On May 21, 1918, the Battle of Sardarapat begins. Already on May 21, Armenian troops liberated a number of Armenian villages and occupied a very convenient strategic position.

On May 21 and 22, the Turkish troops conduct reconnaissance battles in order to find the vulnerable directions of the Armenian troops and to achieve their goal with a direct attack on that point.

Until May 24, very hot battles are going on, the Turkish troops show stubborn resistance, and the Armenian troops are able to break the resistance of the Turkish army with attacks and counter-attacks.

On May 24, the Turkish troops start retreating, fleeing, which causes great enthusiasm among the Armenian troops. The commander of the Armenian First Division, Movses Silikyan, who was faced with the task of stopping the retreat of the Armenian troops and preventing the advance of the Turkish troops to Yerevan, addresses the following appeal to the people:

“Armenians, hurry to liberate the homeland.

The moment has come when every Armenian, forgetting his personal, for the sake of the Great Cause, the salvation of the motherland and the protection of the honor of his wife and daughters, must make his last effort to strike the enemy.

We did not want to fight. for the sake of peace and reconciliation, we were ready to make all kinds of sacrifices, however, our fierce enemy is going along his planned path. he apparently wants to enslave us, but really wants to destroy our long-suffering nation. But since we are going to perish, isn’t it better that we try to protect ourselves with weapons in our hands? Maybe we will manage to win the right to live by fighting.

And that we can defend ourselves was shown by the last battles on our front, where the enemy outnumbered us retreated before our heroic attack. One more effort is needed, and the enemy will be expelled from the borders of our country, where our grandfathers and fathers worked with blood and sweat for many years to find a way to earn their daily living.

Armenians, it’s not time to slow down. All men under the age of fifty are obliged to come under arms. I demand everyone to show up with their weapons and bullets for the defense of the motherland. Armenian women, remember the gentle ladies of the fifth century, who encouraged their husbands to the Great Cause, during the battles of the immortal Vardan. follow their example. if you do not want your honor to be violated, encourage those cowards who avoid coming to the front under various pretexts. Collect ammunition, bread, clothes and other food…

I am deeply convinced that this call of mine will not go unanswered, and within two or three days such a valiant army will be organized that will manage to expel the enemy from the borders of the native land and ensure the existence of the Armenian people.

For the physical existence of the long-suffering people,

For the trampled truth,

Stand up! To the holy war!

All men capable of arms are obliged to present themselves in Yerevan. Bezhanbeg, and all the collected food should be delivered to the local Azg. to the Khorhuds.” (S. Vratsyan, “Republic of Armenia”, Yerevan, 1993, p. 147-148).

Movses Silikyan’s call inspires not only those on the battlefield, but also recruits new groups of volunteers who go to the battlefield. That call and that period of the war are turning points, as the Armenian troops begin their advance and slowly approach their ultimate goal, the liberation of the homeland.

On May 25 and 26, Armenian troops made unsuccessful attempts at attacks on different fronts of Sardarapat, after which Movses Silikyan developed a new strategy. On May 27, the Armenian forces started new attacks and had success, and the Turkish troops, having suffered a heavy defeat in different parts of the front, began to retreat.

On May 28, the Armenian troops continue their attacks, the Turkish army retreats, but on May 29, being replenished with new troops, the Turks launch a counter-attack, but do not achieve success. On the same day, May 29, a cease-fire was established. The battle of Sardarapat ended with the victory of the Armenian troops.

The call of Movses Silikyan and the actions following the call showed that the enemy can be defeated only with weapons, on the battlefield. Dignified peace and liberation of the motherland can only happen in this way.

Z. I hesitated

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