What Was The Armenian Genocide?

The series of events known as the Armenian Genocide occurred during World War I. Genocide is a program of killing people in large numbers specifically to eliminate a culture or a certain population. In most studies and historical records, genocide is shown to be the result of careful planning, with cooperation from government and military leaders.

In the case of the Armenian Genocide, which began in 1915 and continued for three years, the Turkish government orchestrated the mass elimination. According to a Web site devoted specifically to this period of time, “The Armenian people were subjected to deportation, expropriation, abduction, torture, massacre, and starvation.”

The wealth held by Armenian families was taken and those who were not killed were deported to Syria. According to history, the Young Turks of the Committee of Union and Progress were responsible for the massive program of death and deportation. Men who strongly believed in spreading the power and influence of the Turks turned their philosophy and ideology into a practical policy. The key to their program was making space for Turkish citizens by removing Armenians in whatever way possible.

The Armenian Genocide Web site includes estimates showing 1.5 million Armenians died between 1915 and 1923, when the program of elimination finally lost its spark. But the result was that the entire population of Armenians was effectively removed from a huge area of the continent, along with the culture and wealth the people had built up over the years.

Witnesses among diplomatic groups from other countries allowed the news of the genocide to spread around the globe. The Young Turk leaders were quickly informed that they were personally responsible for the devastating actions. Some of those leaders left the country and lived in anonymity to avoid prosecution. In the years immediately following the war, no strong actions were taken to compensate the Armenians for their losses, according to historical records and encyclopedia information.

As part of the elimination process, the Turkish government passed what were known as temporary laws of deportation. This was an attempt to give legal status to the movement of Armenians to other countries. In many cases, the reason given for chasing this population out of the country was “national security.” When the people were across the border or were being transported their homes and belongings were confiscated as if they were abandoned. But in most cases the Armenians weren’t given time or the choice to take anything along.

It is interesting to note that there were dozens of relocation centers across the Middle East and as far away as Russia. Some of these locations were soon found to be more than relocation sites. The people were in fact being sent away to camps for elimination, a program similar to that used against the Jewish population during World War II. There may have been more than two dozen such camps where people were shot. Bodies were burned in massive numbers, sometimes with the entire population of a village dying together.

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