Armenian resistance (1914-1918)

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Armenian Resistance
partof=World War I


caption=Conflicts of 1915 (red stars)
date=
place=Central-East-South Anatolia
result=Massive Casualties, some regions avoid deportations and an establishment of local provisional Armenian government (1915-1917)
combatant1=Ottoman Empire
combatant2=Armenian Militia of Armenakans (Ramkavars), Hnchakians (Social Democrat Hunchakian Party), and Dashnaktsutiun (Armenian Revolutionary Federation)
commander1=
commander2=
strength1=
strength2=
casualties1=
casualties2=|

Armenian resistance is the military and political activities of the "Armenian militia" or (Social Democrat Hunchakian Party, Armenakan, Armenian Revolutionary Federation) against the Ottoman Empire during the World War I. Armenian resistance was developed under the shadow of Armenian Genocide.

Background

Armenian rebellions in the Ottoman Empire covers the resistance before Armenian Genocide. There are three perceptions of Armenian resistance activities during the World War I; the first perception is Armenian resistance to the order of deportations after the Tehcir Law, which deportations were perceived as the tool of Armenian Genocide. Resistance was also perceived the rightful activities of the patriots of the Armenian national liberation movement to defend their national freedom. Ottoman sources record the resistance as the insurgency against the Ottoman Empire with the goal to establish an Armenian national state within the boarders of the Empire developed by the Armenian Millitia, and coordinated by the Armenian national liberation movement.

The nature and Central task of resistance

Sassouni, a Tashnak, argues that the Ottoman Empire's fundamental aim was to resolve the Armenian question by massacring the Armenian people and the Armenian national liberation movement's achievement between 1908 to 1914 (what was named as pre-genocide period) was the preparation and organization of nation-wide armed resistance for the targets which were only forces against Armenian Revolutionary Federation. [Garo Sassouni, "A Critical Look at the 1915 Genocide", 1930, page 40.]

Activities, 1914

* August-December-1914: Zeitun Resistance, Hunchaks of the city Zeitun had resisted the Ottoman Military. The city of Zeitun was the scene of another armed conflict Zeitun Resistance (1895).

Activities, 1915

During 1915 there were many small conflicts. However, in Vaspurakan there were approximately 185,000 Armenians and in the city of Van itself, there were around 30,000 Armenians, but more Armenians from surrounding villages joined them during the Ottoman offensive for the Van Resistance. The biggest achievement is the Armenian governing of the Administration for Western Armenia with the Aram of Van and keeping the Ottomans out with the Armenian volunteer units within the Russian Caucasus Army, as well as Armenian militia.

* March 25, 1915: Zeitun Resistance, Hunchaks of the city Zeitun had second resistance.
* April 19,May 6-1915: Van Resistance, the initial armed resistance and lasted for a period of less than a month. In May, the Armenian battalions and Russian Caucuses Army entered the city and successfully drove the Ottoman army out of Van.cite book |first = Mihran | last = Kurdoghlian | title = Hayots Badmoutioun (Armenian History) | publisher = Hradaragutiun Azkayin Oosoomnagan Khorhoortee, Athens Greece | pages = 92-93 | language=Armenian | year = 1996 ]
* May 27, 1915: Urfa Resistance, the hundreds of Armenians were captured by Ottoman authorities in Urfa. At Urfa the Armenians were repulse the attacks of one division, but finally fell heroically under the fire of artillery, commanded by German officers. They destroyed all their property so that it would not fall into the hands of their enemies.
* June, 1915: The resistance of Mourat and his comrades occurred at Sivas. Mourat together with his companion, Sepouh, had fought at Sasoun, in 1904, and had taken part in the Armenian and Tartar clashes of 1905 and 1906 in the Caucasus. When deportations were ordered gendarmes were sent to capture Mourat. Mourat defended himself with his compatriots for a year and a half. In 1916, he moved to Samsun, with a sail-boat travaled to Russian port Batoum. He lead his volunteers to the Battle of Erzinjan. He died in the fighting at Battle of Baku.Garegin Pasdermadjian, Aram Torossian, "Why Armenia Should be Free: Armenia's Rôle in the Present War", page 22.]
* June 15, 1915: The Twenty Martyrs
* July-August, 1915: Shabin-Karahisar Resistance Armenians resisted for a month current until Neshed Pasha leaved Sivas with three regiments and artillery to subdue.
* August 19, 1915: Battle of Van, The militia was in defense of the city of Van until the second time arrival of Russian army with Andranik Toros Ozanian.

Results

The result was the deaths of over a million Armenians in the empire during the highly controversial Armenian Genocide which followed. [ [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9117457/Armenian-massacres Death toll of the Armenian Massacres] , "Encyclopædia Britannica".]

Art & Culture

*( _hy. Հարիսա): Armenian resistance has left a symbolic dish. The "Harissa (dish)" is generally served to commemorate the Musa Dagh resistance. Current practice renamed the dish as "hreesi".

References