Sivas
There are in total 80 records in the 24 files that make up the Sivas binder. Most of the records pertain the murder of Sahak Odabashian, who was a delegate from Bursa who had been assigned to Erzincan, and the records consist of the correspondence and sworn testimonies that were recorded. Additionally, subjects such as the murder of the students and teachers of the Sanasarian School, the destruction of the Armenian Church and Armenian homes and villages in Sivas and the construction of a Unionist club and hotel from the stones of the latter structures, are touched upon.
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Sivas 01
Krikor Guerguerian
Those who are hiding Armenians subject to deportation to the interior will be punished by execution. This excludes the infirm, children or those married off [to Turks].
Those who are hiding Armenians in their homes will be hung in front of their buildings. Not a single Armenian should be left behind including those who convert [to Islam].
The telegram From the Third Army Commander's Office was communicated and it states how many Armenians remain.
In the correspondence that was sent from the Provincial office of Sivas to the Ministry of the War then forwarded to the Military Tribunal, the statement by Mahmut Kamil Pasha on how those who hid Armenians would be executed was found and a copy was sent. A declaration on this subject did not get published in the provincial newspaper.
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Sivas 02
Krikor Guerguerian
Bursa Armenian Delegate Sahak Odabashıan of Sivas has headed out to Erzincan on the probability that he will be engaging in political incitement over the Armenians. He should be kept under close watch. //
Sahak Odabashian has been assigned to the Delegate's Office of Erzincan. He arrived in Sivas on Sunday. He is himself from Sivas however if he is needed back in Bursa, whatever is necessary shall be done.
The investigation needs to go deeper so that the perpetrators can be caught. The Erzincan office has been apprised of this and the delegate from Karahisar may be helpful on this matter.
On the capture of the perpetrators for the murder of the Delegate, neither the delegate of Karahisar nor anyone else may help; the accused are being sent to Refahiye and Erzincan.
The written testimonies of witnesses state that Governor Muammer Bey released Mahir from prison on orders to murder Sahak Efendi.
As a result of a decision made to postpone the follow up on individuals who potentially possess the conditions for engaging in gang activity, these individuals have been deported to Erzurum.
On whether or not hotels, Union [and Progress] clubs, printing presses and study centers had been constructed out of stones taken from the ruins of Armenian churches and homes that were destroyed during Sivas Governor-General Muammer Bey time in office.
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Sivas 03
Krikor Guerguerian
On whether or not hotels, Union [and Progress] clubs, printing presses and study centers had been constructed out of stones taken From the ruins of Armenian churches and homes that were destroyed during Sivas Governor-General Muammer Bey time in office.
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Sivas 04
Krikor Guerguerian
Bursa Armenian Delegate Sahak Odabashian of Sivas, has headed out to Erzincan on the probability that he will be engaging in political incitement over the Armenians. He should be kept under close watch.
Sahak Odabashian has been assigned to the Delegate's Office of Erzincan. He arrived in Sivas on Sunday. He is himself from Sivas however if he is needed back in Bursa, whatever is necessary shall be done.
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Sivas 05
Krikor Guerguerian
[This is a long document, so consult excel documentation for full summary]
The telegrams from Mazhar Bey, Chief of the Investigative Board which contained information about the murder of Sahak Odabashian, the Erzincan delegate, along with the information that was obtained at the conclusion of the investigation by the police administration and the copies of telegrams between the offices in Karahisar, Susehri [Suşehri] and Erzincan were sent.
Bursa Armenian Delegate Sahak Odabashian of Sivas, has headed out to Erzincan on the probability that he will be engaging in political incitement over the Armenians. He should be kept under close watch. /
Sahak Odabashian has been assigned to the Delegate's Office of Erzincan. He arrived in Sivas on Sunday. He is himself from Sivas however if he is needed back in Bursa, whatever is necessary shall be done.
Arakel, son of Arslan from Zara, was the driver for the priest who was murdered by unknown perpetrators around Refahiye and in order to conduct the investigation himself, the County Executive of Susehri [Suşehri] is en route.
That the driver of the priest, who was killed near Refahiye by unknown perpetrators, was Arakel - son of Arslen from Kocgiri [Koçgiri]; property, cash and weapons have been taken into custody and that weapons like 'gra' and 'martin' are commonly used by Armenians in the region. He is en route to head the investigation himself.
The District Governor's office of Karahisar has stated that Odabashian Efendi and his driver, Arakel son of Arslan were murdered by unknown perpetrators in the area surrounding Refaiye.
On speeding up the investigation and identifying the perpetrators.
He is investigating the incident that occurred at the border of Refahiye. Based on the evidence at hand, the suspects came from Erzurum and Erzincan and escaped to Refahiye and according to the statements of people there, they [suspects] spoke Armenian. The murdured victim's property has been registered and taken into custody.
The perpetrators came from Erzurum and Erzincan and quickly escaped to Refahiye and according to the statements of people there, the perpetrators spoke Armenian. The Susehri [Suşehri] office of the County Executive has indicated that the murdured victim's property has been registered and taken into custody.
The perpetrators came from Erzurum and Erzincan and quickly escaped to Refahiye and according to the statements of people there, the perpetrators spoke Armenian. The Susehri [Suşehri] office of the County Executive has indicated that the murdured victim's property has been registered and taken into custody.
(Continued...) [This is a long document, so consult excel documentation for full summary]
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Sivas 06
Krikor Guerguerian
Questions on why men and women were separated during the deportation and whether this was a practice in anticipation of annihilation [of one group], on why a mixed group of Muslims and Greeks were removed from the labor battalions and replaced with Armenian soldiers who had fought in Canakkale [Çanakkale] and been wounded.
On whether Aziziye, Gurun [Gürün], Tenos and the Property Director of Zile had been subjected to questioning.
Whether, during the term of Sivas Governor-General Muammer Bey, the stones that remained from the destroyed churches and Armenian homes in Sivas were used to construct hotels, Union clubs, printing presses and study centers.
Reasons given for why wounded Armenian soldiers from Canakkale [Çanakkale] had been placed in labor battalions, on the number of days that Bahaettin Sakir [Şakir] stayed in Sivas and the home where he had been a guest, on why men and women who were subjected to the deportation were segregated and whether or not there was a special reason driving that decision, on whether the ministry had been informed about the murder of Delegate Sahak Efendi and finally the number of Armenian civil servants who were identified and subjected to the deportation along with their discharge from employment.
On the investigation of the murder of Sahak Efendi by Governor-General Muammer Bey and on whether a serious effort was made to have the murderers identified.
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Sivas 07
Krikor Guerguerian
Informational note on the incitement of Muslims by Kastamonu parliamentarian Doctor Fazıl Berki against the Armenians in Sivas and a description of those who were involved in the massacres.
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Sivas 08
Krikor Guerguerian
The request by Erzurum Delegate Simpat to remain in Erzincan, the telegram from the Erzurum Protestant Evangelist in connection with his residency, the response of Talat Pasha to one of his telegrams, releases from prisons, exchange of information with Diyarbekir [Diyarbakır] Governor-General Resit [Reşit] Bey, Erzincan District Governor Memduh, Bayezit Deputy District Governor Ziya Bey, issues related to Bahaettin Sakir [Şakir], on whether the Arapian family has or has not returned to Trabzon.
Annihilation in Tenos of the labor battalions comprised of Armenians who were deported to the Fourth Army's territory.
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Sivas 09
Krikor Guerguerian
On seizing girls less than twenty years of age, and boys less than ten years of age along with women who have no families and who convert [to Islam], and letting a handful of tradesmen who have no connection to the committees stay as long as they convert [to Islam].
Requesting the names of artisans who have no connection with the committees, who have converted. Request for the numbers of others who have been deported, and those women who have stayed behind as servants or due to marriage, along with the number [of children] who are in orphanages.
Not a single Armenian should be left within the Province and all should be deported to Mosul by the appropriate routes. Meanwhile the procedures for handling converts.
Some inappropriate Islam….in counties where its population has been deported to the interior. The telegram stating that those who hide Armenians will be executed in front of their homes was served upon the Merzifon office by the District-Governor's office of Amasya on 26 July 1915 [13 Temmuz 331].
Committee Head, Akillıan Kirkor and Kiremitchian Hajji Karabet along with some Armenians distributed weapons. The priest fround weapons in the Okurma building. Kalpakchian Ohannes and Tarakchian Hajji Nishan are dangerous individuals; they should be investigated and their weapons confiscated.
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Sivas 10
Krikor Guerguerian
As a response to the telegram dated 29 August 1915 [16 Ağustos 331] from the Ministry of the Interior, the motive and intention in sending a copy of the telegram from the District-Governor's office of Zor dated 30 August 1915 [17 Ağustos 331] along with the message dated 19 February 1919 [19 Şubat 335] is illegible to him.
The information that had been requested and was needed on Hovsebian Vahan Efendi, was erroneously sent on Hushusian Ohannes instead. The situation should be rectified and the murder of Hovsebian and his fellow countryman should be looked into and the conclusion reported back.
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Sivas 11
Krikor Guerguerian
To capture the perpetrators the investigation will have to go deeper. The subject was written up in Erzincan and the Karahisar delegate may be of help....
Neither the delegate of Karahisar nor anyone else will be of assistance in the capture of the perpetrators of the killing of the delegate. The suspects have moved on to Refahiye and Erzincan.
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Sivas 12
Krikor Guerguerian
Response to questions about how many churchs had been destroyed in Sivas and how many coffeehouses, buildings etc had been constructed with stones taken from Armenian graves. Why was Armenian labor used to destroy them and was the Armenian village named Tavra destroyed on orders from İstanbul or from the Administrative Council? The three churches were destroyed during Muammer Bey's term and the destroyed Armenian village and areas had been vacated due to the deportation and they were destroyed without any directions or orders to do so. Questions over the Armenians who have been converted to İslam along with the fate of the Sanasarian school students and teachers.
Bardir, the son of Artin Gelmejian of Giresun, who is associated with the Karaman County Executive Ahmet Bey applied to the board. His sister was taken out of the women's caravan around Karahisar and seized.
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Sivas 13
Krikor Guerguerian
On the destruction of churches in Sivas and the destruction of the only church in Konya, and assigning Armenians in the labor battalions to construct Unionist clubs.
In connection with the murder of Erzincan delegate, High Priest Sahak Efendi provides a list of the names of people who could provide information and advises that they should be questioned.
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Sivas 14
Krikor Guerguerian
Without the Governor's orders, Halis Bey cannot provide backup support to Armenian women. The killing of the students and teachers of the Sanasarian school after telling them that they were being sent to Istanbul and the use of Armenian soldiers in the labor battalions to destroy Armenian graves, homes, districts and villages.
During the deportation a declaration from Governor Muammer Bey had been disseminated by hanging it on walls and the province's newspaper may have published it. The declaration had written that anyone found hiding Armenians would be executed in front of their homes. This declaration and the newspaper is going to be sent.
On the murder of the students of the Sanasarian School
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Sivas 15
Krikor Guerguerian
An exchange of correspondence between Sivas Governor-General Muammer Bey and Vehip Pasha on Gendarmerie Captain Nuri Efendi who had killed a labor battalion around Sarkisla [Şarkışla] and was appropriately sentenced by Vehip Pasha and in the questions over why Nuri Efendi had been summoned to headquarters. The responses indicate a belief that the Captain had not committed the crime.
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Sivas 16
Krikor Guerguerian
Questions asked of former Sivas Police Director Rifat Efendi, about the deportation process in Sivas; the whereabouts and status of Bakkalian and Tashchian Efendi; whether supervision of the churches had occurred so that they wouldn't be destroyed;the annihilation of the first caravan.
On the Special Organization that Bahaettin Sakir [Şakir] Bey presided over, questions on the number of units, regiments and battalions that it was comprised of, how many prisoners released from which prisons populated it, how many admirals, majors and lieutenants had been assigned to manage them and who had granted them their titles, how many men were in Yakup Cemil's gang and where had they been dispatched.
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Sivas 17
Krikor Guerguerian
On the killing of the Labor Battalion From Sivas, while en route, after obeying an order by the Fourth Army to be dispatched.
Questions on the killing of the Labor Battalion from Sivas, en route by order of the Fourth Army.
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Sivas 18
Krikor Guerguerian
Questions directed at the former police Director of Sivas regarding the events that took place in Sivas during the deportation process and how the individuals in the Labor Battalion were killed after being used for purposes outside of their scope of service.
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Sivas 19
Krikor Guerguerian
On the murder of certain Armenians, discussion over who Chankiri [Çankırı] Senator Doctor Fazıl is and the incitement that occurred in Sivas, what Unionist Halis and Hamit Bey, the son of Emir Pasha, who followed behind the Armenian women caravans, had done….
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Sivas 20
Krikor Guerguerian
The incidents that occurred during the deportation process in Sivas, construction (labor) battalions and those who caused them to be killed.
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Sivas 21
Krikor Guerguerian
The letter is from the Armenian soldier Nazim, who is in the Labor Battalion, written under his real name Latuhi, but sent From Hama rather than from Zara, where he serves in the army, to Nagyabet Hanim in Antep.
