1913) 90th Anniversary:Battle Of Dardanelles In West Anatolia & Rebellions & Resettlement Of Armenians In East Anatolia

1915
An Overview and List of 100 Books on The Armenian Issue
May 1, 2005

Civilization and the humanity should once more be enlightened regarding the alleged Armenian genocide and the purpose of the propoganda created to mislead the world. These are the results of resentment and anger from detestable and visios accusations.
Mustafa Kemal, 7 March 1920 . .

• Introduction
• Tragedies on Both Sides, Not Genocide
• The Truth Which Has Been Lost Through False Allegations
• Creation of the Armenian Issue and the Role of Western Powers
• Before 1915 and the Life of the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire
• The Dardanelles 1915 and the Gallipoli Campaign
• 1915 and The Resettlement of Armenians in the East
• United States Policy and Support of the Armenians 1914 - 1924
• After 1915 Until the Establishment of the Republic of Turkey in 1923
• Armenians in Today's Turkey
• Remembrance, Regrets and Reconciliation
• US Holocaust Museum and the Planned Genocide Museum in WDC
• Closing Remarks
• Chronology of Events
• Addresses of Associations and Websites
• 100 Books and Magazines on the Armenians and the Armenian Issue

Introduction

The "Armenian Issue," created as part of the "Eastern Question" in the late 19th century, is one of many issues which still persists today, claiming that the Armenians were subjected to genocide by the Ottoman government. During these periods, the hostile attitude of some of the Ottoman-Armenians towards the Turks and their acts of revolts, atrocities, massacres and the destruction that they committed have been misrepresented by the Armenians and their supporters and omitted in the books that they have been writing continuously for years. It is reported that over 20,000 pro-Armenian publications have been issued over the years (as opposed to less than 300 which also presents the Turkish view of this difficult issue.)

This is an enormous subject that requires dedicated reading and the study of the issue in many aspects. The purpose of this article is to present a brief summary of the "Armenian Issue", mainly for students, teachers, reporters and other interested individuals who may not be aware that there is an incredible distortion of facts by some Armenians and their supporters in their never ending books and articles. A list of 100 books and several magazines that tell the story of this issue, the selection of which is primarily based on my involvement with this since 1965 (when I was first introduced to it during the 50th anniversary commemorations of the alleged genocide at the Riverside Church in New York City,) is also provided with a very brief review of selected ones.

Tragedies on Both Sides, Not Genocide

In a special issue in June 2001, the Turkish magazine Atlas published a detailed record of events in1915, named "The Longest Year". In its editorial, "Facing it all," the following was stated: "When we enlarged our frame, we saw that Turkey was then a country that was occupied on four sides, a country where in ten years seven million people had been forced to move location, a country that the imperial powers had a lot of plan for. We rejected the word "genocide" because an ideology of a superior race and systematic and rational machines of destruction are anathema to a people who are trying to move from a nomadic lifestyle to a capitalist one. Above all, we avoided comparing the dimensions of the massacres. If we must be on someone's side, we were on the side of all those died."(101)

There was no genocide, as almost all Armenians, especially those of the American Diaspora, would like the people around the world to believe. There was a civil war; Armenians rebelled against their own government and started mass killing of Turks who retaliated and killed Armenians to protect themselves and their families. The Armenian charges and claims are based on forged and fake documents, distortions, war propaganda material, and books written based on unreliable information, exaggerations, events that never took place, and lies.

The total number of Armenians living in Anatolia in 1915 was around 1.5 million, as has been shown by many researchers, a number freely and shamefully used by many as the total number of Armenians died during the tragic events: such a number could not be possible, especially in light of the fact that the Armenians themselves concede that there were many survivors from the resettlements. The number of Armenians resettled in Syria and Lebanon, both part of the Ottoman Empire, is reported by the Turkish Historical Society to be around 500,000. The number of Armenian deaths, most due to disease, is estimated to be no more than 300,000, perhaps as high as 600,000, according to Prof. Justin McCarthy. During the same period, the losses on the Turkish side is reported to be over 2.5 million. Therefore, the Armenian deaths can not be considered as genocide and the death of Turks by the Armenians must also be considered and mentioned in the books written by the Armenians. Great wrongs were inflicted by both sides during a period when the Armenians revolved in many cities in eastern Anatolia and the Turks were fighting on many fronts for their very life. As a matter of culture, Turks do not like talking or writing about death, which is now changing in order to counteract the Armenian claims.

The Truth Which has been Lost Through False Allegations

A book published in 1991, Turkey, includes an article by Ara Kociyan which presents a balanced view of the Armenian issue and the truth about the events of 1915 (20) . In his article, The Truth Which has Been Lost Through False Allegations, the director of Jamanak newspaper, the oldest Armenian daily, states the following:


During the First World War, Turkey was in the danger of being swallowed up by foreign nations. To achieve this, they endeavoured to break up the country internally by brainwashing some Armenians with the promise of an independent Armenia. They gave them money and weapons, encouraging them to start guerrilla and underground activities. The Ottoman State, in order to preserve Anatolia, forced Armenians living in places where guerrilla attacks took place to move elsewhere. At that time, unfortunately, we must confess that the innocent suffered along with the guilty, but even in those conditions, the Turks did not withheld help from their neighbours. Unfortunately, people still exist from abroad who seek opportunity to realize this dream, people who have not learned their lesson from history". (p. 92)

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Prepared by Yuksel Oktay, Civil Engineer and Traveller
January 1, 2005 - April 24, 2005