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← Timeline
Armenian genocide
Tag
(11)
1915
April
08
The Armenian deportations begin
On 8 April 1915 the first convoy of deported Armenians left Zeytun in Cilicia. Deportations ordered by the Ottoman authorities turned into genocide.
20
Defence of Van begins
On 20 April 1915 the troops of Governor Cevdet Bey attacked the Armenian quarters of Van. Fearing a massacre, the Armenians took up armed self-defence.
May
19
Russians enter Van
On 19 May 1915 Russian troops entered Van, preceded a day earlier by Armenian volunteers. The city, defended by the Armenians, was free.
24
Allied declaration on the Armenian massacres
On 24 May 1915 France, Britain and Russia called the massacres of Armenians crimes "against humanity" and threatened Ottoman ministers with punishment.
August
03
Russians abandon Van
On 3 August 1915, after the defeat at Malazgirt, the Russians withdrew from Van. Tens of thousands of local Armenians fled with them to the Caucasus.
05
Turks occupy Van
In early August 1915 Ottoman troops returned to Van, abandoned by the Russians, and at Bergri Kurds attacked columns of Armenian refugees.
1916
February
18
Russians occupy Muş
In mid-February 1916 Russian Cossacks rode into Muş unopposed. They found the valley, whose Armenian inhabitants had been massacred in 1915, depopulated.
March
02
Russians capture Bitlis
In early March 1916 General Abatsiev's Russian column took Bitlis, the gateway from Armenia to Mesopotamia, with a night bayonet attack in a snowstorm.
1917
February
04
Talat Pasha becomes grand vizier
On 4 February 1917 Mehmed Talat, interior minister and chief organiser of the Armenian genocide, became grand vizier after Said Halim Pasha resigned.
April
20
Turkey breaks off relations with the US
On 20 April 1917 the Ottoman Empire, as Germany's ally, broke off diplomatic relations with the United States. Ambassador Elkus was then ill with typhus.
1918
April
05
Turks retake Van
In early April 1918 Ottoman troops returned to ruined Van, held by the Russians and Armenians since 1915. The Armenians had left the town beforehand.