batum, with the Ottomans agreeing to institute ‘reforms’ in the eastern provinces where Armenians lived under the guarantee of the five
signatory European powers.
From this time onward, England in particular came to consider the ‘Armenian Question’ as its own particular
problem, and to regularly intervene to secure its solution according to its own ideas.
The Treaty of San Stephano
-From The Illustrated London News Dated 1878-
A committee sent by the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul attended the Congress of Berlin, with Armenian Bishop for Istanbul Migirdic Hirimyan, but it was so unhappy at the final treaty and the Powers' failure to accept its demands that it returned to Istanbul
with the feeling that "nothing will be achieved except by means of
struggle and revolution."
Russia also emerged from the Congress without having achieved its major objectives, and with both Greece, and Bulgaria being left
under British influence.
It therefore renewed with increased vigor its effort to secure control of Eastern Anatolia, again seeking to use the
Armenians as a major instrument of its policy.
Now, however, it was resisted in this effort by the British, who also sought to influence and use the Armenians by
stirring their national ambitions, though in this respect, in the words of the French writer Rene Pinon, who is in fact
known with his pro-Armenian views,
"Armenia in British hands would become a police station
against Russian expansion."
Armenian Bishop for Istanbul Migirdic Hirimyan
(1820-1907)
In the period that followed the Berlin Treaty, the Armenian issue developed in two directions,
The first is the interventions made by the Western powers in the affairs of the Ottoman Empire,
and the second is the clandestine organisation and rearmament of Anatolian, Syrian and Thracian Armenians
in various parts of Anatolia, particularly in Eastern Anatolia and Cilicia.
These committees that remained at local level failed and withered away in time because the Armenians who lived in welfare and did not have any complaints against the Ottoman Empire were not interested in the committees.
At the Congress of Berlin (1878) the tall Bismarck on the right is shaking hands with Gyula Andrássy
and Pyotr Andreyevich Shuvalov; on the left are Alajos Károlyi, Alexander Gorchakov and Benjamin
Disraeli
-by Anton von Werner (1843–1915)-
The initial provocations started coming from Russia. This attitude induced the British and French Governments to
display a greater interest toward Armenians.
British Consulates mushroomed in Eastern Anatolia and large numbers of Protestant missionaries were dispatched
to this region.
As a result of these activities, several Armenian committees were formed in Eastern Anatolia from 1880
onward.
When the plans to make the Ottoman Armenians revolt against the State through the committees failed, the
Russian Armenians were encouraged to set up such committees out of the Ottoman Empire.
Hinchak was founded in Geneva in 1887, with socialist tendencies and moderately militant ideas and Tashnak was
established in Tbilisi in 1887, with extremist, terrorist and revolutionary attitudes favouring armed struggle and
full independence.
Second Company of the Armenian Voluntary Hinchak Regiment
-Yeridasaret Hayastan(Young Armenia) Press. July 20th 1915-
The common features of the both groups were the fact that they were planned and oriented by the committees that came to the Ottoman Empire from abroad and that they were largely supported by the missionaries spread all over Anatolia.
The goal imposed on these committees were the “salvation
of Anatolian land and Ottoman Armenians”.
The revolt attempts launched by the Hinchaks that extended its organisation into Istanbul and aimed at
provoking the Ottoman Armenians by drawing the Western attentions on the issue, were followed by those
of the Tashnaks.
The first revolt broke out in Erzurum in 1890, followed by the Kumkapi demonstration in the same year. These
revolts were followed by 1892 and 1893 Kayseri, Yozgat, Corum and Merzifon incidents, 1894 Sasun revolt, 1894 Sublime Porte demonstration and Zeytun mutiny, 1896
Van revolt and the occupation of Ottoman Bank the same year, the second Sasun Revolt in 1903, the 1905 attempt to kill Emperor Abdulhamid and the Adana revolt in 1909.
517.955 Turkish people had been murdered in Anatolia and Caucasus in between 1906-1927. Together with
undetermined murders this number approachs to 2.000.000 (The State Archive of the Prime Minister of Republic of
Turkey, Publication No: 23, 24, 34, 35.).
The Armenian gangs that had already started attacks on the Turkish villages, with the start of the war massacred,
among others, the entire women, children and the aged inhabitants of Zeve village of Van Province.
A group photograph of the Armenian fedayis who took part in the Khanasor foray,
The Khanasor Expedition was an attack by an Armenian irregular unit against the Mazrik tribe on
July 25th 1897
-Hagop Mandjikian, Memorial book of the Armenia-
The quelling of these revolts by the Ottoman army was presented to the world as a massacre of Armenians by the Moslems and thus the issue acquired a larger international dimension.
Soon after the establishment of these two effective political institutions, Armenian riots began. In the twenty years between 1889 and 1909 there were almost 40 Armenian rebellions or terrorist activities. Below there is a general list
of these rebellions and terrorist activities:
· Musa Bey Event (August 1889),
· Erzurum Revolt (June 20, 1890),
· Kumkapı Demonstrations (July 15, 1890),
· Merzifon, Kayseri, Yozgat Demonstrations (1892- 1893),
· First Sasun Revolt (August 1894),
· Zeytun (Suleymanlı) Revolt (September 1-6, 1895),
· Divrigi (Sivas) Revolt (September 29, 1895),
· Babıali Demonstrations (September 30, 1895),
· Trabzon Revolt (October 2, 1895),
· Egin (Mamuratu’l Aziz) Revolt (October 6, 1895),
· Develi (Kayseri) Revolt (October 9, 1895)
· Akhisar (Izmit) Revolt (October 9, 1895),
· Erzincan (Erzurum) Revolt (October 21, 1895),
· Gumushane (Trabzon) Revolt (October 25, 1895),
· Bitlis Revolt (October 25, 1895),
· Maras (Halep) Revolt (October 27, 1895),
· Urfa (Halep) Revolt (October 29, 1895),
· Erzurum Revolt (October 30, 1895),
· Diyarbakır Revolt (November 2, 1895),
· Siverek (Diyarbakır) Revolt (November 2, 1895),
· Malatya (Mamuratu’l- Aziz) Revolt (November 4, 1895),
· Harput (Mamuratu’l- Aziz) Revolt (November 7, 1895),
· Arapkir (Mamuratu’l- Aziz) Revolt (November 9, 1895),
· Sivas Revolt (November 15, 1895),
· Merzifon (Sivas) Revolt (November 15, 1895)
· Ayintab (Halep) Revolt (November 16, 1895),
· Maras (Halep) Revolt (November 18, 1895),
· Mus (Bitlis) Revolt (November 22, 1895),
· Kayseri (Ankara) Revolt (December 3, 1895),
· Yozgat (Ankara) Revolt (December 3, 1895),
· Bayburt (Erzurum) Revolt (October 26, 1895)
· Zeytun Revolt (1895-1896),
· First Van Revolt (June 2, 1896),
· The Attack on Ottoman Bank (June 14 ,1896),
· Second Sasun Revolt (July 1897),
· Assasination Attempt towards Sultan Abdulhamid II (July 21, 1905),
· Adana Revolt (April 14, 1909)
THE SASUN REVOLTS (1894 and 1897)
Sasun was a famous town its revolts. The First Sasun revolt was arranged by the Hinchak Committee and was fulfilled through the
mediation of Kamparsum Boyaciyan.
In fact, this revolt, which was fulfilled for the attraction of the foreign intervention by the Armenian committees and the
patriarchate as being bloody and violent was announced in various capitals of Europe, the meetings, the declarations in the
parliaments.
Kamparsum BOYACIYAN - Head of the Hinchak Committee and
Members of Kozan in Parliament -1908
The interrogation committee established that by sending soldiers against the rebels, the Ottoman government used its most legal right.
These soldiers were able to defeat these rebels only after bloody fights. About 3 thousand fully armed rebels, who sheltered in the
mountains, could not be defeated by convincing words, and articles in the newspapers…
These gangs committed awful murders and plundered. They burned the nephew of omer Agha alive. They raped the Muslim women in
the region, which was three-four hours far from to Gulli Guzat village and strangled.
They picked out the eyes and cut the ears of most of the Muslims. The Muslims were insulted severely and shamefully and were
forced to be converted to Christianity and to kiss the Cross…”
Let’s mention about some of these mutiny and attacks…
It would be sufficient to read the article published in the American newspaper, New York Herald, which can not be accused
of not being neutral concerning how the incident took place.
“The European investigation showed that the Armenians revolted with
the assistance of the provocateurs who came from foreign countries.
The rebels did everything with the modern weapons. In addition to
arson, murder and the pillage, they revolted against the regular
soldiers and resisted them and than they retreated to the mountains.
THE STORMING OF THE OTTOMAN BANK (June 14th 1896)
The storming of the Ottoman Bank was the initiative of the Tashnak Committee completely.
Esat Uras is telling how the raid developed on 26 August from Varantyan’s “Tasnaksutyun History” in Armenian:
Imperial Ottoman Bank Headquarters, Constantinople,1896
-Wikipedia-
The raid of the bank ended, but the bombs and bullet casting of the Armenians to the soldiers, police and the people made the
Muslim inhabitants of Istanbul very angry.
The chaos in Istanbul continued for a few days. This is not an assault by the Muslims against the Armenians. The Armenians
also continued to attack.
Surviving members of the takeover after they arrived in Marseille.
-This picture is a collection of Nuri Akbayar-
“… The bombs had shocking results. The people, who were
wounded by the bombs, did not die immediately. The bombs
were tearing their hands into pieces and they were suffering with
awful pain.
Together with Garo we went to the office of the Director and had
our conditions written. We wanted our demands to be fulfilled
and wanted the rebels, who were involved in the fight, to be set
free. Otherwise, we would explode the bank and kill ourselves
too…”
THE YILDIZ ASSASSINATION (July 21st 1905)
The last initiative of the Tashnaks is the assassination of Sultan Abdulhamid II.
Together with Krisdapor Mikaelyan, some adventurous Tashnaks coming from different parts of the Caucuses and Europe gathered in Istanbul and started to make plans for
the assassination.
July 21, 1905: The "Yildiz attempt" on the life of Sultan Abdulhamid.
-A myth of terror-: Armenian extremism : its causes and its historical context-
Erich Feigl, Edition Zeitgeschichte, 1986
Although everything was calculated with precision, the Sultan met Sheikh-ul-Islam after he left the mosque and talked to him. Because he was late for a few minutes the assassination failed.
Finally, it was planned to bomb the premises, where foreign guests were frequenting, and at the same time to explode a great bomb in a carriage. Careful studies and calculations were made and it was decided that the bombs would be
prepared in foreign countries; the tests would be materialized there and the assassination would be realised with a time
bomb put in a special carriage.
On 18 July, in the morning the explosive material and 500 capsules were loaded in an iron chest under the driver’s seat.
Having made all the preparations, on Friday, 21 July 1905, following the public procession ceremony while Sultan
Abdulhamid was going back to the Palace the bomb exploded in front of the mosque.
THE ADANA INCIDENT (April 14th 1909)
Following the Armenian provocation, which lasted for days, the Armenians killed two young Muslims and when they
insisted not to surrender the murderer, the demonstrations took a serious turn and extended to streets. The Muslims and
the Armenians fought in the streets for 3 days, in Adana.
Ruins of the Muslim Quarter in Adana, 1909
-Wikimedia Commons-The government sent troops from Dedeagac to Adana
immediately. Upon their arrival the incidents tented worsen; but they were suppressed easily.
In his memoirs, Cemal Pasha said that during the Adana incident 17.000 Armenians and 1.850 Muslims died. If the Armenians had had the majority of population, in the province, these
figures would have been different. During the bloodshed, the behavior of the parties was not different from each other.
According to the research made by the Patriarchate 21.300 people died.
After the incident, Adana was put under martial law. The Muslim and Armenians who committed crimes were sent to Court
Martial.Ruins of the Armenian Quarter in Adana, 1909
-Photograf: M. Paboudjian collection-
A group of Armenian bandits, Ankara and Yozgat.
-Massacre Exerted by the Armenian on the Turks During World War I Picture,-
Publication of TGS. Military History and Strategic Studies, Ankara 2001
Arms and bombs seized at Diyarbakir and some of the Armenian committee members.
-The Armenian Aspirations and Revolutionary Movements-
German, French text; captions also in Armenian B&w photographs
by Ministry of Foreign Affairs Staff (2001)
Weapons and bombs seized from criminal Armenian Gangs ready to Genocide Turks,
Adapazarı
-Archive document, General Staff of the Republic of Turkey-
Manufacturing of cartridges by revolted Armenians hidden in a cave.
-The Armenian Aspirations and Revolutionary Movements-
German, French text; captions also in Armenian B&w photographs
by Ministry of Foreign Affairs Staff (2001)
In all, all these revolts and riots were presented by the Armenian revolutionary societies in Europe and America as the killing of Armenians by Turks, and with this sort of propaganda message they stirred considerable emotion among
Christian peoples.
As a result of this disinformation, Great Powers decided to increase the pressure on the Ottoman government about the implementation of existing
reforms and introduction of the new ones.
Ottoman Empire accepted these demands; however, they can never be implemented not only
because of Ottoman unwillingness due to her concern for survival, but also because of the
continuous revolts of the Armenians.
Abdul Hamid II, The Red Sultan
“Le Rire”, Number 134, May 29, Paris, 1897
Accordingly, Russian Consul-General in Bitlis and Van, General Mayewski, wrote in 1912 that (Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
archive document):
The British and Russian diplomatic reports of the time state that the goals of Armenian
revolutionists were to create social chaos against which the Ottoman army would react and to thereby ensure the intervention of Western
powers in the situation.
"Abdul Hamlet“
-Wheatcroft’s "The Ottomans“-
Group of Armenian Villagers. Priest in the Foreground.
-Photo by J. Gordon Browne-
“…
In 1895 and 1896 the Armenian revolutionary committees created such
suspicion between the Armenians and the native population that it
became impossible to implement any sort of reform in these districts.
The Armenian priests paid no attention to religious education, but
instead concentrated on spreading nationalist ideas, which were
affixed to the walls of monasteries, and in place of performing their
religious duties they concentrated on stirring Christian enmity
against Muslims.
The revolts that took place in many provinces of Turkey during 1895 and
1896 were caused neither by any great poverty among the Armenian
villages nor because of Muslim attacks against them. In fact these
villagers were considerably richer and more prosperous than their
neighbors.
Rather, the Armenian revolts came from three causes:
(1) their increasing maturity in political subjects;
(2) the spread of ideas of nationality, liberation, and independence within
the Armenian community;
(3) Support of these ideas by the western governments, and their
encouragement through the efforts of the Armenian priests.
…”
-General Mayewski-Russian Consul General
in Bitlis and Van
By far the greatest damage given to Turks by the Armenians were the massacres perpetrated during World War I.
During this period, the Armenians acted as spies for the Russians, evaded the mobilisation orders by hiding,and those that were in the Ottoman army collectively committed high treason by joining the Russian forces taking their
arms with them.
Ottoman Empire went into war against Britain, France and Russia on November 1, 1914 and Armenian committees
considered this as a great opportunity.
The Armenians formed voluntary troops and joined the Russian forces.
They attacked Eastern Anatolia together with the Russian expeditionary forces.
Furthermore, new rebellions were provoked in various parts of Anatolia, Ottoman forces were stabbed in the
back, and civil Turks were massacred.
The Armenians’ targets were not only the Turks but also the Byzantine Greeks around Trabzon and Jews around
Hakkari.
Photo, taken on the spot, of some of the Turkish victims assassinated with hatchets by
Armenians in the village of Kullar, Izmit.
-Archive document, General Staff of the Republic of Turkey-
Indeed, before the war began, in August 1914, the Ottoman leaders met with the Tashnaks at Erzurum in order to get their support for the Ottoman war effort when it came.
The Dashnaks promised that if the Ottomans entered the war, they would do their duty as loyal countrymen in the Ottoman armies.
However they failed to live up to this promise, since even before this meeting took place, a secret Tashnak Congress held at Erzurum in June 1914 had already decided to use the oncoming war to undertake a general attack against the
Ottoman state.
When Russia declared war against the Ottoman Empire, immediately, the Russian Armenians joined the Russian army in
preparing an attack on the Ottomans.
The Catholicos of Echmiadzin assured the Russian General Governor of the Caucasus, Vranzof Dashkof, that
“…in return for Russia's forcing the Ottomans to make
reforms for the Armenians, all the Russian Armenians would
support the Russian war effort without conditions”. (Turkish
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, archive document)
As soon as Russia declared war on the Ottoman Empire, the Dashnak Committee ordered its cells that had been preparing
to revolt within the Ottoman Empire. (Turkish
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, archive document)
Turks murdered by the Armenian terror organizations.Lice, Diyarbakır.
-Archive document, General Staff of the Republic of Turkey-
The Hinchak Committee instructed to its organizations in the Ottoman territory to revolt against the Empire as well. In an instruction pamphlet it was written that: “The Hinchak Committee will use all means to assist the Entente states, devoting
all its forces to the struggle to assure victory in Armenia, Cilicia, the Caucasus and Azerbaijan as the ally of the Entente
states, and in particular of Russia.”
These bellicose proclamations were not peculiar to the Armenian political organizations. Even the Armenian representatives in the Ottoman Parliament such as Papazyan, Pastirmajian and Boyaciyan soon turned out to be leading
guerilla fighters against the Ottomans.
In a declaration to the Armenian community, Papazyan wrote that: (Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, archive document)
“The volunteer Armenian regiments in the Caucasus should
prepare themselves for battle, serve as advance units for the
Russian armies to help them capture the key positions in the
districts where the Armenians live, and advance into Anatolia,
joining the Armenian units already there.”
Snapshot of Karakin Pasdirmadjian, alias Armain Garoi ex-deputy for Erzurum in the Ottoman
Parliament.
-Archive documents, General Staff of the Republic of Turkey-
It is on this issue, Rafael de Nogales(Venezuelan soldier, adventurer and
writer) wrote:
“Pasdermichan (Pastirmaciyan), deputy of Erzurum, passed
across the border to join the Russian Army with almost all the
Armenian Officials and soldiers the Third Army.
After a short while, he returned with the Russian Forces, burned
down the Turkish villages, killed violently all the innocent
Muslims whom he caught.
The measure taken by the Ottoman authorities was to disarm the
Armenian soldiers and gendarmes still the army, perhaps they
had not has the opportunity to escape, and to transfer them to
labor battalions to work in road construction and in equipment
transportation.”
As the Russian forces advanced into Ottoman territory in Eastern Anatolia, they were led by advanced units composed of volunteer Ottoman and Russian Armenians, who were joined by
the Armenians who deserted the Ottoman armies and went over to the Russians.
Many of these also formed bandit forces with weapons and ammunition which they had for years been stocking in Armenian
and missionary churches and schools.
Tins of Petrolium full of gun-powder, arms and bombs found during perquisitions made at
Hadjin, also Arms of Armenia found in an Armenian school togehter with dynamite, gun
powder, capsules and fuses.
-Archive document, General Staff of the Republic of Turkey-
The memoirs of all too many Russian officers who served in the East at this time are filled with accounts of the revolting atrocities committed by these Armenian guerillas, which were savage even by the relatively primitive standards of war then
observed in such areas (Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, archive documents).
Within a few months after the war began, these Armenian guerilla forces, operating in close coordination with the
Russians, were savagely attacking Turkish cities, towns and villages in the East; massacring their inhabitants without mercy, while at the same time working to sabotage the Ottoman army's
war effort by destroying roads and bridges, raiding caravans, and doing whatever else they could to ease the Russian
occupation.
The atrocities committed by the Armenian volunteer forces accompanying the Russian army were so severe that the Russian commanders themselves were compelled to withdraw them from
the fighting fronts and send them to rear guard duties.
The massacred children and the family members of Hacı Mustak Effendi, in Erzincan.
-Archive document, General Staff of the Republic of Turkey-
Women and children massacred by the Armenians.
-Archive document, General Staff of the Republic of Turkey-
Civilians massacred by the Armenians in Bayburt.
-Archive document, General Staff of the Republic of Turkey-
Turks massacred by tying their legs to their heads, in Kars
-Archive document, General Staff of the Republic of Turkey-
On this subject British politician and journalist Morgan Philips Price said that:
“... when the war broke out, Armenians in that region (Eastern towns) contacted with Russian authorities in the
Caucasus secretly, and volunteers from Turkish towns were begun to join the Russian forces by the help of an
underground organization.”
The Armenian bands that started to attack the Turkish Army and these bands have given great harm to the civilian people, as well. For example, the whole population of the Zeve village of the Van province massacred by the Armenian people without
discriminating if they were women, children, or the old.
Armenian draftees of the Ottoman army,
-‘National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia’ s album-
American journalist Clair Price wrote:
“In compliance with the 1908 Constitution, the Government of Enver Pasha had the right to call Armenians to arms together with Turks who were at the right age for military service. However, they immediately began to resist with arms against
authorities especially in Zeytun. Along the Eastern borders, Armenians began to escape and join Russian armies. The Government of Enver suspected the loyalty of the rest and transferred them to working battalions.”
We can easily learn from any sources that Armenians cooperated with Russians when the war broke out.
In March 1915 the Russian forces began to move toward Van.
Ottoman Soldiers was in a life and death war in Canakkale, Iraqi and fighting against Russian forces coming from
Caucasus in Van at those days.
Immediately, on April 11, 1915 the Armenians of Van began a general revolt, massacring all the Turks in the vicinity so as
to make possible its quick and easy conquest by the Russians.
Even after the revolt and massacres at Van, the Ottoman government made one final effort to secure general Armenian support for the war effort, summoning the Patriarch, some Armenian Members of Parliament, and other delegates to a
meeting where they were warned that drastic measures would be taken unless Armenians stopped slaughtering Muslims and working to undermine the war effort.
Revolted Armenians fighting in the trenches against Turks for the pupose of faciliating the
task of occupation of the city of Van by the Russians.
-Archive document, General Staff of the Republic of Turkey-
The Armenian newspaper Gochnak, published in the United States, also proudly reported on May 24, 1915 that “only,
1,500 Turks remain in Van”, the rest having been slaughtered (Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, archive document).
In May 1915, Russian forces advanced in Eastern Anatolia. English and French forces attacked Canakkale and in the
south, the channel operation was in progress.
The domestic situation of the country was as explained. In Zeytun, Van and Mus rebellions broke out, the rebellion in Van led to Rusian occupation, and meanwhile the revolts of
Zeytun and Mus were going on.
Every corner of the country was full of deserters, every corner was exposed to attacks of gangs. As all adult Turks were in the army, the country was left to Armenians. The State was trying to deal with those rebellions while it was
also fighting on the fronts.
Armenian intellectuals jailed . April 24, 1915.
Pictured from the left column down: Grigor Zohrab, Siamanto, Hovhannes Tlkateentsi, Daniel
Varoojan, Ruben Sevak, Yeroukhan, Rupen Zartarian, Tigran Chyukyurian, Ardashes Harutunian
and Tiran Kelekian.
-Wikimedia Commons-
Under those circumstances the Ottoman Empire had to take the decision of relocation of the rebellious Armenians.
When there was no evident lessening of the Armenian attacks, the government finally acted.
On April 24, 1915 the Armenian revolutionary committees were closed and 235 of their leaders were arrested for
activities against the state.
The Etchmiasin Patriarch, a priest named Kevork, sent the following cable to the United States President upon this
move:
“Mr. President, according to the latest news received from
the Turkish Armenia, a massacre started there and an
organised terror has put the Armenian lives in danger. In
this precarious moment, I am addressing to the noble
sentiments of the great American nation and ask you to
intervene immediately through your Great Republic’s
diplomatic representation for protecting my people left to
the mercy of the violence of Turkish fanaticism, on behalf
of humanity and Christian belief.
Kevorg, Ecumenic Patriarch of all Armenians.”
It is the date of these arrests that in recent years has been annually commemorated by Armenian nationalist groups throughout the world in commemoration of the “massacre” that they claim took place at this time.
This cable was followed by the Washington contacts of the Russian Ambassador.
The incident here was merely the banning of Armenian committees and the arrest of the culprits. Yet, the
Armenians endeavoured to display it as a ‘massacre’ and to rally the United States and Russia into their ranks.
Women and children killed by the Armenians in Subatan Villiage.
-Archive document, General Staff of the Republic of Turkey-
An Armenian gang in Mus, with the fetuse taken out of Turkish woman’s womb.
The decision regarding migration was taken under compulsion, in order to prevent the harmful acts of Armenians, who stabbed
the Ottoman State that was their own state, in order to establish an independent Armenia.
Documents confirm how the Russians and the Entente States deceived and provoked Armenians.(The Prime Minister's Ottoman Archives,
Cryptic Item, no: 45/115 ).
The Armenians who were deceived by such promises as to be given the lands they obtained during the War and that their
independence to be recognized; established a number of revolutionary societies (The State Archive of the Prime Minister of Republic of
Turkey, Ottoman Archives Department, The General Security Department
Documentation (DH. EUM.) Division 2, File 1, document 45/2 ).
Armenians, who started their terrorist activities before the immigration process, continued these activities even during the
immigration. They collaborated with the enemy both in the border areas and in the inner regions, and applied genocidal
activities to the Moslem people (The Prime Minister's Ottoman Archives,
Cryptic Item , NoB 6; no; 62/24; no: 63/175; no; 64/92; no: 64/163; no; 64/194; no:
66/51; no: 46/56; no: 66/192; BA, BED, no: 343464 ).
The settlers of of the Alaca village, Erzurum. 250 Turks were gathered in
various houses and set afire with kerosene. A view of field of martyrs as
seen at the time of photographing, 06:00.
-Archive document, General Staff of the Republic of Turkey-
A group of Muslim women and children from Hizir Illias village, Diyarbakir, helpless and defenseless on account of the absence of their husbands and
male relatives serving in the Army, were, on July 23, 1915, slaughtered at Mersin Dere, by means of daggers and shot by rifles in a most pitiless and
horibble way by an Armenian Band under the the notorious and well known bandit Hono.
-Archive document, General Staff of the Republic of Turkey-
“Armenians domiciled around Lake Van, and in Van
Provincial Governorate are always ready for an uprising. I
think that the Armenians should be moved from these
places, and centers of revolt be dissipated.
According to the information given by the 3rd Army
Command, the Russians caused the Moslems within their
own boundaries to immigrate over our boundaries in
miserable conditions. Both as a retaliation to this act, and to
ensure the aim I mentioned above, either the said
Armenians should be transported into the Russian land
together with their families; or they should be distributed in
the various regions in Anatolia also with their families.
I kindly request from you the selection of the most suitable
alternative and act accordingly. However, I personally prefer
that the revolting people and their families be sent beyond
our borders; and Moslem people their families be re-settled
in their place.”
April 1915, Revolted Armenians fighting in the trenches against Turks for the
purpose of faciliating the occupation of the city of Van by the Russians.
-Archive document, General Staff of the Republic of Turkey-
Upon such developments, Enver Pasha, acting Head Commander, in order to find a solution to this problem, sent the following note to Talat Pasha on May 2th 1915 (Journal Of Military History Documents, December 1982, no: 81, document 1830 ).
The immigration implementation initiated by Talat Pasha and approved by the Parliament covered ‘the regions that threaten the
security of the front directly’. Because, in these regions, Armenians were collaborating with the enemy and were engaged in activities
facilitating the landing of the enemy forces.
This 1915 photo shows Armenian soldiers from Transcaucasia who have joined
forces with the Russians.
.-Photograph by Underwood & Underwood/Corbis-
This decree was perceived by the Armenians as a deliberate attempt of genocide. However, closer examination of its articles shows that it was only a temporary precaution for the survival of the Empire and the relocation would be realized
with utmost care for the Armenians.
Ottoman government adopted a decree on May 27, 1915, ordering for the relocation of the Armenians living in the war regions. The Law was published in the Official Gazette of the
time, Takvim-i Vekayi, on 1 June 1915 and came into force.
With this letter, which may be accepted as the first sign of the intention of immigration process, Enver Pasha requested
of dispersion of Armenians in order to avoid their uprising act.
According to the said letter, it is clear that the implementations would be made only in locations where the Armenians revolted; and
it was carried out accordingly.
The following communiqué dated May 30, 1915 sent to the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of War and the Ministry of Finance, the regulations of implementation of the immigration were stated:
(The State Archive of the Prime Minister of Republic of Turkey, BEO, no. 326758)
The Armenians shall be transported to the regions allocated in a
comfortable manner, ensuring the security of their lives and
property.
Their food and drink expenses shall be covered by the
Immigrant’s Compensation until they settle in their new houses.
Real estate and land shall be provided for them in accordance
with their former financial status.
The government shall build houses for those in need, and provide
seeds, and agricultural equipment for the farmers and
agricultural experts.
The movables they left behind shall be delivered, and after the
determination of their immovable properties settled, these shall be
distributed among the Moslem immigrants to be setting in their
place.
Income generating from places that are not within the expertise
of these immigrants such as olive, mulberry and orange groves,
vineyards, shops, inns, factories and warehouse shall be either
auctioned or rented and their compensations shall be recorded in
deposit by savings fund to be paid to their owners.
The Law of Relocation
-The Prime Minister's Ottoman Archive-
The objectives and principles which must be kept in mind in the
deportation of Armenians.
-The Prime Minister's Ottoman Archive-
The properties owned by the Armenians subjected to immigration were protected under an order dated June 10, 1915. ‘Commission on Abandoned Properties’ comprising of a president and two members, one administrative and
one financial, was established.
These commissions are to determine Armenian properties in the villages and towns that are evacuated, and to keep
detailed record books.
Law on Relocation and Settlement provided how relocation would be made in detail.
Armenian civilians are marched to Elazıg by Ottoman soldiers. Harput, April 1915.
-Wikimedia Commons-
In these decisions and instructions, issues such as how movables and real estates were to be delivered of, condition of the lands and crop on them, their registration and even,
giving hot food with meat to the immigrants were taken into consideration.
The legislation clarifying how the law would be applied did not aim at destruction of any movables or real estate or killing of the people; on the contrary any mistakes in the execution of the regulation punished severely, including
capital punishment.
Both the commission and the regional administrators shall be responsible for the protection of these properties until the Armenians return.
It is understood that the Ottoman Government showed great care in the implementation of this order.
Through the Commission on Abandoned Property, the money coming through the auction in the names of their owners was paid to the owners of such property (The Prime Minister's Ottoman
Archives, Cryptic Item , No 53/303).
The government has sent a coded telegraph to the governors, provinces and Commissions on Left Properties on August 3rd 1915 and forbidden the purchase of those properties by the
state officers because this could lead to some misuses. (Cryptic
Item, No 54-A/259).
The government has taken all precautions in order to prevent any kind of unlawful actions. On August 11th 1915, with an
order sent to all provinces, the precautions to be taken and the applications to be performed about this issue were
indicated in the form of articles.
The provisions in these orders were applied with great care and the art and commerce enterprises that remained from the Armenians were transferred in high prices to settlement companies, which were established, their real value. (Cryptic Item, No. 61/31;
no. 60/275; no. 60/277).
The Commission on Abandoned Property has sent the money from sold properties to their owners. (Cryptic Item, No 57/348; no. 57/349;
no. 57/350).
Post-card,of wool merchant(Armenian), with a European trader, and the staff., in Urfa.
-Wikimedia Commons-
The immigration routes were chosen among the closest possible roads, so as immigrants not to come across any
difficulties.
Furthermore, the concern to ensure security and protection for the convoys played on important role in the choice of routes. (The Prime Minister's Ottoman Archives,
Cryptic Item, no 54-A/157; no 56/280; no 56/387).
Locations with railroad and river — transportation facilities were preferred in choosing all routes. The idea that travel by train or the river travel were the safest ways then, played an important role in this choice.
In accordance with the Law on Transport and Resettlement dated 27 May 1915, and communiqué
determining the forms of implementation of this law, the Armenian convoys were gathered in certain centers along the crossroads such as Konya, Diyarbekir, Cizre, Birecik
and Aleppo, to be distributed to the new settlement areas.
Armenian immigrants, tents, horses, Syria
-Wikimedia Commons-
Furthermore, orphans and widowed women have not been subjected to migration and have been taken under protection in the villages and orphanages. (The Prime Minister's Ottoman Archives,
Cryptic Item, no 54/411; no 54/450; no 54-A / 325)
The children, who became orphans during the transportation have been sent to Sivas and settled in the orphanages there.
(The Prime Minister's Ottoman Archives, Cryptic Item, no 61/18-20)
The relocation decision has not been applied to all Armenians. In the coded telegraph sent to the provinces on August 15 1915, the Armenians providing service as officers and health personnel in the Ottoman army and their families have not been
subjected to migration and left at their locations. (The Prime Minister's Ottoman Archives, Cryptic Item, no. 55/18 )
A general order was issued on April 30, 1916 about the Armenian families needing protection. With this order,the families with no guardians, whose male members were in
military service, were settled in the villages and towns, where there were no Armenians and their catering were met from
the Immigrants’ Allowance.
Armenian women and child getting food relief. 1915
-Wikimedia Commons-
The homeless children up to 12 were given to Muslim families at locations, where the orphanages were not sufficient and their education and development have been provided. 30 kurus (today about 110 $) was paid to the poor Muslim families to meet the expenses of the children from the Immigrants’ Allowance. (The Prime Minister's Ottoman Archives, Cryptic Item, no 63/147), no 64/162).)
The state used all its resources available, to implement an orderly immigration process, and to prevent the
convoys from any possible harm, in spite of circumstances that prevailed due to war.
However, there arose difficulties at times to find vehicles transporting immigrants due to the need to
dispatch military and food items to the front continuously.
In spite of all these difficult circumstances and adverse conditions, the government succeeded, in an orderly fashion, to transport the immigrating Armenians to their new locations of resettlement.
Armenians traveling by train to Mosul. 1915
-Wikimedia Commons-
Therefore, railway stations were congested. It being harvest season the vehicles were scarce, which caused
delays in transportation at times, as well as difficulties in the movement of the convoys. (The Prime
Minister's Ottoman Archives, Cryptic Item, no: 54-A/393, No: 54-A/59;
no: 54-A/96)
Maximum attention was paid for orderly sending and protection from any dangers or loss of the
convoys despite the war conditions.
As a matter of fact, Mersin Consul of America, Edward Natan, in the report he sent to Ambassador
Morgenthau on August 30, 1915 depicted,
“All routes from Tarsus to Adana were full of
Armenians; despite some troubles that may take
place due to the crowd, the government managed
the situation well; it did not allow violence and
irregularity; the migrants were provided necessary
number of tickets; and those in need were provided
assistance”.
(The State Archive of the Prime Minister of Republic of Turkey,
Ottoman Archives Department, The General Security Department
Documentation, File 2D/13 .)
In 1915, when the great resettlement of the Armenians began, the railroad lines from central Anatolia
ended in Pozanti, in the middle of the Taurus Mountains. From there, one had to continue by road to
Syria. It was not until 1916 that the Germans were able to complate the railroad to Aleppo. The Photo
shows troops on their way across the Taurus Mountains to Syria.
-A Myth of Terror ;-Edition Zeitgeschichte, Freilassing [Germany]; 1st Printing edition (1986)-
Furthermore, the provinces could aid the immigrants from their own budgets and sometimes new money allocations were
sent from the center in accordance with the condition of needs. (Cryptic Item no 53/305, no 55-A/118)
Meanwhile, a certain amount of money sent from America to be given to Armenian immigrants has been distributed to the Armenians under the knowledge of the government, by the
American missioners and consuls. (Cryptic Item, no 60/281)
Armenian immigrants from the vicinity of Kharpert make needlework at an Armenian-
American sponsored Refugee Camp. Aleppo, Syria
-Photo from the collection of Project SAVE Armenian Photograph Archives-
Besides this, it has been understood that some Armenians living in America have secretly sent the money they collected among themselves to the Armenians subjected to immigration. (Cryptic Item no 60/178)
Various orders have been given to Immigrant and Tribe Settling Directorate for food — beverage provision.
(The Prime Minister's Ottoman Archives, Cryptic Item no 55/152; no 55/291;
no 55/341; no 55-A/17; no 55-A/135; no 57/110)
The Government has written notices to all provinces before beginning the Armenian relocation and requested them to take precautions to meeting all needs of the companies that would pass through their regions and to stock food. (The Prime Minister's
Ottoman Archives, Cryptic Item no 55/291; no 55/341; no 57/345; no 57/351)
It is understood from the documents that a total of 2.250.000 kurus has been allocated to meet the needs of
the companies and of this amount, (In 1915, 25 Million kurus and up to end of 1916, 230 Million kurus had been
expended for sending, settlement and sustain of deported Armenians.)
(The budget of the Directorate of Settlement of Tribes and immigrants for the
year 1915 was 78.000.000 kurus and 1332 budget was 200.000.000 kurus and
this amount was spent for the Armenians, Greeks and Arabs subjected to
relocation and the Muslims coming from the regions invaded by the enemy
-The State Archive of the Prime Minister of Republic of Turkey, BEO no.
334063).
If we examine the value of Ottoman Lira between 1863-1923 ;
100 kurus = 1 Ottoman Lira = 6,6 gr. 24 karat gold230 Million kurus = 2.300.000 Lira
2.300.000 Lira x 6,6 gr. gold = 15.180.000 gr. gold = 15.180 kg. gold1 kg. gold = 55.750 $
15.180 kg. x 55.750 $ = 846.285.000 $
Means that, for this purpose with todays value aproximately 846 Million $ has been expendit.
Ottoman Lira, 1875
On the other hand, health officers have been assigned to the migrating companies for providing therapy in case of
illness. (Cryptic Item no 54-A/226)
Furthermore, the legal proceedings about the criminal suspects, who were among the ones subjected to migration,
were delayed. (The State Archive of the Prime Minister of Republic of
Turkey, BEO no. 329176)
The Ottoman Government, while spending such great amounts of money for relocation on one hand, either
delayed or completely canceled the debts owed either to the state or individuals of the Armenians subjected to
migration.
Likewise in a coded telegraph sent by Talat Pasha to Maras Governor on June 1, 1915, he requested not to take back the debts of Armenians and in another order sent to
all provinces on August 4th 1915, the tax debts of the displaced Armenians were postponed (The Prime
Minister's Ottoman Archives, Cryptic Item no 54-A/268).
Armenian immigrants carding wool in Tiflis.
-National Geographice, November 1919-
In all, many precautions were taken for the safety and
comfort of the relocated Armenians.
However, still, under war circumstances, there were not
sufficient food supplies, hygienic conditions as well as
transportation facilities.
Armenian immigrants on the way.
-‘National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia’ s album”-
What is more, there was not enough security on the road to the destination of relocated Armenians.
Banditry was a significant threat and the convoys were attacked by Kurdish as well as Turkish bands.
Together with famine and epidemic diseases, which the Muslim community had also suffered much, many Armenians
died during this process of relocation.
Out of the some 700,000 Armenians who were transported in this way until early 1917, certainly some lives were lost, as the result both of large
scale military and bandit activities then going on in the areas through which they passed, as well as the general insecurity and blood feuds which
some tribal forces sought to carry out as the caravans passed through their territories.
In addition, the relocation of Armenians took place at a time when the Empire was suffering from severe shortages of fuel, food, medicine
and other supplies as well as large-scale plague and famine.
It should not be forgotten that, at the same time, an entire Ottoman army of 90,000 men was lost in the East as a result of severe
shortages, or that through the remainder of the war as many as three or four million Ottoman subjects of all religions died as a result of the
same conditions that afflicted the deportees.
Russians collecting the frozen bodies of Turkish soldiers.
-Wikimedia Commons-
Not only the people at frontal were suffering from poorness and bad circumstances but the cities far away from front, even in Istanbul.
Not only the Armenian people were suffering but all the people living in Ottoman.
How tragic and unfeeling it is, therefore, for Armenian nationalists to blame the undoubted suffering of the Armenians during the war to something more than the same anarchical conditions which afflicted
all the Sultan's subjects.
Battle of Sarikamis, the frozen Turkish soldiers.
-Wikimedia Commons-
The operation the Ottoman State launched to counter
the Armenian uprising was planned and executed by
taking necessary and proportionate measures in the face
of the following developments:
In 1915, that is, in the First World War, the Ottoman
State was in a state of war with Russia, Britain, France
and Italy.
Armenian Resistance, Urfa. July 1915
-Wikimedia Commons-
It was at such a peculiar time that the Armenians
rebelled, demanding independence.
They collaborated with the enemy, committing the crime
of high treason in wartime.
They staged massacres against the Muslim people who, in
turn, had to defend themselves. However, while
defending themselves, at times some crossed the line of
proportionality and became involved in acts of revenge or
reprisal.
Since all the Muslim males of the fighting age had been
conscripted and were in military service, far away from their
homes, fighting at various fronts, the remainder of the Muslim
civilians back at home had to do whatever they could on their
own to defend themselves against the attackers that were
trying to massacre them.
Although these civilians sometimes did act with feelings of revenge and also staged reprisals, there was a greater
problem:
In parts of the Ottoman realm the state authority had already been eroded and a number of armed individuals and gangs had seized that opportunity to stage robberies and
killings for private gain.
Gendermas and officers belonging to the Provisions Columns of the Imperial Army,
commanded by Hamid, an officer of the Milita, who, on July 11 1915, were assassinated
by the Armenian bands at a place called Sheytan Kaya. These bands which had specially
come from Van and Talory for the purpose of terrorizing the locality were under the
leadership of the famous bandit Dorian Dano and his brothers and who afterwards were
discovered to have taken refurge in the Armenian village of Beshnik, in Silvan.
-Archive document, General Staff of the Republic of Turkey-
All these tragic incidents hurt not solely the Armenians but all the parties concerned. Contrary to the conviction held by some, these incidents were not triggered by the Muslims.
Armed gangs of Armenians –known as Armenian Committees--triggered the incidents by massacring innocent, defenseless
Muslim civilians in an ethnic cleansing drive.
These Armenian gangs believed that by collaborating with the enemy they would be able to initiate a national liberation war of
the Armenians.
After the Russian revolution in 1917,
Russia signed Brest-Litovsk Treaty and evacuated
Eastern Anatolia.
They left the region to the administration
of Armenian bands and provided them with weapons
and ammunition.
Martyrs, axe butchered and thrown in the wells by the Armenians.
(February 10, 1918)
-Archive document, General Staff of the Republic of Turkey-
These bands attacked many cities, towns and villages
and massacred thousands of Muslims, in order to
facilitate incorporation of Eastern Anatolia to a
prospective ‘Greater Armenia’.
517.955 Turkish people had been murdered in
Anatolia and Caucasus in between 1906-1927.
Together with undetermined murders this number
approachs to 2.000.000(The State Archive of the Prime Minister
of Republic of Turkey, Publication No: 23, 24, 34, 35.).
An outrageous example of the massacres in Subatan village of Kars:
women, children, and the fetuses taken out of their mothers’ wombs.
(April 25, 1918)
-Archive document, General Staff of the Republic of Turkey-
Photo, taken on the spot, of some of Muslim victims assassinated with hachets by Armenians in the village of Koollar.
-Archive document, General Staff of the Republic of Turkey-
Later Ottoman forces were able to repel the Armenians and
they took many Eastern Anatolian lands up until Baku with the
exception of Yerevan and Etchmiazin.
However, after the signature of the Armistice of Mudros in
1918, they had to retreat once again.
The Armistice of Mudros was an important step for the
Armenians to establish Armenia.
Zaven Efendi, the Armenian Patriarch, came to Istanbul on
6 December 1918 in accordance with the Regulations in 1918.
He established an organisation to found the independent
Armenia. He collected aids like guns, bullets and money,
tried to find the necessary equipment and got considerable
assistance from the Greek Patriarchate.
The deceased bodies of victims of the Armenians. They were
found in a backyard in Vagarir Village (Erzincan) on February 16,
1918.
-Archive document, General Staff of the Republic of Turkey-
Bogos Nubar Pasha made an application to the Entente Powers on 30 November 1918, using the title of “the
representative of Turkish Armenians” and he requested from the Entente Powers and the League of Nations to take
Armenia under their protection.
He also negotiated with French Chambon and the Greek Prime
Minister Venizelos.
He visited the British King George V to express the gratitude of
the Armenians.
While he was coming back from London to Paris he met with the
French President and the Prime Minister and he came back to
Istanbul with feelings of contentment and hope.
Armenian Bishop for Istanbul Zaven Effendi (Zaven Egyazaryan,
( 1868-1927)
During the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, the representative of the Ottoman Armenians, Boghos Nubar Pasha and the
representative of the Armenian Republic, Avetis Ahoranyan put forward territorial claims against the Ottoman Empire and
provided information regarding the Armenian population.
In the mean time, on 12 February 1919, the Patriarch Zaven
Efendi went to Paris and then to London from Istanbul, for the
realisation of the same issue.
First, he met Bogos Nubar Pasha and he enlightened him
concerning issues; next Lord Cecil, Lord Curzon and his deputy
Lord Harding.
Armenian Land Demands in the Paris Peace Conference
Then, on 28 May 1919, in the first anniversary of the foundation of the Armenian Republic by the
Tashnaks, it declared that "Armenia has annexed
Eastern Anatolia" thus laying claim to the territories of eastern Anatolia which had been returned to the Ottoman Empire following the
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.
To examine the Armenian claims and recommend a settlement, American President Wilson sent an American investigation committee to Anatolia in the fall of 1919 under the leadership of General
James G. Harbord.
It toured through Anatolia during September and October, and then reported to Congress
that:Paris Peace Conference, Feb. 1919 - interior view of Salon de L''Horloge in Ministry of Foreign Affairs; keyed to
names of all conferees
-Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.-
"The Turks and Armenians lived in peace side by side
for centuries; that the Turks suffered as much as the
Armenians at the time of the deportations; that only 20%
of the Turkish villagers who went to war would be able
to return to their homes: that at the start of World War I
and before the Armenians never had anything
approaching a majority of the population in the
territories called Armenia; that they would not have a
majority even if all the relocated Armenians were
returned; and the claims that returning Armenians
would be in danger were not justified. “
As a result of this report, in April 1920 the American Congress rejected the proposal, which had been made to
establish an American Mandate over Anatolia for the purpose of enabling the Armenians to establish their own
state in the East.
On 10 August 1920 the Armenians joined in signing the long-hoped-for Treaty of Sévres, which provided that the Ottoman government would recognize the establishment of an independent Armenian state, with boundaries to be
determined by President Wilson.
General James G. Harbord
-www old-picture.com-
This treaty was, however, signed only by the Ottoman Government in Istanbul, while most Turks, and most of the country accepted the leadership of the Ankara government, led by Mustafa Kemal, who actively opposed the treaty
and its provisions.
French Legion (Armenians wearing French uniforms), Adana 1916
-www.frmtr.com-
In the meantime, following the Armistice of Mudros which concluded the fighting of World War I in 1918, the province ofAdana was occupied by the French.
The British occupied Urfa, Maras and Antep but later left these also to the French. As French forces occupied these provinces, in south and southeast Anatolia, they were accompanied by Armenians wearing French uniforms, who immediately
began to ravage Turkish villages and massacred large numbers of Turks.
These atrocities stirred the Turks of the area to resist, once again leading to the spreading of propaganda in Europe that Turks were massacring Armenians. This time, however, since the French themselves were forced to send the Armenians to the
rear to end the atrocities, the Armenian claims were evidently false, and no-one really believed them.
Armenian Soldiers of French Army in Cilicia
-www.armenian-history.com
After the American Congress rejected a Mandate over Anatolia, the Armenian Republic in the Caucasus, starting in June 1920, attacked Turkey,
sending guerrilla bands as well as organized army units into eastern Anatolia, and undertaking widespread massacres of the settled population.
The Ankara (Mustafa Kemal’s) Government moved to the defense in September, and within a short time the Armenian forces were routed, eastern Anatolia was regained, and order and security re-established.
By the Treaty of Gumru (Alexandropol) signed by the Ankara Government and the Armenian Republic on 3 December 1920, both sides accepted the new boundaries and acknowledged that the provisions of the Treaty of Sévres were null and void. The Armenians also renounced all territorial
claims against Turkey.
Shortly after this the Red Army entered Erivan and established the Soviet Armenian Government. However through a revolt in Erivan on 18 February 1921 the Tashnaks once again took over control of Armenia.
‘Kazım Karabekir Pasha’
General of The Ankara (Mustafa Kemal’s) Government
-Wikimedia Commons-
The new Vratzian Government sent a committee to Ankara on 18 March asking for Turkish assistance against the Bolsheviks, a strange event indeed considering that only two years ago the Tashnaks had organized an Armenian invasion of Turkey.
The Tashnak government did not last very long, however, and the Soviets soon regained control of Erivan.
On March 16, 1921 Turkey signed the Treaty of Moscow with the Soviet Union, by which the boundaries between
Turkey and the Soviet Union were definitively drawn.
As arranged in this agreement, on October 13, 1921 Turkey signed the Kars Agreement with Soviet Armenia, confirming
the new boundaries between the two as well as their agreement that the provisions of the Treaty of Sévres were
null and void once and for all.
Treaty of Moscow 1921, March 16, 1921
-Wikimedia Commons-
The situation on the southern front was settled by the Treaty of Ankara signed with France on 20 October 1921.
France evacuated not only its own troops, but also the Armenian guerillas and volunteers who had cooperated with
them, and most of the Armenians who had gathered at Adana in the hope of establishing an Armenian state there.
Many of these Armenians were settled in Lebanon. This agreement made possible the subsequent return of Hatay to Turkey, thus fulfilling the provisions of the Turkish national pact, which had been drawn up by Mustapha Kemal, and the
leaders of the Turkish War for Independence.
All these settlements effectively nullified Armenian ambitions for a state in eastern Anatolia.
The Treaty of Lausanne, signed on 24 July 1923 in place of the Treaty of Sévres, did not even mention the Armenians, which is why Armenian nationalists even today try to resurrect the Sévres
treaty which never really was put into force.
Palais de Rumine, signature du Traité de Lausanne, 1923, Jullien Frères
-www.lausanne.ch-
Ataturk, meet Ismet Inonu who signed the Treaty of Lausanne in Ankara. (15.08.1923)
-www.isteataturk.com-
Immediately after the World War I and following the occupation of Istanbul and several other regions of the country
by the Allied armies, the British authorities had sent several hundred Ottoman political and military leaders as well as
intellectuals, to Island of Malta under the accusation that they were criminals of war and imprisoned them there.
The Malta Prison.
-The Myth of Terror- -Edition Zeitgeschichte, Freilassing
[Germany]; 1st Printing edition (1986)-
The United States archives contain an interesting document sent to Lord Curzon on 13 July 1921 by Mr. R.C. Craigie, the British Ambassador in Washington. The tenor of this message is as follows: “I regret to state that there is nothing that may be
used as evidence against the Turkish detainees in Malta. There are no events that may constitute adequate proofs. The said
reports do not appear to contain even circumstantial evidence that could be useful to reinforce the information held by His
Majesty’s Government against the Turks. (Public Record Office-Foreign Office (PRO.FO). 13th July 1971, 371/6504/E8519)”
A thoroughgoing examination was made on the Ottoman archives in order to find clues for indicting the Union and Progress Party
as well as the detainees both in Malta and in Istanbul.
All these efforts did not produce an iota of evidence that might be used to incriminate the Government of that time and the
detainees. The British Government screened its own archives and the documents held by the United States Government in
Washington. The result was a blatant impasse.
MALTA EXILES :
They also stated the following: “No statements were hitherto
received from the witnesses to the effect that the indictments
intended against the detainees are correct. Likewise it does not need
to be restated that finding witnesses after so long a time is highly
doubtful in a remote country like Armenia which is accessible only
with great difficulties. (Public Record Office-Foreign Office (PRO.FO). 29th July
1921, 371/6504/E8745)” This statement was also made by the legal advisers in London of His Majesty’s Government.
Malta Exiles
-aydinpost.com-
Concerned with Malta exile, Mustafa Kemal meet with minister of marine Salih Pasa whose is the member at new council of
minister in 20 – 22, October 1919.
They have decided that;
“The exiled persons to Malta would taken back to Istanbul to go to court and Armenian who behave unjustly towards villager
would go to court to trial”
A few days after victory of Second Inonu, Malta exiles started to released. After that Malta exiles and English slaves
exchanged in 30th October 1921, all released.
EXCAVATION OF THE MASS-GRAVES IN KARS - SUBATAN on June 20th 1991
The archive documents and statements of witnesses show that in three separate mass-graves in Subatan, there are a
numbers of martyrs buried. In the barn in Koseogullari district , more than 180, in Tiptip street more than 25 and in the barn which is located in the south of the village mosque
more than 350 bodies are buried.
THE EXCAVATION OF VAN - ZEVE MASS-GRAVE on April 4th 1990
The Armenian guerillas brought into Zeve village about 2000-2500 people who were gathered by force from eight villages in the district and were put in houses and barns. They first tortured these people with piercing and cutting tools and
then opened fire at them. Then, they set all houses on fire. Materials found in the excavation have been exhibited at
‘Massacre Section’ in Van Museum.
THE EXCAVATION THE MASS-GRAVE IN ERZURUM-DUMLU-YESILYAYLA VILLAGE on October 7th 1988
The tobacco boxes with crescent and star, pages of Koran, cartridges, pieces of a half-burned wooden post, some long pigtails of hair, pieces of silk dress and small dress buttons were found in the field of excavation. Approximately up to
100 of skeletons were excavated from the mass-grave. Materials found in the excavation have been exhibited in
Erzurum museum.
EXCAVATION OF THE MASS-GRAVE IN IGDIR - OBA VILLAGE on March 1st 1986
At the excavation, the first hole of 6x8 meters was started in the inner part of the northern door and a closed ‘iron lock’was found. The second hole was dug in the central part of the room and approximately 90 human skeletons were found under
an earth layer of one meter thick.
The stone base (floor) in the south of the Tandir which was situated in the middle of the room must have belonged to the only wooden post which had supported the earth-covered roof
and the burnt pieces of that column were also found.
EXCAVATION OF THE MASS-GRAVES IN IgDIR HAKMEHMET VILLAGE (5.10.1999)
EXCAVATION OF THE MASS-GRAVES IN ERZURUM TEPEKoY (5.6.2010)
EXCAVATION OF THE MASS-GRAVES IN BITLIS SARAY VILLAGE (3.10.2010)
EXCAVATION OF THE MASS-GRAVES IN KARS ARPAcAY – KucuK cATMA KoY (23.8.2010)
EXCAVATION OF THE MASS-GRAVES IN ARDAHAN YANIK CAMI (22.10.2010)
EXCAVATION OF THE MASS-GRAVES IN GIRESUN GoRELE - MAHSUTLU (22.10.2010)
EXCAVATION OF THE MASS-GRAVES IN VAN GEVAs - YANIKcAY VILLAGE (19.10.2010)
EXCAVATION OF THE MASS-GRAVES IN VAN ERCIs – cAVUsOgLU (5.10.2009)
EXCAVATION OF THE MASS-GRAVES IN ERZURUM PASINLER - TIMAR (7.7.1993)
DATE PLACE DEATHS
1914-2-21 Kars, Ardahan 30.000
1916-5-8 Pasinler 2.000
1916-5-8 Tercan 563
1916-5-8 Van, Tatvan 1.600
1915-5-9 Bitlis 40.000
1916-5-8 Bitlis 10.000
1915-5-9 Bitlis 123
1915 Van 44
1916-5-22 Van 1.000
1916-5-22 Koprukoy / Van 200
1916-5-22 Van 15.000
1916-5-22 Van 8
1916-5-22 Van 8.000
1916-5-22 Van 80.000
1916-5-22 Van 15.000
1916-5-23 Of 5
1916-5-23 Trabzon 2086
1916-5-23 Van 300
1916-5-11 Van 44.233
1916-5-11 Malazgirt 20.000
1916-6-11 Bitlis 12
1916-4-1 Van, Resadiye 15
1916-6 Van Abbasaga 14
1916-6 Edremid, Vastan 15.000
1915-4 Bitlis 29
1915-4 Muradiye 10.000
1915-5 Van 20.000
1915-2 Haskay 200
1915-2 Dutak 3
1915-4 Van 120
1915 Van 150
1915-5 Bitlis 16.000
1916-5 Mus 500
DATE PLACE DEATHS
1916-5-25 Bayezid 14.000
l 915 Mus 800
l 915-8 Mukus 126
l 915-6-7 Mukus Sehan 121
l 915-7 Mus Akcan 19
1915 Mus 10
l 915 Bitlis Hizan 113
l 915 Van 5200
1916-8-14 Bitlis 311
1916-6-6 satak Serir 45
1916-6-6 satak 1150
1916-1-15 Terme 9
1919-1-25 Kars 9
1919-1-21 Kilis 2
1919-2-26 Adana, Pozantı 4
1919-5-18 Osmaniye 1
1919-6-13 Pasinler 3
1919-6-3 Igdır 8
1919-7-7 Kars, Gole 9
1919-7-9 Kagızman 6
1919-7-9 Kurudere 8
1919-7-8 Mescidli 4
1919-7-8 Gulyantepe 10
1919-7-11 Mescidli 20
1919-7-19 Bulaklı 2
1919-7-24 Kars, Kagızman 9
1919-7 Sarıkamıs 803
1919-7 Sarıkamıs 695
1919/8 Muhtelif Koyler 2502
1919-7-5 Kagızman 4
1919 Tiknis, Agadeve 5
1919-7-19 Pasinler 2
1919 Nahcıvan 4000
DATE PLACE DEATHS
1919-7 Kurudere 8
1919-7-4 Akcakale 180
1919 Sarıkamıs 9
1919-8-15 Erzurum 153
1919-8-15 Erzurum 426
1919-9 Allahuekber 3
1919-9-14 Sarıkamıs 2
1919-11-11 Maras 2
1919-11 Adana 4
1919-11-16 Ulukısla 7
1919-12-7 Adana 4
1920-1-22 Antep 1
1919-9 unye 12
1920-2-28 Pozantı 40
1920-2-10 cıldır 100
1920-3-9 Zarusat 400
1920-2-2 suregel 1350
1338-3 Maras 4
1920-3-22 suregel, Zarusat 2000
1920-3-9 Zarusat 120
1920-3-16 Kagızman 720
1920-4-6 Gumru 500
1920-4-28 Kars 2
1920-5-5 Kars 1774
1920-5-22 Kars 10
1920-7-2 Kars, Erzurum 408
1920-7-2 Zengibasar 1500
1920-7-27 Erzurum 69
1920-2-1 Zarusat 2150
1920-5 Kars, Erzurum 27
1920-8 Oltu 650
1920-8 Kars, Erzurum 18
1920-10-15 Bayburt 1387
DATE PLACE DEATHS
1920-10-20 Gole 100
1920-10-17 Pasinler 9287
1920-10-18 Tortum 3700
1920-10-19 Erzurum 8439
1920-10-26 Kars civarı 10693
1920-10-?8 Askale 889
1919-1-6 Zarusat 86
1920-12-1 Kosor 69
1920-12-3 Gole 508
1920-12-4 Kosor 122
1920-12-4 Kars, Zeytun 28
1920-12-4 Sarıkamıs 1975
1920-12-6 Gole 194
1920-12-7 Kars, Digor 14620
1920-12-14 Sarıkamıs 5337
1920 Gole 600
1920 Kars 3945
1920 Haramivartan 138
1920 Nahcıvan 64408
1920-11-29 Zarcısat 1026
1921-2 Zenibasar 18
1920 Nahcıvan 5307
1920-2 Kars civarı 561
1920-12 Erivan 192
1921 Karakilise 6000
1921-11-21 Pasinler 53
1921-11-21 Erzurum 1215
1918 Hınıs 870
1918 Tercan 580
1921 Nahcıvan 12
1921 Bayburt 580
1921 Arpacay 148
THE LIST OF MASSACRES BY ARMENIANS OF TURKS IN ANATOLIA AND CAUCASIA, 1906-1922
(Sources: GOVERNMENT ARCHIVES)
DATE PLACE DEATHS
1906-2-11 Revan The people of 25 villages
1915-5-9 Bitlis The people of 1 village
1915-5-9 Bitlis No. of people not known
1916-5-22 Van No. of people not known
1916-5-23 Van No. of people not known
1915-5-11 Trabzon No. of people not known
1916-6-11 Bitlis No. of people not known
1916-6-11 Van No. of people not known
1916-6-11 Baskala No. of people not known
1915-6-11 Van 180 Families
1915-6 Bitlis 100 Families
1915-5 Van No. of people not known
1915-6-10 Macka No. of people not known
1914-12-17 Eleskird No. of people not known
1916-5-23 Hınıs No. of people not known
1915-12 Mus No. of people not known
1915-1 Mus The people of 2 villages
1915 Elaziz No. of people not known
1915-8 Gevas No. of people not known
1915-2 satak 9 villages
DATE PLACE DEATHS
1915 Hizan No. of people not known
1916-6-3 Diyarbakır The people of 55 villages
1916-5 Tercan 30 villages
1919-1-25 Ardahan No. of people not known
1919-7-8 Gulantab 2 villages
1919-7-16 Buyuk Vedi No. of people not known
1919-7-25 Gumru No. of people not known
1919-7-12 Kars 1 Families
1919-7 Artvin Several
1919-7 Bayezid A series of people
1919-8 Nahcıvan The people of 3 villages
1919 Sarıkamıs In large no.
1919 Sarıkamıs 1 village
1919 Sarıkamıs No. of people not known
1919-8-15 Erzurum 30 Families
1919-7-12 Kars 2 Families
1919-8-12 Kars No. of people not known
1919-8-12 Kars All Males
1919-8-12 Kars All people
1922-8-18 Kars All Males
DATE PLACE DEATHS
1919-8-31 Sarıkamıs All people
1919-8-31 Kagızman No. of people not known
1919-8-18 Kagızman No. of people not known
1919-9 Karaurgan No. of people not known
1919-9-14 Sarıkamıs No. of people not known
1920-3-3 Kozan In large no.
1920 suragel No. of people not known
1920-3-9 Zarusad No. of people not known
1920-3-16 Kagızman No. of people not known
1920-5-24 Kars Civarı No. of people not known
1920-7-27 Oltu-Gole All males
1920-5-24 Kars civarı All people
1920-12-3 Kars No. of people not known
1919 Kars civarı a few Tents
1919-3 Kars civarı 85 Families
1919-3 Sarıkamıs The people of 1 village
1919-2 Igdır Hundreds
1920 Kars civarı No. of people not known
1920-11 Erivan-Kars No. of people not known
1918 Tekman No. of people not known
THE LIST OF UNDETERMINED NUMBER OF INCIDENTS
(Sources: GOVERNMENT ARCHIVES)
Thus the part of history related to Armenians has to be rewritten because the people who
were massacred violently were not the Armenians but the Turks.
IGDIR GENOCIDE MONUMENT AND MUSEUM
The location selected for the genocide monument is at the eastern entrance of the City of Igdir, that
is, at the junction of roads from Azerbaijan, Iran and Armenia.
Contrary to the Armenian pretensions, the implementation performed in Eastern Anatolia in 1915 is the
migration from one place to another region within Ottoman land and it has no relation with the genocide.
The Armenian community expanded and prospered as a result of the freedom granted by the sultans. At
the same time Armenians shared, and contributed to, the Turkish-Ottoman culture and ways of life and
government to such an extent that they earned the particular trust and confidence of the sultans over
the centuries, gaining the attribute ‘the loyal nation’.
Thus the Armenians and Turks, and all the various races of the Empire lived in peace and mutual trust
over the centuries, with no serious complaints being made against the Ottoman system or administration
which made such a situation possible.
Until, that is until the end of the nineteenth century, began to foreign interventions ....
It has been collected from
- ERAREN Institute for Armenian Research
- TURKSAM Turkish Centre for International Relations & Strategic Analysis
- FORSNET –ermenisorunu.gen.tr
- Turkish Historical Society
- General Staff of the Republic of Turkey
- National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia
documents, articles and/or photographs.
Turkce versiyon icin :