Historical amnesia of Armenian leaders and its cost to the nation - Part One

In a number of cases, blame for the tragedies of particular nations lies with its leaders, lacking strategic vision, led by delusions, which in most cases have been embedded in their minds by foreigners.

Among these nations, Armenians must be the record holders. Over two centuries, this nation suffered several disasters because of their leaders, but the aspirations of the Armenian elite have not changed, no lessons have been learned.

But first things first, let's start from the beginning. So, it is the Ottoman Empire of XIX century, the Armenian community is thriving, engaged in trade and finance. There are many Armenians in the public service; among them are ministers, viziers, diplomats, and so on. Armenians have their own Catholicosate in Istanbul; Sultan's authorities do not interfere in the religious, and sometimes even in the mundane affairs of the community. It continues exactly till the moment when the habitual inter-communal way of in the empire begins to be destroyed by Western missionaries, British, French, Germans and Americans. Each of the western countries, by creating, strengthening and expanding its missionary activity, of course, is primarily pursuing its own economic and political goals. At first, the missionaries relied on the Greeks and the Jews, but then focused their attention on the Armenians. Thanks to the missionary schools, in some 20 years, the missionaries got a large number of Armenians, loyal to them, ready to do anything for their new patrons. Thus, the Western countries, understanding that they will not be able to entice the majority of an old Armenian elite, formed a new elite and formed leaders among Armenians, who have gone through the process of brainwashing in missionary schools.

Over time, the missionaries incite Armenians to revolt against the Ottoman authorities. Western countries, using trained Armenian missionaries, try to sow chaos in the decrepit empire. Of course Armenians are supplied with arms, ammunition, money and everything necessary.  Missionary schools and Armenian churches are used as storehouses for weapons. Mass Armenian uprisings, in the second half of the XIX century, did not crush the empire, however, created a gap between the Ottoman authorities and the Armenian community. British historian and writer, who specializes in the history of the Ottoman Empire, Jason Goodwin, describes these events; "The emergence of Protestant preachers among  the hitherto peaceful Armenians, chanting:" Forward, soldiers of Christ ", frightened Turks, who decided that, a repetition of what already happened in Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia awaits them" 1 .  Empire no longer considers Armenians as its loyal subjects, the authorities are wary of the Armenians. Missionaries hammered into the minds of Armenians the idea of an independent Armenia, and hatred of the Turks. Missionaries did not seem bothered by the fact, that Armenians constitute a minority of the population in those provinces in which the establishment of Armenia was planned (the largest percentage was 38% of the total population in one province). 

(Photo: Armenians who fight with Russia against Ottoman)

During the Armenian uprisings in the late XIX century, and their suppression, dies a large number of Armenians with at least as many Turks and Kurds.  Armenian leaders, that led their people into battle against the Sultan's army, were in fact puppets of the Western masters. As a result, as we know from history, no Armenia has been established. The Ottoman authorities, seeing the results of actions of the Western missionaries, somewhat restrict their field of activity. Please note that the Russian Empire is not mentioned in these issues.  It is no accident, since Tsarist Russia (as well as modern Russia) never could act as systematically and subtly as the Western powers, through their missionaries (using them as a soft power). Russia has relied mostly on brute force, and sometimes, when it was possible, kings enjoyed the works and results of the works that have been created by others before them.

The riots, incited by the missionaries and the Western powers, were the first signals for the Sultan, as well as for the Armenian elite, which was supposed to understand where blindly following the orders of new patrons can lead. 

The First World War, the lessons not learned

With the approach of the First World War, some Armenian leaders, driven by their Western backers, have begun preparing for the "historic event", the creation of "Great Armenia". This time, Tsarist Russia intervened in the affairs. Armenians once again were given promises, money and weapons.

At the call of their leaders, instigated mainly by France and Russia, the Armenians of eastern Anatolia regions revolted against the Ottoman Empire. Armenian armed forces have acted in the rear of the Turkish army, and along with military targets, also attacked civilian targets, carried out terror against the local Muslim population. Seeing all the atrocities perpetrated by the Armenians in the eastern provinces, and not having enough time and effort to suppress the Armenian revolt at that point, with the filing of their German allies, the Ottoman authorities decide to deport the Armenian population of the eastern provinces to the Arab provinces. Deportation turns disastrous for the Armenian population of eastern Anatolia. Millennial presence of Armenians on these territories comes to an end. Venality and strategic blindness of Armenian leaders led to the catastrophe for their nation, major Armenian parties “Gnchak" and "Dashnaktsutyun" can be considered the main culprits behind this tragedy. Armenian historian Louise Nalbandian, in her book "Armenian revolutionary movement" writes the following; “Armenians, under the influence of nationalist movements, created such national organizations as Gnchak and Dashnaktsutyun. Objectives and methods of these organizations amounted to setting Armenian and Turkish people against each other, provoking an uprising, prompting European countries to militarily intervene. And, with their help and involvement, create an Armenian state in eastern Anatolia.” 2 As we know, it was a bad idea that led to disaster. 

In 1918, after known events in Russia, Caucasian Front collapses, the Russian military leaves this zone. A large number of weapons and ammunition is left to Armenians, and Armenian volunteer units control a vast territory in eastern Anatolia and the Caucasus. At the time, some thought that, finally, after the disaster comes the long-awaited peace and Armenians will have their country and begin to live peacefully. However, appetites and ambitions of Armenian leaders had no foreseeable borders. Drunk with "victory", they thought that they could put an end to the Ottoman Empire, which, in their opinion, is on its last legs, and grab more lands, parallel to freeing them from Muslims. After the withdrawal of the Russian army, Armenians, instead of gaining a foothold on the territories that Russian soldiers conquered for them, attempt to seize additional territory, and these attempts are accompanied by brutal massacres of Muslim peasants inhabiting those territories.  In response to this, the Ottoman command of several battered armies creates the “Caucasus Army Group”. In early 1918, the Turks began offensive operations, the purpose of which was to liberate the occupied territories and to destroy the Armenian gangs, terrorizing the remains of the Muslim population. Accustomed to "fight until the last Russian soldier", Armenian troops swiftly retreated, a retreat was accompanied by massacre of the remains of the Muslim population, and mockery over the bodies of those killed… By the end of April, the Ottoman army was on the outskirts of Erivan. Armenians suffered a crushing defeat. Peace talks between the Turkish and the Armenian sides, which began on May 30 in Batumi, ended with the signing of a peace treaty on June 4. Under this agreement, the Ottoman Empire recognized the Republic of Armenia, within the borders of the territories which at that time were under the control of Armenians, and it is about 12,000 square kilometers. After the withdrawal of the Turkish troops, following the armistice of Mudros, Armenian troops took a number of areas abandoned by the Turks. After the re-occupation of territories, Armenians tried to solve the issue of borders at the Paris Peace Conference. However, insatiable ambition and the lack of solidarity in the circles of Armenian leaders have led to the fact that several delegations were representing Armenians at the Paris Peace Conference. Of course, each one of the delegations had requirements exceeding the others.  In winter of 1918, the newly formed Armenian Republic also managed to make war against Georgia, occupying some border areas of Georgia. Throughout the existence of the Republic of Armenia, battles of varying intensity against Azerbaijan took place.  

(Photo: Armenian ammunition seized by Ottoman security forces)

Finally, the Treaty of Sevres was signed, according to which, many Turkish lands went to Armenians. According to the agreement, Armenia was to be estblished in the East Anatolia, 95,000 square kilometers of land have been set aside for this. Under the agreement ,Turkey pledged to recognize Armenia and abide by US President Woodrow Wilson on the issue of arbitration of borders between Turkey and Armenia, but within the vilayets of Van, Trabzon, Erzurum and Bitlis. Defining the boundaries within these vilayets also caused discontent in the circles of the Armenian elite. Armenia did not wait for final arbitration and boundary delimination, the Armenian army began to occupy the territories that they believed were ceded to them. This process was also accompanied by a massacre of civilians. Sultan's power in Istanbul was paralyzed and could not take any effective steps against the Armenian expansion. On September 20, 1920 the Armenian side decided to implement the Treaty of Sèvres on its own, the Armenian armed forces entered the Oltu and captured the coal mines near the city. The Armenian side, being under the illusion of "Great Armenia", has not learned the lesson of the Turkish offensive in 1918. This operation was the last straw that broke the patience of Ankara. Grand National Assembly in Ankara appointed Karabekir Kazim Pasha as commander of the eastern front and gave him sweeping powers. Under the command of Kazım Karabekir, Turkish offensive was launched in September, almost all along the front. By the end of September, the Turkish army liberated Sarikamis, Kağızman and several other cities. In early October, the Armenian government has appealed to the allies for help. However, the allies limited to providing of little help in the form of weapons and finance. The reason for the sluggish reaction of the Allies was, on the one hand , the fact that they have already provided greater logistical support to Greece. Also, do not discount the general trend of the loss of interest in the Armenian issue. The reasons for this were both the limitless ambitions of the Armenians, which, in addition, in less than 3 years had war with all its neighbors (Georgia, Turkey, Azerbaijan), and also the need for the presence of the 5th column disappeared together with the Ottoman Empire.  After the capture of Alexandropol (Gyumri), promotion of Turkish troops stopped for a few days and again resumed on 11th, when the Turkish army launched an offensive to Erivan. A few days later, realizing its catastrophic situation, coming down from illusions and empty hopes, the Armenian leadership asked for peace.  The Armenian delegation arrived in Alexandropol for negotiations, agreement was reached on a cease-fire for 10 days, which was later extended. On November 25, Armenia officially refused the Treaty of Sèvres. At the night from December 2 to 3, the Armenian delegation at Alexandropol signed a peace treaty with Turkey. Under this agreement, Armenia became the de facto Turkish protectorate. However, as the Treaty of Sèvres, Treaty of Alexandropol was a stillborn child. The Armenian delegation, that signed the agreement that night, represented the government, which was deprived of power at that time, respectively, the contract could not be legitimate. Shortly before this event, the Bolsheviks, with the support and involvement of Soviet Russia, staged a "revolution" in Armenia, and on December 2, Dashnak government signed an agreement with the Bolsheviks on the transfer of power. Shortly, independent Armenia ceased to exist. This is how ingloriously the history of the Armenian statehood ended at the beginning of the XX century. 

Hovhannes Kajaznuni, the former prime minister of independent Armenia ,said this, speaking at an international conference, referring to the tragedy of the Armenian population of eastern Anatolia: “Our thoughts were clouded. We imposed our own desires on others, we attached great importance to meaningless words of irresponsible persons, under the influence of self hypnosis, we have ceased to understand the reality and indulged in dreams "3  After the defeat, the leaders of Dashnaktsutyun in exile found  the "guilty" in the troubles of the Armenian people, those were the Russian tsars, the Turks, Azerbaijani Musavatists and the Bolsheviks. They blamed everyone but themselves. Hovhannes Kajaznuni criticized Dashnaks for their search for enemies, this is what he stated in his speech: “Bitterly complaining about the cruel fate and finding the cause of our unhappiness beyond us - it is one of the characteristic features of our national psychology, which was not avoided by Dashnaktsutyun either. “3

In this article, I touched on the events that took place in the XIX century and the beginning of XX century. Certainly it is impossible to fit all in one or two articles, but I tried as capaciously as possible describe the events that preceded the emergence of the myth of the "Armenian genocide" in 1915, Soviet Armenia, the international Armenian terrorism, the Karabakh Movement, the Sumgait events, the Khojaly genocide, occupation of Karabakh , impoverishing of Armenia, and finally 4 day war in April 2016 between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In the second half of the article I will address the issues that have taken place at the end of the XX and at the beginning of XXI century.  These events have demonstrated the  short historical memory of the Armenian elite, and the credulity of the Armenian masses, ready to follow the demagogues, that are able to promise more than others. To be continued ... 

Ali Hajizade, political analyst, head of the project “The Great Middle East”

[1] Jason Goodwin, “Lords of the Horizons:  A History of the Ottoman Empire”, pp. 471.

[2] Louise Nalbandian, «Armenian Revolutionary Movement», California University Press, 1963 ISBN 0-520-00914-2.

[3] Hovhannes Kajaznuni, "Dashnaktsutyun Has Nothing More to Do"» Tbilisi, 1927