Photograph #16
Name/Title
Photograph #16Description
This photograph shows a group of Armenian Ramgavar fighters from Marash who participated in the city’s self-defense during the events of 1920. Marash, one of the prosperous cities of historic Cilicia, had about 40,000 Armenians before the Genocide, engaged in crafts, trade, and agriculture. In 1915 its Armenian population was deported, with many massacred along the way. After World War I and the Mudros Armistice (October 30, 1918), around 25,000 survivors and Armenian legionaries returned as the Turks withdrew from Cilicia. With the rise of the Kemalist movement, Turkish authorities plotted to expel the French garrison and annihilate the Armenians, arming local mobs and inciting violence. On January 1, 1920, Kemalist forces launched a sudden assault, setting Armenian quarters ablaze and massacring those sheltering in churches and schools. Lacking French support, the Armenians organized self-defense in districts around the churches of St. Sargis, St. Karasun Mankants, and St. Astvatsatsin, where a small group of defenders fought valiantly for twenty days. On February 10, the French command’s decision to abandon Marash sealed the Armenians’ fate. A few thousand fled with the retreating troops, many dying from cold and hunger; those who remained were slaughtered. The self-defense of Marash stands as one of the most heroic chapters in the Armenian struggle against Turkish aggression. Back of the photograph reads: Մարաշի Հայ Ռամկավար Մարտիկներ Նստողներ 1. Ընկ. Գրիգոր Նալճեան 2. Ընկ. Նազարէթ Էլմաճեան 3. Ընկ. Աւետիս Էլմաճեան (եղբայրներ) 4. Ընկ. Գարեգին Կիւլիւզեան Ոտքի վրայ 1. Ընկ. Լուտէր Պարտագճեան (խմբապետ) 2. Ընկ. Մկրտիչ Կիւլիւզեան 3. Ընկ. Մինաս Նարկիզեան 4. Ընկ. Յարութիւն Կիւլիւզեան 5. Ընկ. Սամուէլ Սապունճեան 6. Ընկ. Գէորգ Սապունճեան ______________________________ Armenian Ramgavar Fighters of Marash Seated: 1. Krikor Naljian 2. Nazaret Elmajian 3. Avedis Elmajian (brothers) 4. Karekin Gyuluzian Standing: 1. Luther Bardakjian (group leader) 2. Mgrdich Giuluzian 3. Minas Nargizian 4. Harutiun Giuluzian 5. Samuel Sabounjian 6. Kevork SabounjianCategory
Photographs