The Armenian Revolt in Van: Insights from Military History Documents

Abstract

Due to its geographical location, Van was a province bordering Iran and in close proximity to Russia from the north. Additionally, the provincial centre had one of the highest Armenian populations among settlements. Consequently, the geographical location and population factor facilitated the easy organization of Armenians in Van. When the First World War broke out in the Ottoman lands, the Armenians in the province initiated a mass revolt. The rebellion initially started in various parts of Van in December 1914 and spread from the surrounding areas to the city of Van. On April 20, 1915, Armenians began the rebellion in Van by opening fire on Muslim neighbourhoods. Fierce battles between the Armenians and Ottoman troops lasted for 26 days. During these battles, numerous Muslims were massacred. According to archival documents, the massacre committed by Armenians in the centre of Van on May 17, 1915, was unprecedented in history. From May 17 until the evening of May 18, the massacre of Muslims continued, and many Muslims who were unable to escape from Van were brutally slaughtered with axes and saws. Finally, on May 20, 1915, Russian detachments entered Van. As a result of the occupation, approximately 100,000 Muslims from Van became refugees and started migrating towards Bitlis.

In this study, the daily progression of the rebellion initiated by the Armenians in the city of Van will be examined, shedding light on military history documents (war reports), and the impact of this rebellion on both Muslims and Armenians will be revealed. The primary sources of the study will be the documents belonging to the Archives of the Ministry of National Defence Archives and Military History Department, Armenian documents, various studies in the literature, and these sources will be analyzed using a comparative method.