Ekim Devrimi ve Ermeniler
Candan Badem2018, Praksis
In its congress in August 1914, Armenian nationalist party Tashnaksutyun decided to remain neutral in case of a war between Russia and Ottoman Empire. However, when war broke out Russian Armenians started to organize volunteer battalions in the Russian army. When Bolsheviks came to power after the October Revolution in 1917, they met a powerful opposition in the periphery of the Russian Empire, including the Caucasus. Bolsheviks had come to power with demands of immediate peace and accordingly they started peace negotiations with Germany, Austria and the Ottomans. Armenian nationalists in Anatolia however, did not want the Russian army to retreat because Armenians were numerically insufficient to hold the region against the Ottoman army. This situation made them oppose the Bolsheviks. Armenian nationalists did not act realistically, they hoped to establish a Great Armenia with the help of USA, UK, and France. In the end Armenian forces were defeated by the army of Turkish nationalists and Armenians again faced danger of being annihilated. Soviet power and Red Army saved little Armenia from annihilation. Key Words: 1917 October Revolution, Armenian nationalism, East Anatolia, West Armenia, Armenia
