Research on the Armenian Genocide
has experienced a remarkable growth in recent years. Survivors'
memoirs, editions of diplomatic documents, eyewitness accounts
by missionaries and others, case studies, and monographic research
on various aspects of the Genocide provide informed insights into
the nature of the crime.
A considerable number of the
available studies on the subject
have involved the denial of this
genocide. Deniers allege that
the Ottoman government never
persecuted systematically or
attempted to exterminate the
empire's Armenian population.
On the contrary, one is asked
to believe that it was the Armenians
who killed a substantial part
of the Muslim population in what
is presented as a "civil
war". Moreover Armenians
are blamed for having started
this civil war in order to assist
the Russian army's advance on
the Eastern front and to bring
down the Ottoman government.
Deniers maintain that relatively
few Armenians died in connection
with what they claim to have
been a legitimate act of Ottoman
government self-defense.
Denial
of genocide is not unique to
the Armenian case.
As with other crimes, perpetrators
try to avoid punishment by
obstructing investigation and
research. Those engaged in
denial employ a multitude of
techniques. These methods cover
a wide range of activities,
from simply ignoring the established
historical record to the intimidation
of scholars.
Denial of both
the Holocaust and the Armenian Genocide
was initiated by the perpetrators
immediately upon commencement
of the extermination of their
targeted victims. However,
denial of the Armenian Genocide
differs significantly from
that of the Holocaust. Whereas
the Nazi Germans were permanently
crippled by their defeat
in World War II, the Ottoman
government was able to reorganize
itself following defeat.
With slightly altered personnel,
the government that had been
the "Committee of Union
and Progress" (CUP),
which was responsible for
the Armenian Genocide, was
able to reemerge by way of
the nationalist movement,
ostensibly led by Mustafa
Kemal Pasha. Thus, the CUP
cadres managed to keep control
to Turkish politics for many
years to come and were able
to perpetuate their denial
propaganda as the official
Turkish historical thesis
on the Armenian Genocide.
This denial was, and today
still is, formulated in official
Turkish government publications
and distributed worldwide.
Hilmar Kaiser
German research scholar
and historian from
the European University Institute in Florence,
Italy
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