Erzincan
This binder contains 22 files comprised of 116 records. All of the records pertain to the sacking and murders of the caravans which left Trabzon and Erzurum. A military tribunal was formed and an investigation was pursued on the subject.
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Erzincan 01
Krikor Guerguerian
The confrontation of Sadi Bey and Mirza Bey during the prosecutions in Erzincan.
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Erzincan 02
Krikor Guerguerian
The document that carried the seals of esteemed individuals from Tercan and Hasankale describes the crimes that were committed, in particular by former Treasurer Cemal Efendi, around Erzurum and Tercan duing the deportations.
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Erzincan 03
Krikor Guerguerian
Questioning by the Military Tribunal of Erzincan regarding a package that was given to Gökche Sadi Bey, the Reserve officer in Istanbul, by his countryman Ahmet Riza Bey, Member of High Council.
About the fact that Gokce [Gökçe] Bey had sent a package by way of the District Governor of Catalca [Çatalca], Mahmut Bey, not Ahmet Riza Bey, on the date 4 August 1915 [21 Temmuz].
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Erzincan 04
Krikor Guerguerian
Section of 15 pages, taken from the Formal Inquiry that was 106 page long, dated 8 September [25 August] 1915, of former Gendarmerie Lieutenant of Erzincan, Suleiman [Süleyman] Efendi.
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Erzincan 06
Krikor Guerguerian
[This is a long document, so consult excel documentation for full summary]
On the transportation and settlement of Armenians in the towns and villages within the province, with the exception of the northern region near the border of the Van province, to locations indicated in the Province of Mosul and the district of Zor. They are to be settled in either new homes that will be constructed there or in villages that will be newly created which will be shown by the government. Their settlement locations will be located far from the Baghdad railway and the lives and properties of Armenians will be protected.
Some of the subdistricts in the Beyazit district and central district were invaded by Russians during the first raid. Some of the Muslim community that could not leave are staying in Armenian properties for the most part. Most of the Armenians in the Armenian Towns and villages in the area around the Karayaz-Tortum border have gradually passed over to the Russian side. The only Armenians left to be deported are those in 4-5 of the subdistricts that are part of Erzurum, and the Armenians of Erzincan.
Since all of the people inhabiting the village of Bodicor [Bodiçor] in the subdistrict Yusufeli are Armenian, their deportation elsewere is going to be difficult. The Russians have pushed some of the Muslim villages into the Ottoman side therefore it would be appropriate to send the Armenians of Bodicor [Bodiçor] to Russian.
The protection of the lives and properties of Armenians who are being deported to the interior, temporarily due to war conditions, is absolutely necessary. A sufficient number of gendarmes for the caravans along with responsible gendarmerie officials and civil servants must be assigned for their deportation. Reports must be sent from the local government once they have been delivered to the center of Kharpert [Elazig - Elazığ] Province safe and sound.
Bandits from Dersim [Tunceli] have started to appear in Erzincan, Tercan and Kiğı villages, as armed gangs. They have raided gendarmerie headquarters in some places. It won't be possible to bring in army units to do follow up; the available gendarmerie have been dispatched to Erzincan and Kigi [Kiğı]. They must be removed but at a time when the state is dealing with the war, it will be difficult to handle a Kurdish matter. It is reported that the governor of Kharpert [Elazig - Elazığ] has certain influence over the Dersimians [Tunceli'ians].
None of the caravans heading to Palu had been attacked thus far but news had arrived that the seventh caravan would be attacked by a Muslim force. This is a response that states that only ten soldiers can be spared for the caravans.
80 soldiers were assigned to protect the caravan and they were going to remove the Kurdish bandits.
There aren't enough forces to deport the Armenians of Hodicor [Hodiçor]. About the dispatch of 20 gendarmes from Ispir to Kiskim.
For the deportation of Armenians from Hodicor [Hodiçor], notification that 20 gendarmes are being sent to Yusufeli and that even the most minor of violations would be met with execution.
Notification that 20 gendarmes are being sent From Ispir, that the caravan is to be protected and that information should be shared with Bayburt.
(Continued ...) [This is a long document, so consult excel documentation for full summary]
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Erzincan 07
Krikor Guerguerian
[This is a long document, so consult excel documentation for full summary]
The statement of Faik Efendi, the deputy officer of the Second Company of the First Battalion of the Mobile Gendarmerie Regiment of Trabzon.
The statement of Mehmet Kuddusi, the teacher of mathematics in the civil preparatory school of Erzincan and the Censorship Official of Armenian letters.
The statement of Seyfettin of the Karakullukcu [Karakullukçu [?]] sons, soldier of the Second company of the First Battalion of the Mobile Gendarmerie Regiment of Trabzon.
Statement of Eyup, son of Husain [Husain [Hüseyin]], from the second company of the First Battalion of the Mobile Gendarmerie Regiment of Trabzon.
The statement of Osman, son of Rusen [Ruşen] of the Kundakçıoğullar.
The statement of Carullah Kemal, corporal of the Permanent Gendarmerie Company of Erzincan.
Faik Efendi's second statement.
Faik Efendi's statement.
The statement of Agah Efendi, commander of the Second Company of the First Battalion of the Mobile Gendarmerie of Trabzon.
A quote from one section of the statement of Mehmet, son of Dursun.
(Continued...) [This is a long document, so consult excel documentation for full summary]
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Erzincan 08
Krikor Guerguerian
[This is a long document, so consult excel documentation for full summary]
One section of one statement.
A section that is comprised of quotes from diverse statements.
One part of the statement of Captain Ismail Bey From Sivas, commander of the Permanent Gendarmerie of Erzincan.
The list of properties taken From former Team Commander of the Gendarmerie of Kuruchay [Kuruçay] Corporal Selim.
Statement of Ihtik Area Team Commander and officer-candidate of the permanent gendarmerie of Erzincan, Nizamettin Efendi.
Quote From the statement of Lieutenant Suleiman [Süleyman] of the Permanent Gendarmerie.
A quote from the 104th page of the investigative report created by the Military Tribunal.
Statement of retired Former lieutenant Ahmet Rushtu [Rüştü] Efendi who lives in Kemah dated 29 May [16 Mayıs] 1916.
Statement of İmam Yusuf Ziya Efendi of the Fazıloğullars From the village of Nezgeb dated 29 May [16 Mayıs] 1916.
Statement of the village Headman of Nezgeb village -Aziz Efendi of the Sheikh Suleiman [Süleyman] Sons, dated 29 May [16 Mayıs] 1916.
(Continued...) [This is a long document, so consult excel documentation for full summary]
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Erzincan 09
Krikor Guerguerian
A receipt of the money and (…) goods that emerged from the Gendarmerie who were responsible for the transportation of Armenians from Trabzon to Erzincan.
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Erzincan 10
Krikor Guerguerian
On the documents and their contents that were delivered by Muvaffak Bey, who was assigned to the public prosecutor's office in Kirklareli while military undersecretary of Batoumi.
On the investigative documents on the robbing of the Trabzon caravans and the dispatch of the list containing the cash and valuable goods that were removed from Deputy Officer Faik Efendi and the gendarmes who were under his command.
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Erzincan 11
Krikor Guerguerian
On the transfer to the state, of the goods that were taken out of the home of Lieutenant Suleiman [Süleyman] Efendi.
On the delivery of the goods taken out of Lieutenant Suleiman [Süleyman] Efendi's home to the commission on abandoned properties.
On where Lieutenant Suleiman [Süleyman] Efendi's seized goods are located.
On whether Victoria, the daughter of Istepan Aznavurian, who was dropped off in Erzincan by Lieutenant Ahmet Muhtar Efendi is well or not.
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Erzincan 12
Krikor Guerguerian
Question asked of and response received from former Lieutenant Suleiman [Süleyman] Efendi by the Erzincan Battalion commander, regarding a donkey received by the Egin [Eğin] County Executive for twelve lira.
When the personal property of former lieutenant Suleiman [Süleyman] Efendi was searched 7,623 kurush [kuruş] in postal stamps were found.
That the 7,623 kurush [kuruş] in postal stamps found among the personal property of former lieutenant Suleiman [Süleyman] Efendi was for the cost of uniforms.
The question posed to former Lieutenant Suleiman [Süleyman] Efendi and his response about the subject of the horse that accompanied the Battalion commander of Erzincan.
Until the issue of the horse that accompanied Former Lieutenant Suleiman [Süleyman] Efendi is cleared up, it will stay at the Army Transport Corp.
The horse that had accompanied former Lieutenant Suleiman [Süleyman] Efendi was the property of Bedros Efendi.
List prepared by Haji Halil that shows the written names of the Muleteers and the money they receive for going To Egin [Eğin].
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Erzincan 13
Krikor Guerguerian
In a signed petition submitted by Mehmet Tevfik, Deputy Commander of the Mobile Gendarmerie Battalion of the First Company of Erzurum, about how the money, watch and cigarette case given to Corporal Ismail of Sivas was taken from Aleksander and Hachik Efendi.
About the collection of money from the caravan by Lieutenant Suleiman [Süleyman] and Deputy Officer Tevfik Efendi and that Aleksan Saban [Şaban] ian should be questioned on it.
A list of the goods taken out of the home of Gendarmerie Lieutenantı Suleiman [Süleyman] Efendi and surrendered to the Commission on Abandoned Properties.
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Erzincan 14
Krikor Guerguerian
[This is a long document, so consult excel documentation for full summary]
List containing the recitation of the suspects, the witnesses and their crimes in the Erzincan prosecutions.
Recording and sending the statement of Mehmet Necati Efendi from Erzurum, who lives in the village of Kamarik in Kayseri and is an official with the Special Organization of Erzurum and who knew about the illegalities that occurred during the deportation. //
Statement of witness Mehmet Necati.
List of escaped [AWOL] soldiers.
How the Mobile Gendarmerie Regiment of the Third Battalion of Trabzon had joined with the army and that in order to send the gang leaders to the Military Tribunal of Erzurum, the province had been contacted in writing and that Faik Efendi had been arrested in Erzincan.
Gangs have not been deployed From Trabzon and its branches; there hasn't been any looting.
The summaries of the statements of Gayzak Arapian from Trabzon, Nevarat Mahuhian and Dikranush Mahuhian.
The statement of Deputy Officer Faik of the Mobile Gendarmerie Regiment First Battalion Second Company of Trabzon.
The statement of Eyup [Eyüp] Sabri registered with the Trabzon Mobile Gendarmerie Regiment First Battalion Second Company.
The statement of Osman, son Rusen [Ruşen], from the Imaret borough of Trabzon, who is suspected of wrongful seizure.
(Continued...) [This is a long document, so consult excel documentation for full summary]
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Erzincan 15
Krikor Guerguerian
Questions about the deportation from Erzincan are found here.
The dispatch of copies of the telegrams sent to Babiali [Istanbul] when Viramian, the parliamentarian from Van was alive.
About who was the public prosecutor in Bayburt in April 1915.
That the Interrogator of Ankara, İzzet Efendi, was one of the perpertrators of the crimes.
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Erzincan 16
Krikor Guerguerian
Information on the province where Union Delegate Cemal Bey is; the Manschteim [Manştaym] book mentions the İstanbul Delegate Cemal Bey and this book states that the Kemah massacres were organized by this Cemal Bey; the reasons why the Van and Mus [Muş] disasters occurred and that the Armenians in the same region worked against the Islamic community there. The questions asked of the governor of Erzurum, Tahsin Bey.
The deciphered coded telegram sent by former Governor of Erzurum, Tahsin Bey To Talat Bey on 23/24 July [10/11 Temmuz] 1915, was sent to the Investigative Board.
The key to the telegrams that were sent between District Governor of Erzincan, Memduh Bey and the Minister of the Interior, Talat Bey, during the months of June and July 1915 should be sent to the Investigative Board.
The deciphered versions of telegrams sent between 9 August - 19 August [27 Temmuz -5 Ağustos] 1915 between Governor Tahsin Bey, Talat Bey and the District Governor of Erzincan, Memduh Bey about the delegate for Erzurum, Sinpat Efendi, were sent to the Investigative Board.
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Erzincan 17
Krikor Guerguerian
Reciting what these two individuals, Trabzon Governor Cemal Azmi and Erzincan District Governor Memduh Bey, stated about crimes such as the killing of Armenians, annihilation and the unlawful seizure and looting of properties, when they met, and whether their malicious intent could be discerned. Additionally, Governor Tahsin Bey was asked the subject of whether the letter by County Executive of Bayezit, Ziya Bey,on Memduh Bey, was ever found.
The request of Tahsin Bey by communication dated 21 August [8 Ağustos] 1915 and numbered 388, for information about Mahmut Kamil Pasha, former Councillor of the Ministry of War and Commander of the Third Army and the incidents he mentions.
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Erzincan 18
Krikor Guerguerian
On the fact that the crimes committed by bandits in Dersim [Tunceli] are supported by the District Governor and whether an Armenian caravan had arrived in Malatya.
Whether the telegrams dispatched from Arapkir and signed off by Arikian, Chilingirian, Arkanian and Danian Haydanian along with those from Hisnimansur that were signed by Chilingirian and Pamukchian were responded To. On whether the communications between them and Diyarbekir [Diyarbakır] Governor Resit [Reşit] Bey reveal whether he understood the reasoning behind the commission of massacres.
On the removal of certain staff members from their posts, who did not obey orders to commit crimes and their statements about this.
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Erzincan 19
Krikor Guerguerian
Document that it is believed was directed to Erzurum Governor Tahsin Bey and which contains information on the location of Faik Efendi, on why Memduh Bey, the Erzincan District Governor threatened Ziya Bey, the deputy District Governor of Beyazit, on the civil servant status of Bahaettin Sakir [Şakir], the chairman and members of the Special Organization, and the number of Armenians who were forced out of Erzurum towards Kharpert [Elazig - Elazığ].
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Erzincan 20
Krikor Guerguerian
On a letter from the governor of Erzurum dated 10 June [27 Mayis] 1915, wherein Memduh Bey is asked about the illnesses that have cropped up in the caravans, on what the Deputy District Governor of Beyazıt - Ziya Bey, has to say about the skirmishes with the Kurdish gangs.
Sending copies of the telegrams that were exchanged between the district governors of Malatya and Dersim [Tunceli] at that time, the parliamentarian from Kemah, Bedri, Sukru [Şükrü], Bahaettin Sakir [Şakir], Kharpert [Elazig - Elazığ] Governor Sabit Bey and Union Inspector Nazim Bey, which revolved around the subject of the crimes being commited during the deportation.
Sending the certified copies of the telegrams that were exchanged between Memduh Bey, who was serving as the District Governor of Erzincan, and Halet Bey, the parliamentarian of Kemah and Governor of Kharpert [Elazig - Elazığ] Governor-General - Sabit Bey, about the crimes committed during the deportation.
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Erzincan 21
Krikor Guerguerian
Sending a copy of the telegram send From Kelkit by Mirza Efendi.
The identity of the public prosecutor of Bayburt during the months of May - August, 1915 and where he is located now
On who was the chairman of the Criminal Court of Kemah from May 1915 until the end of the year.
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Erzincan 22
Krikor Guerguerian
Upon notification to the government that the Kayzak Arapian family, one of those who had arrived in Erzincan with the Armenian caravan that departed Trabzon, had been robbed by the gendarmerie, the Inspection by the board that was temporarily formed under orders from County Executive Ali Riza Bey, the delegate of the Erzincan Army Transport Corps, determined that some of the [alleged] criminal acts had occurred and therefore should be sent to the military tribunal for processing.
