Armenian Genocide 1915 – 1917

Background  Approximately 2 million Armenians lived in Turkey at the turn of the century  Previous massacres had happened before  State of ethnic minorities not good  Between 1894 and 1896 Turks kill between 100,000 and 300,000 Armenians

Turn of the Century Ottoman Empire  Multi-Cultural & Multi-Racial  Substantial numbers of:  Greeks, Bulgarians, Armenians, & Jews  Animosity exists between Turks & Armenians  They are different culturally, religiously, linguistically, historically, and economically

1908 Turkey  Government is overthrown by the “Committee for Union and Progress”  The Young Turks  Liberal and Reform minded  Establish a representative government  Full civil and religious liberties  A constitutional democracy

So what went wrong?  The empire was falling apart  “Sick old man of Europe”  Counter Coup fails and the constitution is suspended

What is Genocide?  the deliberate, and systematic destruction of a racial, political, or cultural group  Webster’s Dictionary

ADOLF HITLER - August 22, 1939  In preparation for the impending invasion of Poland, to Reichmarshal Hermann Goering and the commanding generals at Obersalzberg...  “Our strength consists in our speed and in our brutality. Genghis Khan led millions of women and children to slaughter - with premeditation and a happy heart. History sees in him solely the founder of a state. It’s a matter of indifference to me what a weak western European civilization will say about me. I have issued the command - and I’ll have anybody who utters but one word of criticism executed by a firing squad - that our war aim does not consist in reaching certain lines, but in the physical destruction of the enemy. Accordingly I have placed my death-head formations in readiness - for the present only in the East - with orders to them to send to death mercilessly and without compassion, men, women, and children of Polish derivation and language. Only thus shall we gain the living space (Lebensraum) which we need. Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians? ”

In your notebook copy the following questions:  Who is arguing with the Armenians nearly 100 years later over this alleged genocide?  In which country is the largest Armenian “cemetery” in the world located?  How many Armenians died there?  What religious minority did the Armenians belong to in the Ottoman Empire?  During the spring and summer of 1915, who does the story say planned the arrests and deportations of Armenians?  What were some ways that the Armenians died on the “death marches”?  How were people killed after being thrown into caves?  Who modeled the extermination of Jews after the Armenian genocide?  Are the massacres against Armenians taught in schools in modern day Turkey?  What was Hrant Dink prosecuted for in Turkey?  What are some reasons that the news story suggests that the United States has not officially recognized the Armenian Genocide?

60 Minutes – 2/28/2010  Battle Over History Battle Over History

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