The Armenian Genocide

The Armenian Genocide

The Armenian Genocide refers to a period of about seven years during the Young Turks' government of the Ottoman Empire. Between two and three million ethnic Armenians were forcibly deported from the empire and an estimated 1.5 million were systematically killed by the government. Categorizing the incident as a genocide has been the topic of international debate and controversy.

Fast Facts

Dates: 1915 - 1923
Location: The Ottoman Empire (modern-day Turkey)
Victims: Ethnic Armenians within the empire
Government responsible: Ottoman Empire
Estimated casualties: 1.5 million¹
Methods: Mass execution
Influenced Adolf Hitler's plans for the Holocaust²
21 countries officially recognize the genocide
Turkey denies that the killings were an organized genocide
Annually commemorated on April 24, to coincide with the first documented killings

Key Dates

1914: World War I breaks out, and the Ottoman Empire fights against Russia
April 24, 1915: Ottoman government rounds up and kills numerous Armenian community leaders under the pretext of rebellious alliances with Russia
May, 1915:
- -Two to three million Armenians forcefully deported from the Ottoman Empire and are marched towards Syria
- -Eyewitness reports indicate Ottoman troops massacred civilians along the way

Holocaust Precursor

The Armenian Genocide was the first documented case of a government-organized plan to exterminate a specific ethnic group. The situation has been characterized by historians as the first genocide of the 20th Century and a precursor to the Holocaust.

Contemporary Debate

More than 20 countries,³ and 41 of the 50 United States,⁴ officially recognize the incident as genocide, and not simply mass murder. But the Turkish government, political descendants of the Ottoman Empire disputes the contention that it was a genocide.⁵

Categories

News | History | Political Issues and Controversies | Wars and Genocides

| View Note History

Also try: Armenian Genocide Resolution | Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day

The Mahalo Top 7

BBC News: Q&A: Armenian 'Genocide'
Armenian-genocide.org: Armenian National Institute
Times Online: "Mothers Threw their Children in the Lake..." (April 22, 2005)
Theforgotten.org: Armenian Genocide - Interactive Guide
Middle East Quarterly: Revisiting the Armenian Genocide (2005)
Twentyvoices.com: 20 Stories Remembered
YouTube: Truth about Armenian Genocide (Time: 5:44)

The Armenian Genocide Recent News Stories

Google News: Armenian Genocide
Reuters: Armenia "surprised' at storm over genocide vote (Oct. 26, 2007)
International Herald Tribune: Israel expresses concern over Turkish-Armenian dispute (Oct. 11, 2007)
AFP: US warns of Turkish reprisals as Armenia 'genocide' vote looms (Oct. 10, 2007)
Guardian Unlimited: Bush warns Congress not to recognise Armenian 'genocide' (Oct. 10, 2007)
WashingtonPost.com: White House And Turkey Fight Bill On Armenia (Oct. 10, 2007)
The New York Times: Bush Argues Against Armenian Genocide Measure (Oct. 10, 2007)
Boston.com: Foxman cites rift, calls Armenian deaths genocide (August 22, 2007)
The Independent: Alleged killers of ethnic Armenian journalist go on trial in Turkey (July 3, 2007)
Guardian Unlimited: US Genocide Bill Angers Turks (February, 16 2007)
Guardian Unlimited: "Suspect...Threatens Turkish Novelist Pamuk" (January 25, 2007)
BBC News: 'Genocide' Row Threatens Pipeline (April 5, 2007) | 'Genocide' Debate Angers Turkey (May 19, 2006)
Times Online: Leading Armenian Journalist Murdered in Istanbul" (January 19, 2007)
The Jerusalem Post: New Armenian Genocide Museum (April 12, 2008)

The Armenian Genocide Background

Wikipedia: Armenian Genocide Overview
Armenian-genocide.org: FAQs About the Armenian Genocide
Armenian-genocide.org: A Chronology of the Armenian Genocide
BBC: Country Profile: Armenia

The Ottoman Empire

Wikipedia: Ottoman Armenian Population
MacroHistory: Decline of Islamaic and Ottoman Power
Armenian-genocide.org: Young Turks and the Armenian Genocide

The Armenian Genocide - Current Issues

Guardian Unlimited: A Fight for the Soul of the New Turkey (2007)
BBC News: Analysis: French Focus on Armenian 'Genocide'
Times Online: "What's the Turkish for Genocide?" (2005)
Economist.com: "Turkey and the Armenians"
Times Online: "Ultimatum May End Turkey EU Hope" (2006)

The Armenian Genocide Commentary and Criticism

Guardian Unlimited: "...The Moment for Europe to Dismantle Taboos, Not Erect Them" (2006)
ZNet: Commemorating the Armenian Genocide (2006)

Challenges to the Armenian 'Genocide' Claims

Turkish Embassy.org - Republic of Turkey: Armenian Allegations
Turkish Embassy.org: Ten Question - Ten Answers (on Armenian Accusations) (PDF)
Introduction to Armenian Issue

The Armenian Genocide - Videos, Audio and Photos

Google Video: The Betrayed: (Armenian Genocide documentary)
Armenian-genocide.org: Photos Depicting the Armenian Genocide
Editorial Cartoons of the Armenian Genocide
NPR:: Turkey Pressed to Admit Armenian Genocide
Youtube: Truth about Armenian Genocide (Time: 5:44)

The Armenian Genocide Message Boards and Blogs

Armenian Genocide Forum
Daily Kos: Armenian Genocide tag
LA Observed: Armenian genocide dispute erupts at LAT
Little Green Footballs: Denying Armenian Genocide in Times Square
Google Blog Search: Armenian Genocide
Blogger News Network: Historians Weigh in on The Armenian Genocide (October 22, 2007)

Armenian Organizations Appealing for Recognition of 'Genocide'

Armenian National Committee of America: Armenian Genocide
Genocide1915.info: Armenian Genocide 1915 Recognition Struggle and Armenian Genocide Petition

Central Figures

Related Pages on Mahalo

Armenian Genocide Resolution | Armenia | Rwandan Genocide | Ottoman Empire | Turkey (country) | Woodrow Wilson | World War I | System of a Down | Holocaust

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