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The Murderous Winters
Armenian protests over double taxation in the fall of 1894, resulted in massacres lasting until January of 1896. In response the government sent troops to stop the protests. Instead of finding a peaceful solution, the troops resorted to violence and massacred many Armenians. This was continued by semi-regular forces until January of 1896. Access to the area was restricted by the government, but reports of events were smuggled out. The international involvement was minimal. -
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Protest-Demand turns into Massacre
Two thousand Armenians gathered at Constantinople to deliver a petition to the central government to demand civil rights. They were protesting against recent massacre at Sasun, and wanted peace and security. They also demanded basic rights, such as fair taxation, equality before the law, and protection of life. This was the first time in the Ottoman Empire where a non-Muslim minority had asked for such rights. The rally was subsequently surrounded by cavalry and police, and ordered to disband. -
Warning to Christian minorities, Jan. 1915
Talaat, Minister of the Interior or the Ottoman Empire, warns the Greek Patriarch (head of the Greek Orthodox Church) that Christians and their supporters should leave Turkey. -
Plans for deportation, Feb. 1915
Orders announcing the Committee of Union and Progress's plans for deportation of ethnic Armenians began to circulate. -
Disarming of Armenian soldiers
Armenian soldiers serving in the Turkish army are disarmed, placed in labour battalions, and killed. -
Armenians schools closed
Deportation has already started in some communities. Resistance was labelled "sedition". Propaganda used to justify murder and deportation. Armenian Schools are closed. -
Official Beginning of the Armenian Genocide
Armenian Intellectuals and leaders are arrested in Constantinople and led outside the city, tortured and executed. A few survivors are allowed to return home to recount their experiences which results in the terrorization of the Armenian population. (Stage 4 - Organization: G. Stanton) -
Musa Dagh Resistence
In April 1915 the Armenians were ordered to leave their homes and begin deportation. The Armenians formed a committee for defence to try and come up with a plan. This was one of only four sights where they provided resistance to the Turkish. They were surrounded on line, and backed up against the sea and were outnumbered and outgunned by the Turkish, with little chance of surviving. They put up a fierce resistance despite numerous attempts by the Turks to defeat them. -
Musa Dagh, cont'd
They stood their ground for 51 days. They made several attempts to be rescued, sending runners to get help, and even contemplating sending out swimmers in hopes that they would by chance come across a boat to save them. Ultimately, they were saved by sewing large white flags stating “Christians in Distress: Rescue”. On the 53rd day a French Allied vessel saw their distress flags and came to their rescue. -
Musa Dagh, cont'd
A novel titled “Forty Days of Musa Dagh” was written in 1933. The Jewish Prague-born writer, Franz Werfel, was forced to flee Vienna himself during Hitler’s reign. -
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A Mandate for Armenia?
Revolution in Russia and collapse of the Ottoman Empire created an opportunity for various nationalities to attempt to redraw the map of the region. Allied leaders began to map out the future of the region in 1918 at the Paris Peace Conference. Article 22 provided for protectorates, or mandates, for former parts of various Empires.