The pogroms of Baku Armenians in exclusive German diplomatic documents. PART 2

The beginning is here.

In September 1918, Turkish troops occupied Baku. Armenians also participated in the defense of the city. It was planned in advance by the Turkish-Tatar thugs that after the capture of the city, the massacres of Armenians should take place. On the night of September 14-15, the capture of the city begins, the British troops flee from the city. After capturing the city, the military disarms the residents, imposes a curfew and makes false statements that nothing will happen to them if the population calms down. The Turkish-Tatar thugs are implementing their traditional method of promising peace after disarmament, but carrying out a massacre. The massacres of Armenians in Baku began on September 16.

 

Apart from Armenian sources, there are documentary materials about the massacres of Armenians in Baku in Russian sources as well. Decades later, German and Austrian sources also published exceptional documentary material. In the previous issue, we already presented one of those unique archival documents, the telegram of Von Kress, the head of the German imperial delegation in the region. We are already presenting Mayro Mayo’s report to the same Von Kress, where it is actually mentioned about the massacre of Armenians in Baku, its organization by Turkish-Tatar terrorist groups, the massacre of foreigners and the number of killed Armenians.

“Major Mayo’s report to Von Kress.  Baku, 21.09.1918

It seems that the numbers regarding pogroms (see my report of the 20th of the month) should be increased sooner. The Danish consul told me today that in his opinion that number reaches 30,000. As you can see, Turks and especially Azerbaijanis feel that they will bear an ugly stigma in front of the whole world. They are nervous. for the easterners it means a lot. They are now trying to collect material to prove otherwise.
(a) the testimony of all possible witnesses, especially of neutral nations, according to which the necessary measures were taken immediately and in time.
b) deny individual cases.

(c) to confirm that the participants were not regular army soldiers and that there were fewer Tatars than Persians (this last point was brought to the attention of the Iranian consul).

It is widely believed that there was a regular extermination of Armenians, that is, at least 24 hours after the capture of the city, the troops were given complete freedom (see the consuls’ complaint). I only think that it was not possible to get rid of the demon that had been summoned, and that on the day after the battle the force was not fit to be used for police purposes, but simply dispersed. The culprit is not so much the present evil will as the hidden moral inferiority of the Turkish race.

   

On 9/16, in front of the most diverse and numerous witnesses, when they were telling about the danger to the lives and property of Germans, one incident after another, Lt. Col. Paraken, realizing and emphasizing his Turkish affiliation, demanded the most severe punitive measures. Nuri asked Halil that Para leave the Turkish service.

Halil reported to K. Polis, according to Nuri’s wish. On the afternoon of the 17th of the month, there was an announcement (attached). I am on the best terms of friendship with those gentlemen, who make the most favorable impression. The last sentence of the protest, which was proposed by me, should make the neutral opinion that the Turks are deprived of the right to play the role of patron in Baku understandable. The consuls worked tirelessly for our prisoners of war and deserve high rewards. The Danish consul, Erik Biering, is an extremely hardworking person with special abilities. Even today, the consuls are flooded with righteous complaints and questions from all sides. In the city, although the situation has calmed down, in the villages, around the wells, intimidation continues in the form of blackmail and rape.

     

In connection with my report on the rape of 18 Russian-born German girls in Surakhani, I told Nazem Bey today that I will be able to believe in Turkish justice only if Sheikh Balayev, a Tatar bandit leader, owner of a “harem” of Christian women and an influential figure in Surakhani, is solemnly hanged in the “Metropol” hotel by the evening of the 22nd of the month…

Mayo

Rutland 97a, Rupisch-Aslen, Kaukasus, Bd. 27, A 43318, original. (Manucharyan A. L., “1918. Armenian pogroms in Baku (documents of the political archive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the GFA”, Social Sciences Journal, 1990, Yerevan, p. 79-80).

Presenting the details of the massacres of Armenians in Baku, Armenian and foreign facts, let’s conclude the article with the words of statesman Sergey Melik Yolchyan. “This is how new Azerbaijan began its state life.”

Z. Sh:i was late

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