Turkish Armenian Story

The Story of

Turkish & Armenian

FUNDA KALAYCIOGLU

www.fundakalaycioglu.com

http://www.fundakalaycioglu.com/pps_sunu.htm

The Story of

Turkish & Armenian

FUNDA KALAYCIOGLU



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











FUNDA KALAYCIOGLU



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


The teaching staff and students of Female College, Maras, 1893


The school girls of Ibranosyan Female College, Amasya, 1906


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


Medical staff of the national hospital, Kayseri, 1903


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.


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.


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.


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.


Women and children massacred by the Armenians.


Civilians massacred by the Armenians in Bayburt.


Turks massacred by tying their legs to their heads, in Kars


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.


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.


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.


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.


“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.


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.


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.


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)


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)


Photo, taken on the spot, of some of Muslim victims assassinated with hachets by Armenians in the village of Koollar.


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.


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


1915-5-11 Trabzon No. of people not known

1916-6-11 Bitlis 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


1919-9 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


1920-5-24 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 ....









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