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ARMENIAN ATROCITIES IN MARAŞ
DURING INDEPENDENCE WAR
Assoc.
Prof. Dr. Ahmet EYİCİL*
With the help of
Europe and America the biggest aspiration of the Armenians was the
establishment of an Armenian state in Anatolia. However according
to various reports prepared, it was not possible to realize this
since their population was not adequate and they have no land at
all. The land could only be obtained by a well-trained military
force. Nevertheless, they had no such power either. It was not
possible for America to provide such military help to them just as
Russia, Britain and France.
Most of the Armenians deported from Maras in April 1915 because of
stabbing the Ottoman army at the back during the First World War
were allowed to come back by the decision of the Ottoman
government starting from 22 October 1918 . Most of them came back
to Maras making use of free railway travel Thus, with these
supports from the government many Armenians returned Marash in a
short time.
The Armenians made the propaganda in the regions they had been
deported that they were going to establish two Armenian states in
Clicia and Urfa, and they were going to subjugate the Muslims
living there. They also spread lies that they had been subjected
great oppression by the Muslims. The Armenians living in Eastern
provinces took these false propagandas literally and began to
emigrate Maras , Antep and Urfa in order to realize their goal.
On October 22 1919 the rumor spread that the Armenians would
torture the Muslims in order to get revenge in Maras . Osmaniye (Cebel
i bereket ) mayor captain Andre visited Maras on October 29. The
people protested French coming to the city by sending telegrams .
Turkish national forces (Kuvay-ı Milliye) were mobilized to
prevent possible attacks of the Armenian legions ganged up with
the French.
The Turks provided all sorts of assistance to the Armenians coming
to the city in groups after Mondros peace treaty signed on 30
October 1918. The Armenians caused no incidence to disturb the
peace and harmony during the British occupation, which lasted for
eight months . However spoilt by the replacement of the British by
the French the Armenians began to show their real face. They began
to shoot around, harass the women and destroy the peace and
harmony prevailing in the city . They wounded a policeman and
killed barber Okkes . They threw a grenade against the Muslims
sitting in a coffeehouse in Sheikh Sait district, which killed one
and wounded four people. The perpetrators freely entered the
church . Two innocent Muslims were stabbed to dead with bayonets
near the French police station . They abducted two kids from Nakip
mosque and tortured them.
*
Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University (KSÜ) Faculty of
Science, department of History.
The letter wrote by Ali Fuat pasha the commander of the 20th Army
corps from Ankara on 17 August 1919 to Kazım Beg the inspector of
the second army. Same letter was also sent to Atatürk . Atatürk,
Nutuk (speech) Atatürk Kültür Dil ve Tarih Yüksek Kurumu Atatürk
Araştırma Merkezi (The Atatürk Higher Institude Of Culture ,
Language And History . Research Center ) , Ankara 1998, p.71.
Ahmet Eyicil, Osmanlı'nın Son Döneminde Maraş'ta Ermeni Siyasî
Faaliyetleri (Armenian Political Activities During The Final Stage
Of The Ottoman Empire ), Gün Yayıncılık San. ve Tic. Ltd. Şti.,
Ankara 1999, p.341.
Osmanlı Belgelerinde Ermeniler (1915-1920) (The Armenians in The
Ottoman Documents), (O.B.E.) Başbakanlık Devlet Arşivleri Genel
Müdürlüğü Osmanlı Arşiv Dairesi Başkanlığı, Yayın Nu:
14, Ankara 1994, p. 176.
O.B.E., p.248.
Türk İnkılâp Tarihi Enstitüsü Arşivi (TİTEA) (Turkish
Revolutionary History Institute Achieves), box no 22, document no
19.
Heyet-i Temsiliye Tutanakları (The Minutes Of The Representative
Committee) Prepared by: Uluğ İğdemir, Atatürk Kültür Dil ve
Tarih Yüksek Kurumu Türk Tarih Kurumu yayınları XVI. Dizi- Sa.
26a, Ankara 1989, p. 86.
"The 22 Days of Marash: Paper on the Defense of the City
Against Turkish Forces, Jan-Feb. 1920." The Armenian Review.
Vol. 31 (Spring 1978), 47-69, s. 65.
Arşiv Belgelerine Göre Kafkaslar'da ve Anadolu'da Ermeni
Mezalimi (A.B.G.K. A.E.M). (The Armenian Atrocities In Caucasia
And Anatolia According To Achieve Documents ), Başbakanlk Devlet
Arşivleri Genel Müdürlüğü Osmanlı Arşiv Dairesi Başkanlığı,
Yayın Nu: 34. Ankara 1997. c. 3., p.105.
Among the French troops that came to Maraş were 40 Muslims from
Alegeria and 4000 Armenians. The Armenians patrolling the city in
French uniforms began to harass the women and suppress the people
. They told to women "will you wander around under
veil?" and forced them to "open your veils." A
retired Gendarme Çakmakcı Sait who was trying to prevent the
Armenians harassing the women was shot and wounded. He later
became a martyer. The Armenians, which came to the city in groups
of 500 in French uniforms, asked the people where the whorehouse
was. They later chanted the slogans "long live the Clichia
Armenia. Down with the people against it." Furthermore, they
trampled on brade they bought from a store.
The Armenians started to disturb the people on the streets from 31
October 1919, the second day of the French occupation. The
indigenous Armenians gave alcoholic beverages to the newcomers.
Some of the Armenian drunken soldiers molested the Muslim women
coming out of historical Uzun Oluk baths. They force them to open
their veils shouting "this is not a Turkish city any more .
You can not walk around with veils. You must open your
faces." The women screamed for help. Upon all these a Turk
named Imam who was selling milk in the neighboring shop came out
shouting "you infidels! That is enough!" He pulled his
gun and killed one and wounded two of them. This incident known as
"Sütcü Imam or Uzunoluk incident" in the history spark
off a great fight between the Armenians and the Turks . Two more
Armenians were killed and fourteen people from both sides got
wounded . This increased the Armenian oppression and the
atrocities. The Armenians supported by the French started to shot
each Muslim they met on the spot saying "this must be from
Kuvay-I- milliye." They started to kill the men and rape the
women. The Muslim people become scared of coming out.
The Armenian gangs in the French army began to massacre innocent
Muslims starting on 1 November 1919 in order to revange previous
happinings. The cry and agony of the Muslim people under the
Armenian persecution was heartbreaking . Although the necessary
precautions were taken during the occupation they were not
sufficient enough . The authorities asked an emergency force for
Maras. On 12 November 1919 the occupation of Maras by the French
and their oppression upon the Muslim people were protested.
On 22 November 1919 the French dug trenches around the city and
took the control of Elbistan road. They wanted to bring down the
Ottoman flag at the mayor house but met with the strong protest of
the people. However a gendarme gunner Sadullah Efendi was martyred
during the turmoil.
Arşiv
Belgelerine Göre Kafkaslar'da ve Anadolu'da Ermeni Mezalimi (A.B.G.K.
A.E.M). (The Armenian Atrocities In Caucasia And Anatolia
According To Achieve Documents ), Başbakanlk Devlet Arşivleri
Genel Müdürlüğü Osmanlı Arşiv Dairesi Başkanlığı, Yayın
Nu: 34. Ankara 1997. c. 3., p.105.
A.B.G.K.A.E.M., p.60-62., Yaşar Akbıyık, Milli Mücadelede Güney
Cephesi Maraş,( Southern front during the war of independence ,
Marash) Atatürk Kültür, Dil ve Tarih Yüksek Kurumu Atatürk
Araştırma Merkezi yayınları, Ankara 1999, p. 123.
The letter sent by lieutenant general Kazım Karabekir the
commander of the 15. army corps to Erzurum governor with the
reference number of 540 on 19 November 1919 . TİTEA, box no 22,
document no 16.
The telegram sent by the Elbistan branch of defending the law
committee to Erzurum branch of the same committee on 1 November
1919, TİTEA, box no 31, document no 175.
Açıksöz, dated 12 November 1919, no: 31.
A.B.G.K A.E.M,
c.3, p. 63.
The French commander in Antep asked for the deployment of a
regiment in Maraş and Antep from the headquarters in Adana on 24
November 1919. The Armenians in Aleppo on the other hand urged
their compatriots to emigrate to Maras and Adana . The French
armed the Armenians and used them against the Turks, and the mayor
of the region, Colonel Bremond, sided with the Armenians. The
Armenians encouraged with the support and tolerance they got from
the French started to persecute the Muslim people even more . In
other words, the Armenians under the wings of the occupying French
troops used them as a tool to take revenge from the Turks.
The commander of the occupying French forces Captain Andre was
invited to dinner in Agop Hırlakyan's house on 27 November 1919
Thursday. He asked the Hırlakyan's granddaughter Helena for a
dance. But Helena refused this offer "I don't want to dance
in a city where there is no French or Armenian flag at the highest
point." Upon her desire, the commander ordered the Turkish
flag at the castle to be brought down. Only then did Helena accept
to dance with him.
The replacement of the Turkish flag at the castle with the French
flag on Friday 28 November 1919 caused great rage among the Turks.
There was a great unrest in the audience who came to the Ulu
mosque for the Friday prayer. The people completed the first sünnet
(a compulsory part) of the prayer. When it came to farz (the
compulsory part ) imam Rıdvan Hoca who came to the pulpit for the
Friday preaching told the audience "Friday prayer cannot be
performed in a place which is not free , which is under the
occupation." The people left the prayer, attacked the castle,
overpowered the French soldiers, pulled down the French flag, and
raised the Turkish flag again. They started to fire in air
shouting, "long live the Ottomans," and then the crowd
marched towards the governor's building. Finally, they cried out
"we do not want Armenian guard Vahan at Governor's
house." They then attached the French soldiers, beat them,
and took away their guns. The officials, including governor,
prevented the incident getting out of hand. The French tried to
calm down the people trying to get some time for the supporting
French troops to come to their help. However these incidents
showed that Marash people were in a determined and resolute mood
against the Armenians and the occupying French forces. Captain
Andre was called to Antep after this flag incident and never came
back to Marash again.
Tthough the French general Querette took the responsibility of
establishing peace and harmony in Maras he was not successful. The
massacres and the persecution of the French and Armenian troops in
Maras continued. Dignitaries of Pazarcik protested the oppression
of the French on 1 January 1920.
The
letter sent by lieutenant general Kazım Karabekir the commander
of the 15. army corps to Erzurum governor with the reference
number of 551 on 24 November 1919 . TİTEA, box no 22, document no
17.
Bilge Yavuz, Kurtuluş Savaşı Sırasında Türk-Fransız İlişkileri
1921-1922, (Turkish-French Relations During The War Of
Independence ) Atatürk Kültür Dil ve Tarih Yüksek Kurumu Türk
Tarih Kurumu Yayınları, xvıi, Dizi-Sa, 68, Ankara 1994,
p.55-56.
Yavuz, ibid., p.61,63.
There are opinions that the Turkish flag was not brought down and
replaced by the French flag. However Mehmet Ali bey in his
statement called "Alem-i İslama Hitap (address to the
Islamic world) which he wrote on 28 November 1919 says "on
the bastion of this castle captured by the blood of our ancestors
was brought down the red flag of ours and replaced with
theirs," which proves the incident . . Hüsamettin Karadağ,
İstiklal Savaşında Maraş (Maraş In The War Of Independence) ,
Mersin 1943, p. 15., Akbıyık, ibid., p.138,143.
The letter sent by lieutenant general Kazım Karabekir the
commander of the 15. army corps to Erzurum governor with the
reference number of 595 on 8 December 1919 . TİTEA, box no 22,
document no 19.
Milli Mücadele Dönemi Beyannameleri (The Declarations Of The
National Struggle Era), Prepared by : Zeki Güner, Orhan Kabataş,
Atatürk Kültür Dil ve Tarih Yüksek Kurumu Türk Tarih Kurumu
yayınları sayı 38, Ankara 1990, p.295-296.
Hakimiyet-i Milliye, 1 January 1920, sayı 1.
On 1 January 1920 the house of ex-Armenian member of the
parliament, Agop Hırlakyan, was taken under protection by
lighting it up with projectors. Also Elbistan road was kept under
control in order to prevent any outside help to the Turks. The
French upon the information they obtained from the Armenians
confiscated two cartful of guns and ammunition. Ali Cavus and
three of his friends from Akchakoyunlu village of Pazarcık were
attacked by 15 Armenians dressed in French uniforms on their way
to Antep. Ali Çavus and one of his friends died in the incident.
Mathematics teacher Hayrullah effendi was wounded in a gun battle
on 5 January 1920 and tasted martyrdom later on. An armed Armenian
band attacked to Donuklu village near Zeytun on 7 January 1920 and
took everyone in the village to Zeytun. None of these innocent
people ever came back to their village and there was no news heard
from them.
On 8 January 1920 three Armenians tried to bomb the Cukurova
mosque but they were not successful thanks to the reaction of the
people. At the same time three French soldiers passing by shot at
the muezzin calling for the prayer at the minaret.
Meanwhile Armenian youth trained by the French in the barracks
were located in the churches. There was a rumor among the people
that the Armenians were going to commit a big massacre against the
Muslims. The Armenians declared that anybody entering city after
the sun set was going to be shot without questioning. . There were
300 additional groups sent to help the French . The gun battles
continued in Bababurnu and Imalı regions. These occupying forces
then destroyed Gokpınar, Kılılı and Sarılar villages.
On 11 January 1920 Ceceli, Gokpınar , Serefoglu and Sekeroba
villages were put under heavy cannon fire. Marshall law was
declared and a curfew was imposed forbidding the people going out
from 6 am to 6 pm. It was also decleared that anybody caught
carrying a gun would be executed.
On 13 January 1920 a group Armenians from the French detachment
attacked the Araplı village, they broke in the house and raped
the women. The villagers running away from these atrocities
escaped to the mountains and the neighboring villages. The
detachment that left the village in the morning shot at the people
who were coming back to their homes and killed one person.
The intensity of the Armenian atrocities and the persecution upon
the Muslim people intensified every passing day . The Committee of
defending the integrity of Anatolia (Mudafa-i Hukuk Cemiyeti) in
Diyarbakır protested these atrocities committed against the
Muslims in Maras on 16 January 1920.
On 19 January 1920 Colonel Normand and General Querette asked all
the Armenian military personnel to gather in the Armenian ward.
The Armenians worried that the French would besiege them did not
want to comply with this order. When asked the reasons to the
French commander, they were told that the Turks were preparing to
attack them. The Turkish resistance squads and the Turkish people
were about to leave the city due to the massacres of the French
and the Armenians.
The
letter sent by lieutenant general Kazım Karabekir the commander
of the 15. army corps to Erzurum governor with the reference
number of 551 on 24 November 1919 . TİTEA, box no 22, document no
17.
Bilge Yavuz, Kurtuluş Savaşı Sırasında Türk-Fransız İlişkileri
1921-1922, (Turkish-French Relations During The War Of
Independence ) Atatürk Kültür Dil ve Tarih Yüksek Kurumu Türk
Tarih Kurumu Yayınları, xvıi, Dizi-Sa, 68, Ankara 1994,
p.55-56.
If the Turks had left the city, the Armenians and the French would
have erected their control easily. If the Turks had accepted the
fact that they were going to submit to French occupation, the
French would have left the city and would have allowed the
Armenians to come under the American protection. Upon these
developments, the Turks hoped to reach an agreement with the
French. The French also guaranteed to the Armenians that there
would be no crises after they left the city.
A represantative, as well as one of the leaders, of Kuva-I Milliye
in Marash, Dr. Mustafa, went to talk with the French officials.
They told him that they were ready to make a new agreement with
the Turks. This good news quickly spread among the Turks and the
resistant squads were asked to gather again and come back to the
city.
In spite of all these, the war between the Turks and the enemy
started on 20 January 1920. The French started to put the city
under siege and kept it under constant cannon and machine gun
fire. The people in Karalar and Tutum regions clashed with a
division of New Zelandian and Austrialian Anzac corp sent from
Antep to Marash. There were 14 French soldiers killed during the
shootout and all their guns were seized. On the same day the
people were outraged with the news that four French soldiers broke
into houses in Antep and killed one Muslim boy. The people tried
to resist them. This news created an anti-French feeling among the
Muslim people in Marash. They knew that the French would do the
same thing in their city.
The Armenian gangs attacking the people had the answer they
deserved by the Kuvâ-yı Milliye (National Turkish Forces) under
to the command of Ataturk. The French saved the Armenian gangs who
had extreemly been spoiled.
In the morning of 21 January the Turks surrounded Armenian and
French quarters. The French troops were unable to establish any
communication with other troops. The occupying forces in the city
were left without support since the Turks cut the lines between
the French and the Armenian troops and other forces. The Muslims
started to burn their own houses in order to save themselves from
the Armenian atrocities. They also started to burn their Armenian
neighbours' houses and destroy them. Moreover, with a stick torch
they burned unreachable places. The fire spread very quickly by
the help of the wind. The Armenians now had to fight to save their
own houses by bringing down their homes.
The battle continued with all its fierceness on January 22. The
French kept the city under the cannon and machine gun fire . The
Turks had two machine guns and no cannon. They met with a heavy
cannon fire when they tried to approach the French garrison. Thus,
they had to retreat and sought shalter in their houses because of
heavy artillary fire.
The city was in fire and under a thick black smok as a result of
the cannon fire. The Turks were unable to enter the city during
the daytime due to the French watching points located in the
strategical points. Because the houses of the Armenians were
surrounded with high and thick walls so it was very difficult to
continue the war in the city.
The
22 Days of Marash…" Vol. 31, (Spring 1978), p. 68.
The letter sent by Elbistan town council to other town councils on
23 January 1920 with the reference number of 30 . TİTEA, box no
20, document no 88.
TİTEA, box no 18, document no 39.
"The 22 Days of Marash..." Vol. 30, (Winter 1977-78),
388-397, p.394.
"The 22 Days of Marash…" Vol. 31, (Spring 1978), p.
67.
Ibid, p.49-51.
The incidents took place in Marash on 23 January 1920 caused great
despair in the country. People were very worried that Marash and
Antep would be separated from the motherland
The people remained in their houses on 24 January. There were
fires in six places. 150 Armenian soldiers, 1 cannon and 15-cart
loads ammunition arrived the city on the same day. They start to
destroy the city using these cannons. On the very same day Kuvay-i
Milliye militants seized 12-cart load of ammunition under the
guard of 150 French soldiers. The soldiers had to retreat towards
Islahiye direction.
On 25 January it was not possible for the people to come out from
their houses due to fires and heavy smoke as a result of French
bombardment. The smok covered almost everywhere. The cannon fire
continued throughout the night. The night was illuminated as
daytime because of the fires as a result of the bombardment. The
houses were shaken with the power of the cannon fire. The
Armenians started fires in six different parts of the city. This
fire spread around very quickly. The enemy numbered around 150 men
started to move against the Turks and fired at the city with their
cannon and 15-cart load of ammunition . The Armenians in Maras
started to fire around with ten cannons they possessed and caused
great destruction. The cries of the women and children under heavy
cannon fire were heartbreaking. The people came to the point of
loosing their moral power and at the brink of surrender.
The ammunition of the Turks to fight against the enemy was almost
non-existent. One machine gun and some ammunition were sent to
Marash from Elbistan. Then adequate number of mules was provided
from the neighboring villages and started to carry twenty boxes of
ammunition everyday. All the Muslims were asked to help their
heroic combatants before the city was totally destroyed.
On 26 January 1920 the French marked the Turekish houses and
started to burn them one by one. The fires started to spread very
quickly because the houses were one stored and were made out of
wood, mud and cane. Kuvâ-yı Milliye on the other hand destroyed
the Aksu Bridge that was under the French control and annihilated
the French detachment there. Beyazıtzade Sukru Bey and Kadir
Pasha with their 400 militants started to fight against the
Armenians and eliminate some of them who were collaborating with
the enemy. In this struggle of life and dead, the Kurds and the
Cherkesses fought alongside with Kuvâ-yı Milliye forces.
In a telegram sent by the Elbistan Branch of Maras National
committee to Istanbul government and the representatives of
European countries On January 27th, the committee asked for the
stop of the atrocities in Maraş and threatened the enemy by
saying that all the people living in other parts of Anatolia were
going to get armed and march to help their brothers in Marash.
This
telegram was sent to American consulate by Bayburt Mudafa-i Hukuk
Cemiyeti. TİTEA, box no 129, document no 27. c.3.,83-84
A.B.G.K A.E.M., c.3., pp. 83-84
"The 22 Days of Marash..." Vol. 31, (Spring 1978), p.
51., A.B.G.K A.E.M., c.3, p.84.
This telegram dated 25 January 1920 was sent by Elbistan defending
the law committee to other committee branches .. TİTEA, box no
31, document no 189.
"The 22 Days of Marash..." Vol. 31, (Spring 1978), p.
52.
The letter of Sivas governor dated 4 February 1920 Sivas TİTEA,
Box no 19, document no 98., TİTEA, Box no 20, document no 124.
TİTEA, Box no 20, document no 123.
"The 22 Days of Marash…" Vol. 31, (Spring 1978), p.
66.
This telegram was sent to the Siblime Porte and ministry of
internal affairs. TİTEA, Box no 22, document no 8.
While the Armenians were massacring the Turks in Maraş other
Ottoman non-Muslims collaborating with the occupying forces began
to kill the Muslims, plunder their properties, insult their sacred
values and rape their women in other cities such as Adana, Antep
and Urfa. Yet these non-Muslims were expected to defend these
territories since they had been living on them. However they
preferred to stab the Turks at the back collaborating with the
occupying forces.
On the sixth day of the battle, the occupying troops and the
Turkish forces were well balanced, and the people, who were tired
of fighting and who were gradually loosing their hope, began to
retreat. Upon all these developments the Marash National Defense
Committee issued the following statement:
" Today all the Arabian, Kurdish and Turkish lands starting
from Istanbul, center of Muslim Caliphathood, are being divided
among the occupying forces. These heaven like Syria cities and all
these Eastern provinces and western cities, including Adana, Urfa
, Maras, are given to French domination under the name of great
Armenia. Greek and French tyrants are doing all sorts of
persecution to our religious brothers they get in their hand for a
year.
As you see, our beloved country is under occupation. The terrible
fires of French artillary and native Armenian atrocities for the
last six days are destroying a Muslim city, Marash. You believers!
As all the angels above and all the believers below would testify,
please help these Muslim brothers who have no fault except being
Muslim for the sake of your religion. Save these people from the
blood stained hands of these merciless enemies. Yes! Come and see.
Maras is burning. Muslim blood is shed like streams. Come and help
of for the sake of great Allah. Save these people these
bloodthirsty monsters. The cannon bombardment and machine gun
fires of Armenian traitors and the French, which heed to no human
value, are destroying our beloved city. The cries of the women,
old and the children reach the level of Allah. However our
brothers, believing firmly that the time for the survival is very
near, are fighting against all the bombardment and persecution of
the enemy like enraged lions and giving a lesson of virtue and
honor to the other slave nations of the world. They are fully
aware that the virtues that make human superior to animals are the
feelings of religion, compatriotism and honor. These virtues that
totally dominate their souls and lives will make them fight to the
end giving and taking lives no matter how unfavorable the
circumstances turn out. Wake up the Muslim world wake up ! Draw
lessons from this situation of ours which is a disgrace to
humanity and may make one shed tear full of blood. During this
six-day battle we saw that the enemy will definitely be empty
handed and defeated against our resolute attitude and faith. It
will be our flag with crescent, the symbol of divine faith, which
will reach the victory and glory. The zeal is from us and glory
from great Allah brothers."
By 28 January the strategical locations, namely Atoğlu, Duraklı
and Kuyucak fully and Carsıbası and Hatuniye partly, were
brought under Kuvâ-yı Milliye's control. Fierce clashes
continued all day long. In order to protect pricincts and malls
armed groups were established. But the situation changed suddenly.
The French together with the Armenians attacked the innocent
people with 20 cannons and many machine guns showing their real
purpose. In addition to attacking innocent people they began to
kill the people coming in or going out the city without asking any
question.
The
statement of Anatolian Agency dated 4 May 1920 . TİTEA, Box no
28, document no 19.
"The 22 Days of Marash…" Vol. 31, (Spring 1978), p.
67.
This declaration was sent to Elbistan defending the law committee
on behalf of Maraş committed to Sivas governor, to the grand
visery and ministry of internal affairs on 27 January 1920 with
the notice of "extremely urgent." It asked for the
explanation of the seriousness of the occupation to the other
European countries and the US. TİTEA, Box no 28, document no 8.
The governorship of Sivas convened this message which it received
on 1 January convened it to the head of the Sivas defending to the
law committee on 2 January TİTEA, box no 19, document no 93.
Hakimiyet-i Milliye, 28 January 1920, sayı 5.
The Turkish people panicked from this new assault of the French
and the Armenians and began to escape from the city. The French
forces entered the city on 28 January, the seventh day of the
battle, and occupied the strategical locations without any
resistance. The people continued to escape from the city in
masses. The panic was everywhere. But this situation changed at
midnight. The Turks penetrated in French and Armenian forces and
continued to fight without yielding to any difficulty.
On 29 January the city was kept under heavy artillery and machine
gun fire from the barracks. The enemy was also firing from the
churches which had previously been converted into battle quarters.
The Armenian soldiers torched most of the Turkish houses. The
people had two cannons and some mortars. The Muslims bombarded the
American orphanage and Gregorian church, which had been converted
into enemy quarters.
The Armenians provided all sorts of support to the French during
Marash struggle of independence. When the Turks started the
counter offensive the Armenians offered the French to burn all the
Turkish houses. The French did not accept this offer. They also
prevented the burning of the Turkish houses near the Catholic
church and Shalom orphanage to avoid the massacre of the Turks.
On 30 January the French soldiers surrounded the city firing at it
from all the directions. The fire started by the bombardment
quickly spread around by the help of the climatic conditions and
the strong wind blowing from the north. The city became a wreck
and the there was serious danger of hunger for the people. General
Querette gave no attention to these adverse conditions. Meanwhile
the people continued their gallant struggle by shedding their
blood and by giving their lives.
On 31st of January the street battle and the fires continued. The
shops and the bazaar located around Municipal palace were
plundered. The Muslim people staged a determined fight against the
enemy that gathered its forces in the barracks and the Armenian
Catholic Church. The enemy attacks were neutralized and the
Armenians in Şekerdere church were destroyed. The Muslims seized
three machine guns and some animals from the enemy team patrolling
between Türkoğlu and Şerefoğlu. These animals were latter used
for transportation. A Kuvâ-yı Milliye detachment from Andırın
acted to cut the Islahiye railway of the enemy.
There were fires in many places after the enemy had put the houses
around the municipality building on the night of January 31.
Taking this opportunity people started to plunder the shops in the
bazaar. 150 soldiers of the mobilized national forces that came to
the city to prevent the plundering were settled in the empty
houses located at the north. A battalion from these forces was
deployed on Mercimek hill located in North of Karamanlı region
and another battalion was placed on Tavşan hill looking at the
barracks . The battle was continued using the arms that the people
already had. Meanwhile the volunteers coming from all over the
country joined the militants fighting for the survival of the
city.
"The
22 Days of Marash…" Vol. 31, (Spring 1978), p. 67.
A.B.G.K A.E.M, c.3, p.78.
"The 22 Days of Marash…" Vol. 31, (Spring 1978), p.
67.
TİTEA, Box no 19, document no 102.
The copy of the telegram sent by the Sivas governorship to the
headquarters of Anatolian and Thrace defending the law committee
dated 3 February 1920. TİTEA, box no 19, document no 100.
4The copy of the telegram received from Darande on 1 February 1920
mentioned in the letter of the Sivas governorship to the
headquarters of the Sivas defending the law committee TİTEA, box
no 19, document no 97.
TİTEA, box no 19, document no 102.
On 1st of January General Querette had the city bombarded with
cannons ad machine guns . The bombs made some regions of the city
a total wreck. So many innocent women, children and elderly people
were killed under the bombardment. Most of the Muslims lost their
houses or their lives. The enmity between the Armenians and the
Muslims reached to its peak. The people demanded the French and
the Armenians leave the city. The only way to end the battle was
the withdrawal of the French. The longer the French would remain
in the city the more the Armenian persecution and massacres would
intensify. This was what the Armenians and the French desired. The
only way under those circumstances was then to keep on fighting
until the last Muslim died or the enemy forces withdrew.
On February 1st the Armenian houses and the churches were taken
under French protection. 400 Armenians dressed in French uniform
opened fire against the innocent people. They also continued to
fire with the mountain cannon they had in the barracks. The
Muslims who came from the neighboring villages to help Maraş were
ambushed and killed by the Armenians. The Armenians killed the
head of the court. The Armenians and French forces intensified
their attacks on the city while the Muslims were trying to defend
their homeland.
The Armenians who helped the French destroy Marash committed
atrocities in violation of the rules of the agreement. The People
in Darende protested these atrocities by holding a meeting on 1
February 1920. It was also reported that a battalion, formed to
help the poor people under the heavy enemy fire, had been sent to
the city.
On February 2nd six boxes of ammunition, 20 bombs and one
automatic rifle were seized in Şekerdere church used as a
headquarters by the Armenians. The church was then set afire. The
national forces captured most of the building in upper Bedestan
and municipality building occupied by the French and the
Armenians. A French battalion of 150 men at the mountainous region
on Antep road and another French battalion in Ataizi region were
surrounded by the national forces. Four French soldiers from the
412th French regiment were taken prisoner. The people of Develi
stated that they were ready to help Maraş in their telegram sent
on February 2nd .
A French cavalry detachment which was not satisfied with the
massacres they did in the city attacked Karahasan village located
in the west of Pazarcik on February 2nd. They met a strong
resistance from Kuvâ-yı Milliye forces and had to retreat. There
were six French soldiers killed during the shootout . The cavalry
detachment then moved towards Arappkir village and destroyed the
railway. The detachment that did not dare to come to Maraş went
to Sırçalı. They stayed there for a while and then moved toward
Birecik.
On 3rd of January the enemy forces located in Şekerdere and Tekke
regions were destroyed. People also overpowered the enemy forces
in Hatuniye region. There were so many people died or wounded in
the fires started in the district. The people seized10.000 kıyye
of flour, sugar and coffee sent by the French in 18 cars between
Karabilal and Tulum. 14 French soldiers were killed during the
shootout.
A.B.G.K
A.E.M, c.3, p.81.
The copy of the report sent by Sivas governorship to headquarters
of Anatolia and Thrace defending the law committee dated 4
February 1920. TİTEA, box no 20, document no 126.
Hakimiyet-i Milliye, 2 February 1920, sayı 6.
The copy of the telegram dated 1 February 1920 , mentioned in the
letter sent by the Sivas governorship the headquarters of the
Sivas committee for defending the Law. On 2 February TİTEA, Box
no 19 document no. 973
TİTEA, Box no 20, document no 123.,.
The letter of Sivas governorship dated 4 February 1920, TİTEA,
box no 19, document no 98, box no 20, document no 123. box no18,
document no. 37.
TİTEA, Box no 20, document no 100.
TİTEA, box no 19, document no 101, box no 20, document no 125.
1 kıyye 1282 is gram.
The report attached to the letter of Sivas governorship dated 3
February 1920. TİTEA, box no 19, document no 103, box no 20,
document no 128.
On 5th of January the people resolutely displayed their
determination to fight to the end. This resolute attitude of the
people made the French very anxious. The Armenians stayed in their
houses and continued to fire against the Muslims from the front
yards of their churches, schools and the houses. New measures were
taken to put the enemy under siege. Evliya Efendi and his friends
tried to act alone and they were warned. There were so many
buildings destroyed by the fires started by the Armenians in
Divanlı, Çarşıbaşı and Kanlıdere regions. A cavalry
detachment was sent to the Antep rod upon the possibility of enemy
support forces coming to the city. Also it was decided to hold a
meeting to protest the persecution of the Armenians, which
extended beyond every proportion, and to tmake the outside world
aware of the tragedy took place in the region.
On 6 February French plane toured on the city and left some
messages to the French authorities. The Turks fired against it and
the plane retaliated with bombs.
On February 7th a French Army corps reached the city and
established its headquarters in Atizi region 4 km from the city.
Some of these forces were deployed in southern and western parts
of Maraş. Some others entered the city from the western side and
established contacts with the French command. There was no
alleviation in French and Armenian persecution upon the city.
Thousands of people became innocent victims of this savageness.
Nobody heard the cries of these people under the siege and the
censorship of the enemy. Cluless people thought the only remedy
for survival was to fight to the end.
500 French soldiers together with two long-range cannons were
captured by Kuvâ-yı Milliye forces 8 km from the city. Also
these forces seized sixty car loads of ammunition coming from
Antep.
The Armenians frequently held meetings in their churches and
school. The Armenians in Bahçe (Bulanık) and Haruniye (Düziçi)
chained the Muslims and massacred them ruthlessly.
The street fight in the city continued in Marash. The churches in
Kırklar and Tekke used as logistic centers by the enemy were set
afire. Şıh, Ekmekçi and Hatuniye regions were saved by Kuvâ-yı
Millîye. The French under the siege applied the Turkish
authorities to stop the fight through the American missionaries in
American college.
On February 7 a French plane left a document written to the French
commander asking for the report of the current situation and their
losses. At the same day 300 soldiers, one cannon and two machine
guns sent to Maraş via Islahiye. 150 soldiers and 100 cars
located at Bababurnu and near Eloğlu (Türkoğlu) were surrounded
by the national forces. The militants cut Kilis -Antep road and
the railway between Akçakoyunlu and Halas stations was destroyed.
TITEA,
Kutu no. 20, belge no. 128.
Hakimiyet-i Milliye, 6 February1920, sayı 7.
TİTEA, box no 20, document no 107.
TİTEA, box no 20, document no 122.
"The 22 Days of Marash..." Vol. 31, (Spring 1978), p.
55.
"The 22 Days of Marash..." Vol. 30, (Winter 1977-78),
p.395.
TİTEA, box no 19, document no 109.
TİTEA, box no 19, document no 113.
This was mentioned in the letter of Sivas governorship convened to
the headquarters of Sivas committee of defending the law. TİTEA,
Box no 19, document no 115.
On 8th February the innocent women, children and the elderly
people of the city were still under heavy cannon and machine gun
fire of the French and the Armenians. The dead bodies of the
people were lying all over the city. No body heard the cries of
these people due to the French censorship. The only ones who came
to help these people were national forces. The battle continued
around the houses where the Armenians were hiding and around
Kumbet church used as a base by them.
Ibrahim Evliya, the member of the national representative
committee surrounded five strategical points of the enemy and
organized, which was a very successful attack. Although he
captured these places from the enemy the Turks had to withdraw
from there after İbrahim Evliya and some of his friends had died
during the attack. The enemy re-occupied the Kumbet church and
these strategically important locations.
All the French troops gathered in the barracks on the night of
February 8. This made the Armenians very anxious. The French told
them it was a military maneuver. They also send a message to the
Armenians that they had to stay at home and the ones who came out
would be shot. The Armenians became even more anxious after this
message. The Turks meanwhile was continuing their fight under very
unfavorable conditions.
The weather was very cold on February 9 and there was a snowstorm.
The snow was so thick that it covered almost everything.
Everywhere seemed flat since the snow filled all holes. In spite
of these very harsh weather conditions a French support unit
containing 1000 men and 8 cannons came to the city.
On 10 February the battle continued without loosing its intensity.
The fires caused by the French cannon fire wrecked most part of
the city and continued till nighttime. The French forces
surrounded from every side gradually lost their hopes. The
national forces began to capture the city piece by piece. General
Querette, together with the Armenian committeemen took refuge in
the American College and raised an American flag there. From then
on the French and Armenians forces were on the defense.
In a telegram sent to the French authorities by the French command
it was stated that the French caused so much agony in Marash with
the battalion they formed from the Armenians. They made massacres,
desecrated the sacred values and the chastity of the women, and
persecuted the innocent people. The Muslims, including women,
children and elderly determined to fight against the French. The
atrocities of the Armenians with the support of the French
soldiers were unacceptable for their country. The Armenians were
dreaming. The Ottomans and the French had historical ties and
France would not allow further massacre in the city. It was also
stated that hurting the Muslim population would not do any good to
the economical and political interests of France.
The occupying forces bombarded the city on 10 January till the
night. The moral of the Muslim people was very low due to this
continued gunfire. Very little of them believed that the French
would withdraw. Some of the Turks began to leave the city. The
French command however received an order to evacuate the city.
Upon this order captain Arlabose went to Armenian headquarters and
told them that the French were going to leave the city. The
Armenians were very disappointed with that. Because they believed
that the Turks were going to surrender. It became very clear that
this was not true. They came there with the promises of the Allias.
Now they had to leave. The Turks who had previously left the city
began to return after the withdrawal of the French and their
Armenian accomplices.
The
copy of the telegram dated 8 February 1920 and attached to the
letter of Sivas governor sent to the to the headquarters of the
Sivas committee of defending the law dated 9 February 1920. TİTEA,
Box no 19, document no 109.
The telegram sent form Elbistan on 8 February 1920, TİTEA, Box no
120 document no 107.
"The 22 Days of Marash..." Vol. 31, (Spring 1978), p.68.
"The 22 Days of Marash..." Vol. 31, (Spring 1978), p.
56.
Hakimiyet-i Milliye, 11 February 1920, sayı 8.
The governorship of Sivas sent telegrams to the Sultan, to the
representative of the Allies, to general Goro, to the parliament,
to the ministry of internal affairs, Paris peace conference, and
grand visery signed by thirteen people on 10 February 1920. TİTEA.,
box no 27, document no 21.
According to the Armenians the French officials left the city
without taking any responsibility of the chaos they caused. The
helpless Armenians had to leave the city as well.
The Armenians left Maraş leaving behind their animals, grudge and
agonizing memories. Their grudge and hatred was so big that they
burned their beloved houses with their own hands to prevent the
Turks using them. Their houses were much better than those of the
Turks. The walls of their houses were of concrete and the ceilings
were covered with tiles. The orchards were covered with thick
concrete walls. It was very difficult to surround or burn these
houses. But the divine justice was done and the Armenians had to
burn these castle-like magnificent houses by their own hands. It
was a punishment of their treason to the Turks with whom they had
lived in harmony for many centuries.
The head of Silvan civil authority anxiously watched the
developments and sent the information they obtained to the related
bodies. Sylvan authorities also protested the disaster that took
place on 10th of February in Maraş.
The French forces began to shell the city on the night of February
10. The people gathered at Kadir Pasha mansion and forced Doctor
Mustafa to go and see General Querette to prevent the further
bloodshed and destruction of the city. Doctor Mustafa reached an
agreement with the French authorities. According to it the French
would leave the city as soon as possible. The Armenians were aware
that the news of the French withdrawal. They tried to prevent the
news from being heard by the Turks, which would demoralize the
Armenians. Doctor Artin and Pharmacist Artin, the members of
Armenian Hunchack committee, killed Doctor Mustafa returning from
the talks with the French. Meanwhile Colonel Normand who lost all
his contacts with the city and had no information about the recent
developments became very anxious about the situation and withdrew
his troops towards Islahiye direction. Other French and Armenian
troops left the city secretly at night. They covered the feet of
their horses with cloth in order to prevent any noise that would
awake the Turks.
The Turks raised the Ottoman flags at the official buildings and
the governor's residence upon the withdrawal of the French and
Armenian forces. The soldiers located in Elbistan were sent to the
city in order to establish peace there. The army command center
issued a statement expressing their happiness and thanking god for
the latest developments
The French and the Armenian forces withdrawing from the city had
miserable time due to adverse weather condition. They tired to
establish a fortification between Adana and Aleppo in order to
return Maraş. But they were not successful. The withdrawal of the
French and the Armenian forces from the city, which caused so much
pain and agony, caused great jubilation among the Muslim
population.
"The
22 Days of Marash..." Vol. 31, (Spring 1978), p. 56-57.
According to Armenians, the Armenian soldiers were put in prison
because they did not comply with these order. This gave the Turks
a chance to attack them during t 22 day battle. The Armenians were
murdered. "The 22 Days of Marash..." Vol. 30, (Winter
1977-78), 388-397, p.394-395.
TİTEA., box no 25, document no 110.
Yavuz, ibid., p.57-58., Akbıyık, ibid. 230-233.
The letter of Sivas governorship sent to the headquarters of Sivas
committee of defending the law on 12 February 1920. The same
letter was also sent to the head of Anatolian Council of Women. TİTEA,
box no 20, document no 1.
TİTEA, box no 20, document no 30.
The French which were supposed to be the representative of
civilized world and their Armenian accomplices continued to
massacre the Muslim population in the places, especially in Urfa,
they passed. There was a danger of hunger among Marash people, who
were tired, exhausted and lost their properties, as a result of
this atrocious war. The Agricultural Bank sent 10 000 liras to the
people to compensate some of their losses.
According to foreign press the total losses in the southern region
covering Maraş Antep and Urfa was 10 000 Armenians and 600 French
soldiers. The daily cost of the French occupation forces in Syria
was 2,000,000 franks. This created quite big financial burden to
France.
The French forces that had to withdrew from Maraş planned to land
two battalion and some guns to Mersin port in order to attack
Marash again. However, the Arabic people who had gun battles with
the French forces in Camıslı and Yaslık regions forced them to
escape. The withdrawal of the French forces from Marash panicked
the ambassador. The French began to realize the gallant struggle
of the Turkish people in Maraş in a much clearer way. This
struggle was a striking example of the will of Maraş people to
establish their freedom and independence.
In conclusion, with this research we have stress that some of the
Armenians living in Marash realized that the Armenian legions
sided with the French were wrong. The Armenian patriarch Janparyan
and the member of the city council Haçador and Ibrahim effendi
from Pador sent a telegram to the Turkish parliament on 20 July
1920 stating that they were loyal to the government, they would
not accept the domination of any other state, they were born as
Ottoman and had no will except to be subject of that state. They
stated that they wrote these demands to many consulates and the
patriarchs.
The
copy of the telegram dated 12 February 1920 was sent from Sivas to
the Central Cuncil for the Indepencence War. It was attached a
letter sent from Aziziye governor 11 February 1920. TİTEA, box no
20, document no 6.
The letter of 3. Army corps command written to Sivas governorship
on 18 February 1920 with a reference number of 744. TİTEA, box no
18, document no 19.
The letter of the ministry of war written to the head quarters of
Sivas committee of defending the law to the dated 3 may 1920 with
a reference number of 3264. TİTEA, box no 17, document no 57.
The letter of the ministry of war written to the head quarters of
Sivas committee of defending the law dated 24 February 1920 with a
reference number of 1434. TİTEA, Box no 18, document no 12.
The letter of the commander of the 3. army corps written to the
head quarters of Sivas committee of defending the law dated 7 may
1920 with a reference number of 113. TİTEA, Box no 18, document
no 33.
This telegram signed as the member of Anatolia was sent from
Ankara to Erzurum on 18 July 1920 İTEA., box no 24, document no
91.
ABSTRACT
The Armenians started to insult the Muslims and desecrate their
sacred values from the very first day which the French occupied
the city. On the very day, 31 October 1920 the French soldiers
forced the women coming out the bath to open their faces which
sparked of "the Sütcü İmam incident." The Armenian
soldiers then started to massacre the Muslim people for the
revenge of the past. The French provoked by the Armenians such as
Agop Hırlakyan brought down the Turkish flag in the castle.
The Armenian legionaries in French Uniform started to murder the
innocent people in the neighboring villages, sabotaged the mosques
and fired at the muezzin calling for the prayer. They imposed a
curfew between 06 and 18.
The French and the Armenians bombarded the city in the battle,
which lasted between 22 January and 11 February 1920. This caused
fires in various parts of the city. The houses of the Turks were
chosen and burned one by one. Maraş people under heavy gunfire
published statements and declarations in order to make their voice
heard. The people continued their gallant fight for 22 days under
heavy bombardment and spreading fires.
The Muslim people did not yield to heavy bombardment with the
command of General Querette. The Armenians fired from their
churches and houses, which they used as shelters. They were
neutralized by Kuvâ-yı Milliye (national forces) organized in
the city with the command of Atatürk. The French and the
Armenians panicked against the fact that in spite of all these
persecutions the people still remained resolute and determined. On
10th of February the French commander and his Armenian accomplices
took shelter in the American College. The city was made a wreck
with an all day bombardment on the very same day. The French and
their Armenian allies left the city on 11 February towards Turkoğlu
in the South. The withdrawing enemy had a miserable time due to
adverse weather conditions. The Armenians who tried to get revenge
from the Turks had heavy losses against these adverse weather
conditions.
Key Words
Maraş, French, Armenians, Sütçü İmam, Armenian atrocties
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