The Young Turks' Crime against Humanity: The Armenian Genocide and Ethnic Cleansing in the Ottoman Empire : the Armenian Genocide and Ethnic Cleansing in the Ottoman Empire

An unprecedented look at secret documents showing the deliberate nature of the Armenian genocide Introducing new evidence from more than 600 secret Ottoman documents, this book demonstrates in unprecedented detail that the Armenian Genocide and the expulsion of Greeks from the late Ottoman Empire resulted from an official effort to rid the empire of its Christian subjects. Presenting these previously inaccessible documents along with expert context and analysis, Taner Akçam's most authoritative work to date goes deep inside the bureaucratic machinery of Ottoman Turkey to show how a dying empire embraced genocide and ethnic cleansing. Although the deportation and killing of Armenians was internationally condemned in 1915 as a "crime against humanity and civilization," the Ottoman government initiated a policy of denial that is still maintained by the Turkish Republic. The case for Turkey's "official history" rests on documents from the Ottoman imperial archives, to which access has been heavily restricted until recently. It is this very source that Akçam now uses to overturn the official narrative. The documents presented here attest to a late-Ottoman policy of Turkification, the goal of which was no less than the radical demographic transformation of Anatolia. To that end, about one-third of Anatolia's 15 million people were displaced, deported, expelled, or massacred, destroying the ethno-religious diversity of an ancient cultural crossroads of East and West, and paving the way for the Turkish Republic. By uncovering the central roles played by demographic engineering and assimilation in the Armenian Genocide, this book will fundamentally change how this crime is understood and show that physical destruction is not the only aspect of the genocidal process. Introducing New Evidence From More Than 600 Secret Ottoman Documents, This Book Demonstrates In Unprecedented Detail That The Armenian Genocide And The Expulsion Of Greeks From The Late Ottoman Empire Resulted From An Official Effort To Rid The Empire Of Its Christian Subjects. Presenting These Previously Inaccessible Documents Along With Expert Context And Analysis, Taner Akçam's Most Authoritative Work To Date Goes Deep Inside The Bureaucratic Machinery Of Ottoman Turkey To Show How A Dying Empire Embraced Genocide And Ethnic Cleansing. Although The Deportation And Killing Of Armenians Was Internationally Condemned In 1915 As A 'crime Against Humanity And Civilization,' The Ottoman Government Initiated A Policy Of Denial That Is Still Maintained By The Turkish Republic. The Case For Turkey's 'official History' Rests On Documents From The Ottoman Imperial Archives, To Which Access Has Been Heavily Restricted Until Recently. It Is This Very Source That Akçam Now Uses To Overturn The Official Narrative. The Documents Presented Here Attest To A Late-ottoman Policy Of Turkification, The Goal Of Which Was No Less Than The Radical Demographic Transformation Of Anatolia. To That End, About One-third Of Anatolia's 15 Million People Were Displaced, Deported, Expelled, Or Massacred, Destroying The Ethno-religious Diversity Of An Ancient Cultural Crossroads Of East And West, And Paving The Way For The Turkish Republic. By Uncovering The Central Roles Played By Demographic Engineering And Assimilation In The Armenian Genocide, This Book Will Fundamentally Change How This Crime Is Understood And Show That Physical Destruction Is Not The Only Aspect Of The Genocidal Process.--book Jacket. Ottoman Sources And The Question Of Their Being Purged -- The Plan For The Homogenization Of Anatolia -- The Aftermath Of The Balkan Wars And The Emptying Of Eastern Thrace And The Aegean Littoral In 1913-14 -- The Transformation Of Ottoman Politics Toward The Ottoman Greeks During The First World War -- The Initial Phase Of Anti-armenian Policy -- Final Steps In The Decision-making Process -- Interior Ministry Documents And The Intent To Annihilate -- Demographic Policy And The Annihilation Of The Armenians -- Assimilation : The Conversion And Forced Marriage Of Christian Children -- The Question Of Confiscated Armenian Property -- Some Official Denialist Arguments Of The Turkish State And Documents From The Ottoman Interior Ministry -- Toward A Conclusion. Taner Akçam. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Introducing new evidence from more than 600 secret Ottoman documents, this book demonstrates in unprecedented detail that the Armenian Genocide and the expulsion of Greeks from the late Ottoman Empire resulted from an official effort to rid the empire of its Christian subjects. Presenting these previously inaccessible documents along with expert context and analysis, Taner Akçam's most authoritative work to date goes deep inside the bureaucratic machinery of Ottoman Turkey to show how a dying empire embraced genocide and ethnic cleansing. Although the deportation and killing of Armenians was internationally condemned in 1915 as a 'crime against humanity and civilization, ' the Ottoman government initiated a policy of denial that is still maintained by the Turkish Republic. The case for Turkey's 'official history' rests on documents from the Ottoman imperial archives, to which access has been heavily restricted until recently. It is this very source that Akçam now uses to overturn the official narrative. The documents presented here attest to a late-Ottoman policy of Turkification, the goal of which was no less than the radical demographic transformation of Anatolia. To that end, about one-third of Anatolia's 15 million people were displaced, deported, expelled, or massacred, destroying the ethno-religious diversity of an ancient cultural crossroads of East and West, and paving the way for the Turkish Republic. By uncovering the central roles played by demographic engineering and assimilation in the Armenian Genocide, this book will fundamentally change how this crime is understood and show that physical destruction is not the only aspect of the genocidal process."--Provided by the publisher Frontmatter Preface (page ix) Guide to Ottoman Turkish Words and Names (page xxxvii) Abbreviations (page xxxix) ONE Ottoman Sources and the Question of Their Being Purged (page 1) TWO The Plan for the Homogenization of Anatolia (page 29) THREE The Aftermath of the Balkan Wars and the "Emptying" of Eastern Thrace and the Aegean Littoral in 1913-14 (page 63) FOUR The Transformation of Ottoman Policies toward the Ottoman Greeks during the First World War (page 97) FIVE The Initial Phase of Anti-Armenian Policy (page 125) SIX Final Steps in the Decision-Making Process (page 157) SEVEN Interior Ministry Documents and the Intent to Annihilate (page 203) EIGHT Demographic Policy and the Annihilation of the Armenians (page 227) NINE Assimilation: The Conversion and Forced Marriage of Christian Children (page 287) TEN The Question of Confiscated Armenian Property (page 341) ELEVEN Some Official Denialist Arguments of the Turkish State and Documents from the Ottoman Interior Ministry (page 373) TWELVE Toward a Conclusion (page 449) Selected Bibliography (page 453) Index (page 471)