Books

Van 1915: The Great Events of Vasbouragan

Van 1915: The Great Events of Vasbouragan

A-Do

translated from Armenian by Ara Sarafian with historical introduction by Rouben Gasparyan and Rouben Sahakyan
London: Gomidas Institute, 2017,
345 pp, maps and photos

ISBN 978-1-909382-37-4, pb.
Price: UK£40.00 / US$50.00

To order please contact books@gomidas.org



TABLE OF CONTENTS
Editor’s Note    ix
Hovhannes Ter Martirosian (A-Do): A Biographical Note 
by Rouben Gasparyan and Rouben Sahakyan    xiii

Foreword    1
I. A Brief Introduction to Vasbouragan     3
II. Population Statistics for Armenians in the Province of Van [1914]     9
III. The New Turkey     23
IV. The European War     37
V. Seferberlik or Mobilisation     41
VI. The Turkish Government’s Probes     45
VII. The Volunteer Movement     53
VIII. The Russo-Turkish War     59
IX. The First Exodus    67
X. The First Stage of the Massacres     73
    A. The Massacre of Armenians in Bashkale  and Surrounding Areas     73
    B. Boghazkiasan (Arjag)     73
    C. Akhorig, Hasan Tamran, Kharabasorig, Tashoghlou Massacres     74
    D. The Massacre and Pillage of Hazara     74
    E. Satmants (Saray)     74
    F. Avzarig (Saray)     75
XI. Armenian Resistance     79
    A. The Pelou Incident     82
    B. The Atanan Incident     82
    C. The Gargar Incidents     84
    D. The Alchavaz Incidents     86
    E. The Events of Timar     88
XII. The Prelude Before the Terrifying Events     91
XIII. The Horrible Massacres     99
XIV. Resistance During the Terrible Massacres     117
    A. Resistance at Arjag     117
    B. The Defence of Hayots Tsor     120
    C. Resistance at Timar     127
    D. Resistance Around Varak     132
XV. The Heroic Struggle of Van     135
XVI. The Heroic Battle of Aykesdan     147
XVII. The Heroic Battle of the City     163
    1. Tabriz Gate Sector.     166
    2. The Tekalifi Harbiye Sector.     167
    3. The Khanidag Sector.    167
    4. The Ampardag Sector.    168
XVIII. The Heroic Battle of Shadakh    227
XIX. The Clashes in Pesantashd     249
XX. The Provisional Armenian Government of Van     267
XXI. The Budget of the Provisional Armenian Government    277
XXII. The Great Exodus from Vasbouragan    287
Epilogue     301
Glossary    303
Index    307


ILLUSTRATIONS
Map of Vasbouragan*    2
The Armenian Provinces of the Ottoman Empire, cir. 1914*    4
Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, South Caucasus and North-West Iran*    7
Administrative Divisions and Ethnic Profile of Vasbouragan cir. 1900*    7
Cilician Massacres, 1909: Adana and Tarsus*    27
ARF General Assembly Participants, Erzeroum (Garin), 1914*    47
The Central Powers, 1914*    51
Armenian Volunteer Group Commanders*    57
Turco-German Attack on Russia, October, 1914*     61
German Postcard*    63
First Movement of Armenian Refugees, December, 1914*     71
The First Stage of the Massacres, 1914-15*    75
Aram Manougian and Ishkhan (Nigoghayos Boghosian)    80
Incidents and Resistance, 1914–15*    85
Jevdet, governor of Van    93
Arjesh Massacres, April 1915*    113
Sector Three. Misak Simonian and ARF volunteers*    139
Sector Five. Nazaret Bournoutian and his group*    143
Seventh Sector. Ales Barsamian, Lorto, Khachig Khranian and
Sahag the Assyrian*    143
Aykesdan Military Command: Bulgaratsi Krikor, Gaydzag Arakel,
Armenag Yegarian    144
Map - Aykesdan, 1915**    148-149
Armenian Defence Forces in Van    151
Armenian Defence Forces in Van    155
Sevo - Iskouhi Hampartsoumian    160
City Military Command    165
Map - Old City of Van, 1915**    170
Mrs. Aghavni Vartabedian    174
Van Old City Walls, 1916 (Courtesy of History Museum of Armenia)*    177
Armenian Families who Escaped to the City    187
Ashkhadank Newspaper (Van)*    195
Aslan Aslanian, 14, Vosdan (Asnoush’s son) 14, Papgen Isajanian 12.    207
The Armenian Cannon    212
Refilling Cartridges in a Workshop    220
Old City of Van, 1916 (Courtesy of History Museum of Armenia)*    223
Map - The District of Shadakh, 1915**    226
Hovsep Choloian and Samuel Mesrobian    229
Dikran Baghdasarian    230
Defence of Tagh, 1915**    232
Map - Battle of Sevdgin Village Guard House**    237
Map - The Battle of Sak**    239
Levon Shaghoian    248
Srpo (Srpouhi), Messenger girl of Shadakh    258
Armenian Volunteers Enter Van (May 18, 1915)    266
Armenian District Administrator and Policeman    284
An Armenian Family during the Exodus from Van, July-August 1915*    291

* Appended to A-Do’s work
** Redrawn original map


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