AI Summary & Key Takeaways
AI InsightOn 11 February 1020 the French and their collaborating Armenians left Maraş and retreated in the direction of Tükoğlu.
📌 3 Key Takeaways
Abstract
Prodded and encouraged by foreign forces, during the First World War the Armenian populace of Maraş rebelled against the Ottoman State. They struck the Turkish soldiers in the back during the time of the battles taking place in Gallipoli. The Armenian rebels were active in the environs of Maraş, Pazarcık, İslahiye, Nurdağı and Bahçe, committing outrages against that which the people held sacred. The Armenians living in the region also collaborated with the French invaders. Armenian legionnaires donned French uniforrns as they massacred innocent and unarmed civilians in Maraş and its surrounding villages. A general curfew was established in the city between the hours of 06-18, thus disallowing people to go to work or into the streets. During the 22 day tong defense of Maraş, from 22 January through 11 February, 1920, the Armenians, failing to realize that it was their own country that was being invaded, collaborated with the French in attacking the city. They set fires in various parts of the city. They especially selected Turkish dwellings to set alight The citizens of Maraş waged a noble struggle against the French invaders and the Armenian collaborators. The cannon war that was carried out under the orders of General Querette failed to hamper the people. Armed battles were led by the Armenians from the churches and homes in which they had taken refuge. The attack of the invading forces in Maraş was finally repulsed by the Kuva-yı Milliye (National Independence Army) that had been formed by, and was acting under the order of, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. In the face of the Turkish defense, the now hopeless French command and the Armenian legionnaires took refuge in the American college in the city. Understanding the danger of the developments, the invading forces secretly decided to fiee the city. On 11 February 1020 the French and their collaborating Armenians left Maraş and retreated in the direction of Tükoğlu.
Özet
Maraş, Osmanlı Devleti döneminde Halep Vilâyetine bağlıydı. O dönemde Maraş yöresinde ve özellikle Maraş'ın Zeytun (Süleymanlı) kazasında küçümsenemeyecek miktarda Ermeni nüfusu vardı. Ermeniler, Gregoryen, Katolik ve Protestan mezheplerine bölünmüşlerdi. 1908 Halep Vilayeti Salnamesi'ne göre, Maraş merkezinde 4 Ermeni (Gregoryen), 3 Protestan, 2 Katolik, 1 Latin kilisesi ve 15 Hıristiyan mektebi vardı. Zeytun'da 6 kilise, 2 manastır, 1 gayrimüslim rüştiye ile 5 iptidai mektebi bulunuyordu. Elbistan'da 3 kilise, Göksun'da 1 Ermeni (Gregoryen) kilisesi ile 4 Protestan mektebi görünüyordu. Şehir merkez nüfusu toplam 67.974 olan Maraş'ta, 46.557 Müslüman, 11.180 Ermeni (Gregoryen) ve 3.567 Katolik yaşamakta idi.