The Forgotten Genocide: The Assyrian Massacres of the Ottoman Empire

💔The systematic extermination of the Assyrians by the Ottomans and Kurdish raiders between 1914 and 1918 is often overlooked in the history of the Great War.

🔥The Ottoman Empire aimed to completely destroy Christian communities, resulting in the deaths of 750,000 Assyrians, 100,000 Greeks, and 1,500,000 Armenians.

🚫Assyrians, along with other Christian minorities, faced regular bigotry and persecution under Turkish authorities and Kurdish raiders throughout the early 20th century.

🔪The Assyrians were subjected to forced deportations, death marches, starvation, and brutal treatment, leading to the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians.

💡The Assyrian resistance, led by Mar Benyamin Shimun, sought to defend their people and negotiate for aid, but their efforts were met with relentless violence and cruelty.

How many Assyrians were killed during the Ottoman Empire's massacres?

—The Ottoman Empire, along with Kurdish raiders, systematically exterminated approximately 750,000 Assyrians between 1914 and 1918.

Why are the Assyrian massacres often overlooked in history?

—The Assyrian massacres are often overshadowed by the larger-scale Armenian genocide during the same period. Additionally, because the Assyrians were a loose group with no fixed territory, their tragic story has received less attention.

How did the Ottoman Empire carry out the extermination of the Assyrians?

—The Ottoman Empire employed forced deportations, death marches, starvation, and brutal treatment to exterminate the Assyrians. They utilized Kurdish raiders to carry out much of the violence.

Was there any resistance against the massacres?

—Yes, Mar Benyamin Shimun led the Assyrian resistance in the hakari mountains, urging his people to take up arms and defend themselves. However, their efforts were met with relentless violence and cruelty from the Ottoman Empire.

What evidence exists of the Assyrian massacres?

—One significant piece of evidence is the Blue Book, compiled by Viscount James Bryce and Harold Tobie on commission in 1916. The Blue Book contains numerous testimonies and reports that documented the atrocities committed against the Assyrians.

00:00The second decade of the 20th century marked a war of unprecedented proportions, overshadowing the systematic extermination of the Assyrians by the Ottomans and Kurdish raiders.

03:39The Ottoman Empire aimed to completely destroy Christian communities, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Assyrians, Greeks, and Armenians.

07:20Assyrians faced regular persecution and bigotry under Turkish authorities and Kurdish raiders, leading to forced deportations, death marches, and starvation.

09:36Assyrians, along with other Christian minorities, sought to defend themselves, led by Mar Benyamin Shimun in the hakari mountains.

10:00The Ottoman Empire employed ruthless tactics, including artillery attacks and the targeting of villages, to suppress Assyrian resistance.