When we dead awaken : Australia, New Zealand, and the Armenian genocide

At the exact moment the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps landed at Gallipoli on April 25 1915, leading figures of Armenian life in the Ottoman Empire were being arrested in vast numbers. That day marked the simultaneous birth of a national myth and the beginning of a genocide. When We Dead Awaken - the first narrative history of the Armenian Genocide in decades - draws these two landmark historical events together. Through eyewitness accounts of the Anzac prisoners who witnessed the genocide, the words of soldiers who risked their lives to defend refugees, to a new examination of the Australasian involvement in the enormous international campaign for Armenian relief, and enduring discussions about the value of genocide recognition, James Robins explores the vital political implications of this unexplored, ignored history still has today. On April 25th 1915, during the First World War, the famous Anzacs landed ashore at Gallipoli. At the exact same moment, leading figures of Armenian life in the Ottoman Empire were being arrested in vast numbers. That dark day marks the simultaneous birth of a national story – and the beginning of a genocide. When We Dead Awaken – the first narrative history of the Armenian Genocide in decades – draws these two landmark historical events together. James Robins explores the accounts of Anzac Prisoners of War who witnessed the genocide, the experiences of soldiers who risked their lives to defend refugees, and Australia and New Zealand's participation in the enormous post-war Armenian relief movement. By exploring the vital political implications of this unexplored history, When We Dead Awaken questions the national folklore of Australia, New Zealand, and Turkey – and the mythology of Anzac Day itself. "On April 24th 1915 Armenian intellectuals of the Ottoman Empire were arrested en masse marking the beginning of the Armenian Genocide. The following day, April 25th 1915, saw the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landing at Gallipoli. This book draws the connections between these two landmark historical events: the genocide of the minority Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire and the Anzac soldiers who fought at Gallipoli during World War I. Through eye witness accounts of Anzac soldiers witnessing the genocide, to a history of the Australasian involvement in the international Armenian relief campaign, and enduring discussions around genocide recognition, James Robins explores the international political implications that this unexplored history still has today."-- Provided by publisher Cover Contents List of Illustrations A note on nomenclature Acknowledgements An introduction: Long shadows 1 Pro patria mori 2 Common religion 3 Halcyon days 4 One day in April 5 ‘Ashes within me, ashes around me’ 6 Ghosts 7 ‘Of passions like our own ...’ 8 The hush-hush brigade 9 No justice, no peace 10 The golden chain of mercy 11 An old paper mill 12 Paper Eichmanns A conclusion: Lying side by side Notes Bibliography Index Introduction -- 1. Long Shadows -- 2. Pro Patria Mori -- 3. Common Religion -- 4. Halcyon Days -- 5. One Day in April -- 6. "Ashes within me, ashes around me" -- 7. Ghosts -- 8. The Hush-Hush Brigade -- 9. No Justice, No Peace -- 10. The Golden Chain of Mercy -- 11. An Old paper Mill -- 12. Paper Eichmanns -- 13. Lying Side by Side -- 14. Leftovers of the Sword -- Conclusion -- Index