THE FIRST REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA DID NOT LET TURKEY COMPLETE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
PanARMENIAN.Net
29.05.2007 GMT+04:00
In May 1918 the Armenian Nation believed that it could fight and win
the war.
By spring 1918 the situation in Transcaucasia, which was left in ruins
by the war, became almost uncontrollable. After the October Revolution
of 1917 in Russia the Russian troops situated in Western Armenia left
exposing the Caucasian front. The Turkish troops taking advantage of
the created situation broke the Yerznka Armistice signed on October 5,
1917 and took the offensive on February 10, 1918.
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian corps, composed of 35 thousand soldiers
fought at the front under General Nazarbekov’s (Nazarbekian)
supervision, as Georgian troops and the "Wild Division" of
Transcaucasian Muslims were situated in separate locations from the
scene of the military activities. According to RA Prime-Minister
Simon Vratsyan, Armenia found itself in between the Bolshevik hammer
and Turkish anvil.
Transcaucasia turned to the Turkish headquarters with the suggestion
to start separate negotiations. During the negotiations in Trapezund
the delegation tried to reestablish the Russian-Turkish prewar border
and secure the self-determination of Western Armenia.
However, taking advantage of the superiority in forces and successful
offensive (the Turks occupied Ardaghan, approached Kars and Batoum),
the Turkish party pulled out difficult conditions. On April 22,
1918 Transcaucasia was proclaimed an independent federal republic by
Turkey’s request. The Turkish troops, defeating the resistance of
the Armenian forces which not only fought with aggressor, but also
struggled for securing the Armenians from Western Armenia, occupied
Kars, Artvin and Batoum. On May 11 in Batoum the cutoff negotiations
were resumed. Representatives from Transcaucasia insisted on Brest
Treaty to serve as basis for the negotiations, but the Turkish party
announced that Turkey couldn’t be contented with the territorial
compromises, which are stipulated by the Treaty. Continuing the
offensive the Turkish forces invaded the provinces of Tbilisi
and Yerevan, and occupied Alexandrapol on May 16. Developing the
offensive the Turkish troops advanced towards Yerevan and met a
strong resistance in Sardarapat. On May 26 at Sardarapat Battle the
Armenian forces sealed a glorious victory. The Turkish troops met
rather strong resistance of the Armenian forces during Bash Aparan
and Gharakilisa battles. In the result of the heroic battles the
Armenian forces didn’t let the Turks invade the Ararat Valley and
complete the Armenian Genocide.
After the victory over the Turks the Armenian National
Council proclaimed the Armenian independence on May 28, 1918 in
Tbilisi. Hovhannes Kajaznuni became the first Prime-Minister. On
June 20 the Government moved to Yerevan. The Armenian Republic had a
population of 1, 510 million, including 795,000 Armenians and 575,000
Muslims. Since June the Parliament became the supreme legislative
body of the Armenian Republic, where the ARF Dashnaktsutiun possessed
90% of the seats. After 600 years under the Ottoman power Armenia
proclaimed its independence and Statehood at last.
Though for 2 years only, the Armenian Nation believed that it could
fight and win the war.
Later the Red Army arrived and Armenia became Soviet, as for the
officers who had saved the Nation from the complete extermination,
they were killed cruelly in prison in Alexandrapol or were sent to
camps, to be killed later. By 1937 the pick of the Armenian army was
destroyed by the Bolsheviks, only General Andranik, who immigrated
to the USA in 1922, was able to escape. Garegin Nzhdeh, who saved
Zangezur, was deported during II World War from Bulgaria and died in
Vladimirsky Prison. During the Soviet years the First RA was hardly
ever or only negatively mentioned, though without it the present 29
thousand sq. km wouldn’t exist. By 1918 only 9 thousand sq. km and
approximately half a million Western Armenian refugees were left from
Armenia. No doubt, the Soviet Armenia was also an Armenian State,
but the history shouldn’t be forgotten either, which is often being
misinterpreted. To manage what the First Government was able to do
during the years of war, the Bolsheviks needed more than 10 years of
a severe repression.
"PanARMENIAN.Net" analytical department