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The First Republic of Armenia did not let Turkey complete the Armenian Genocide
In May 1918 the Armenian Nation believed that it could fight and win the war.
29.05.2007 GMT+04:00
By spring 1918 the situation in Transcaucasia, which was left in ruins by the war, became almost uncontrollable. After the October Revolution of 1917 in Russia the Russian troops situated in Western Armenia left exposing the Caucasian front. The Turkish troops taking advantage of the created situation broke the Yerznka Armistice signed on October 5, 1917 and took the offensive on February 10, 1918.
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian corps, composed of 35 thousand soldiers fought at the front under General Nazarbekov's (Nazarbekian) supervision, as Georgian troops and the “Wild Division” of Transcaucasian Muslims were situated in separate locations from the scene of the military activities. According to RA Prime-Minister Simon Vratsyan, Armenia found itself in between the Bolshevik hammer and Turkish anvil. Transcaucasia turned to the Turkish headquarters with the suggestion to start separate negotiations. During the negotiations in Trapezund the delegation tried to reestablish the Russian-Turkish prewar border and secure the self-determination of Western Armenia. However, taking advantage of the superiority in forces and successful offensive (the Turks occupied Ardaghan, approached Kars and Batoum), the Turkish party pulled out difficult conditions. On April 22, 1918 Transcaucasia was proclaimed an independent federal republic by Turkey's request. The Turkish troops, defeating the resistance of the Armenian forces which not only fought with aggressor, but also struggled for securing the Armenians from Western Armenia, occupied Kars, Artvin and Batoum. On May 11 in Batoum the cutoff negotiations were resumed. Representatives from Transcaucasia insisted on Brest Treaty to serve as basis for the negotiations, but the Turkish party announced that Turkey couldn't be contented with the territorial compromises, which are stipulated by the Treaty. Continuing the offensive the Turkish forces invaded the provinces of Tbilisi and Yerevan, and occupied Alexandrapol on May 16. Developing the offensive the Turkish troops advanced towards Yerevan and met a strong resistance in Sardarapat. On May 26 at Sardarapat Battle the Armenian forces sealed a glorious victory. The Turkish troops met rather strong resistance of the Armenian forces during Bash Aparan and Gharakilisa battles. In the result of the heroic battles the Armenian forces didn't let the Turks invade the Ararat Valley and complete the Armenian Genocide.
After the victory over the Turks the Armenian National Council proclaimed the Armenian independence on May 28, 1918 in Tbilisi. Hovhannes Kajaznuni became the first Prime-Minister. On June 20 the Government moved to Yerevan. The Armenian Republic had a population of 1, 510 million, including 795,000 Armenians and 575,000 Muslims. Since June the Parliament became the supreme legislative body of the Armenian Republic, where the ARF Dashnaktsutiun possessed 90% of the seats. After 600 years under the Ottoman power Armenia proclaimed its independence and Statehood at last. Though for 2 years only, the Armenian Nation believed that it could fight and win the war.
Later the Red Army arrived and Armenia became Soviet, as for the officers who had saved the Nation from the complete extermination, they were killed cruelly in prison in Alexandrapol or were sent to camps, to be killed later. By 1937 the pick of the Armenian army was destroyed by the Bolsheviks, only General Andranik, who immigrated to the USA in 1922, was able to escape. Garegin Nzhdeh, who saved Zangezur, was deported during II World War from Bulgaria and died in Vladimirsky Prison. During the Soviet years the First RA was hardly ever or only negatively mentioned, though without it the present 29 thousand sq. km wouldn't exist. By 1918 only 9 thousand sq. km and approximately half a million Western Armenian refugees were left from Armenia. No doubt, the Soviet Armenia was also an Armenian State, but the history shouldn't be forgotten either, which is often being misinterpreted. To manage what the First Government was able to do during the years of war, the Bolsheviks needed more than 10 years of a severe repression.
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