Armenian volunteer units
Encyclopedia
Armenian volunteer units, also known the Armenian volunteer corps were Armenian battalions in Russian and British armies during the World War I
. Majority of these units support the military activities at the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I
. The origin of these units were varied. Some units were formed from the Armenians escaped from the Ottomans. The Ottoman Parliamentary representative Garegin Pastermadjian commanded one battalion. The General Andranik Toros Ozanian
was the commander of the Russian volunteer units between 1914 and 1916. Beginning with 1917, Armenian National Organization of the Caucasus, Armenian National Council
, asked the Armenian soldiers and officers scattered throughout regions to gradually brought together to establish the armed forces of Democratic Republic of Armenia
.
Armenian volunteers, during this period, were also established French Armenian Legion
under the French army and Armenian militia which were irregular forces of the Armenian national movement
famously under the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
.
The Russian mobilization of 1914 took place just before the Russia entered World War I. Armenians, who were obligated to serve, became part of the regular Tsarist armed forces. In 1914 the Armenian reservists were about 160,000 in number, which gladly responded to the Russian call, for the simple reason that they were to fight the arch enemy of their historic race. The administration of the Russian Armenia
was concerned with the Armenians and before the commencement of the Caucasus Campaign
the majority of Armenian conscripts were transferred to the German front. Armenian conscripts that were transferred to other fronts replaced with Russian Caucasus Army. Armenian conscripts during the initial years of the war helped to establish the European theatre of World War I
.
about the creation of Armenian volunteer detachments.. These units would be employed for the Caucasian Front (WWI)
.
As the Armenian reservists in Russia had already been drafted into the regular armed forces and sent to European theatre of World War I
, the volunteer units would make up of Armenians who were not citizens of the empire or not obligated to serve. Many of them who were living in Caucuses and many of them were impatient to take arms to liberate their homeland. In several towns occupied by the Russians the Armenian students have shown themselves ready to join the Russian volunteer army.. Besides the regular soldiers of the Russian Caucasus Army, nearly 20,000 Armenian volunteers expressed their readiness to take up arms against the Ottoman Empire as early as 1914. The size of these units increased during the war and Boghos Nubar
gave the summary of these units in a public latter to the Paris Peace Conference, 1919
as 150,000 Armenians in the volunteer units and 50,000 Armenian militia.
The acting commander Andranik Toros Ozanian
under Viceroyalty of the Caucasus Illarion Ivanovich Vorontsov-Dashkov
.
Andranik's detachment was assigned to Persian Campaign
along the Tovmas Nazarbekian
. The second, third and fourth units were assigned to Caucasus Campaign
. Drastamat Kanayan
and Armen Garo directed the 2nd battalion over the offensives around Lake Van
, (Vaspurakan
). The 3rd & 4th battalion commanded by Hamazaps and Keri were assigned to the positions along the Kars Oblast
. Enver Pasha's offensive, the Battle of Sarikamish, was planned with great care, and had a great chance of success if all three wings of the Third Army
could reach their objectives on time. The Ottoman tenth army corps, during its march from Olti to Sarikamish, suffered a delay of 24 hours in the Barduz Pass, due to the heroic resistance of the "4th battalion of the Armenian volunteers". This delay enabled the Russian Caucasus Army to concentrate a sufficient force around Sarikamish, resulting in the destruction of the Ottoman Third Army.
under Viceroyalty of the Caucasus Nicholas Nikolaevich.
During the Siege of Van
Armenian detechments provided relief, there were 20,000 Armenian Volunteers under the unit that entered Van
on May 16, 1915 which these Armenian battalions led Russian regulars into Van. Later same place on October 15, under heavy fight around the region Lake Van
, these battalions had lost five hundred (Armenian soldiers) and there were more than twelve hundred wounded or missing.
slowly quit from the Tsarist army and join to the Armenian national forces. Around 1916, more than 1,000 Armenian soldiers quit from Tsarist army and joint to the Armenian irregular units
(Fedayee). In 1917, the Russian Caucasus Front collapsed following the abdication of the Tsar. Beginning with 1917, Armenian National Organization of the Caucasus, Armenian National Council
, asked the Armenian soldiers and officers scattered throughout Russian occupied regions to gradually brought together. The plan was to mobilized Armenians on the Caucasian front. With that purpose in view an Armenian Military Committee was formed with General Bagradouni as it's president. This Armenian conscripts and volunteers in the Russian Army later established the Army Core of the Democratic Republic of Armenia
.
There were 8,000 Armenian soldiers fighting under the command of General Allenby's Egyptian Expeditionary Force
. General Allenby said of Armenian soldiers were:
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Majority of these units support the military activities at the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I
Middle Eastern theatre of World War I
The Middle Eastern theatre of World War I was the scene of action between 29 October 1914, and 30 October 1918. The combatants were the Ottoman Empire, with some assistance from the other Central Powers, and primarily the British and the Russians among the Allies of World War I...
. The origin of these units were varied. Some units were formed from the Armenians escaped from the Ottomans. The Ottoman Parliamentary representative Garegin Pastermadjian commanded one battalion. The General Andranik Toros Ozanian
Andranik Toros Ozanian
Andranik Ozanian , Andranik Toros Ozanian , General Andranik , also as Antranik or Antranig was an Armenian general, political and public activist and freedom fighter, greatly admired as a national hero.-Early Age:Antranik Toros Ozanian was born in the church...
was the commander of the Russian volunteer units between 1914 and 1916. Beginning with 1917, Armenian National Organization of the Caucasus, Armenian National Council
Armenian National Council
Armenian National Council is a term that refers to*Armenian National Council of Karabagh was also referred as People's Government of Karabagh before the rename in September 1918*Armenian National Council of Baku*Armenian National Council of Tiflis...
, asked the Armenian soldiers and officers scattered throughout regions to gradually brought together to establish the armed forces of Democratic Republic of Armenia
Democratic Republic of Armenia
The Democratic Republic of Armenia was the first modern establishment of an Armenian state...
.
Armenian volunteers, during this period, were also established French Armenian Legion
French Armenian Legion
The Armenian Legion, established with the French-Armenian Agreement , was a foreign legion unit within French Army. The Armenian legion was established under the goals of the Armenian national liberation movement and was an armed unit besides the Armenian volunteer units and Armenian militia during...
under the French army and Armenian militia which were irregular forces of the Armenian national movement
Armenian national movement
Armenian national movement, also known as the "Armenian revolutionary movement" and Armenian national liberation movement was the Armenian national effort to re-establish an Armenian state in the historic Armenian homelands of eastern Asia Minor and the Transcaucasus...
famously under the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Armenian Revolutionary Federation
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation is an Armenian political party founded in Tiflis in 1890 by Christapor Mikaelian, Stepan Zorian, and Simon Zavarian...
.
Russian Army
Russian Armenia
Russian Armenia is the period of Armenia's history under Russian rule beginning from 1829, when Eastern Armenia became part of the Russian Empire to the declaration of the Democratic Republic of Armenia in 1918...
was concerned with the Armenians and before the commencement of the Caucasus Campaign
Caucasus Campaign
The Caucasus Campaign comprised armed conflicts between the Ottoman Empire and the Russian Empire, later including Azerbaijan, Armenia, Central Caspian Dictatorship and the UK as part of the Middle Eastern theatre or alternatively named as part of the Caucasus Campaign during World War I...
the majority of Armenian conscripts were transferred to the German front. Armenian conscripts that were transferred to other fronts replaced with Russian Caucasus Army. Armenian conscripts during the initial years of the war helped to establish the European theatre of World War I
European theatre of World War I
Although considerable conflict took place outside Europe, the European theatre was the main theatre of operations during World War I and was where the war began and ended...
.
Establishment
The establishment of Armenian volunteer units in the Russian army dates back to the summer of 1914. Count Illarion Ivanovich Vorontsov-Dashkov consulted with the Mayor of Tbilisi Alexandre Khatsian, the primate of Tbilisi, Bishop Mesrop, and the prominent civic leader Dr. Hakob ZavrievHakob Zavriev
Hakob Zavriev was an Armenian politician.Zavriev was a graduate of the St. Petersburg Army Medical Academy. He later joined the Armenian Revolutionary Federation. The viceroy of the Caucasus consulted him over the formation of the Armenian volunteer units in 1914...
about the creation of Armenian volunteer detachments.. These units would be employed for the Caucasian Front (WWI)
Caucasian Front (WWI)
The Caucasus Front was a major formation of the army of the Russian Republic during the First World War...
.
As the Armenian reservists in Russia had already been drafted into the regular armed forces and sent to European theatre of World War I
European theatre of World War I
Although considerable conflict took place outside Europe, the European theatre was the main theatre of operations during World War I and was where the war began and ended...
, the volunteer units would make up of Armenians who were not citizens of the empire or not obligated to serve. Many of them who were living in Caucuses and many of them were impatient to take arms to liberate their homeland. In several towns occupied by the Russians the Armenian students have shown themselves ready to join the Russian volunteer army.. Besides the regular soldiers of the Russian Caucasus Army, nearly 20,000 Armenian volunteers expressed their readiness to take up arms against the Ottoman Empire as early as 1914. The size of these units increased during the war and Boghos Nubar
Boghos Nubar
Boghos Nubar also known as Boghos Nubar Pasha was a Chairman of the Armenian National Assembly, liberal, the son of Egyptian Prime Minister Nubar Pasha and the founder, alongside ten other Armenian national movement leaders, of the Armenian General Benevolent Union on April 15, 1905.He was the...
gave the summary of these units in a public latter to the Paris Peace Conference, 1919
Paris Peace Conference, 1919
The Paris Peace Conference was the meeting of the Allied victors following the end of World War I to set the peace terms for the defeated Central Powers following the armistices of 1918. It took place in Paris in 1919 and involved diplomats from more than 32 countries and nationalities...
as 150,000 Armenians in the volunteer units and 50,000 Armenian militia.
Order of Battle, 1914
Andranik Toros Ozanian
Andranik Ozanian , Andranik Toros Ozanian , General Andranik , also as Antranik or Antranig was an Armenian general, political and public activist and freedom fighter, greatly admired as a national hero.-Early Age:Antranik Toros Ozanian was born in the church...
under Viceroyalty of the Caucasus Illarion Ivanovich Vorontsov-Dashkov
Illarion Ivanovich Vorontsov-Dashkov
Count Illarion Ivanovich Vorontsov-Dashkov was the last notable representative of the Vorontsov family. He served as Minister of Imperial Properties in 1881-97 and the General Governor of Caucasus in 1905-15....
.
- Armenian volunteer corps
- 1st battalion (Andranik Toros OzanianAndranik Toros OzanianAndranik Ozanian , Andranik Toros Ozanian , General Andranik , also as Antranik or Antranig was an Armenian general, political and public activist and freedom fighter, greatly admired as a national hero.-Early Age:Antranik Toros Ozanian was born in the church...
). - 2nd battalion (Drastamat KanayanDrastamat KanayanGeneral Drastamat Kanayan , known as General Dro, Դրօ, May 31, 1884 March 8, 1956), was a politician, revolutionary, military commander of Hitler’s Armenian Legion of the Wehrmacht, the armed forces of Nazi Germany, and part of Armenian national liberation movement as a member of the A.R.F...
and Armen Garo) - 3rd battalion (Hamazaps)
- 4th battalion ( Arshak GafavianArshak GafavianArshak Galfaian better known by his nom de guerre Keri became member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation....
nom de guerre Keri) - Regiment Ararat (Sargis MehrabyanSargis Mehrabyanthumb|200px|Keri of the 4th battalion, Hamazasp of the 4th battalion, Vartan of regiment of AraratSargis Mehrabyan born in Karabagh, died in Yerevan 1943. He was a Dashnak and a close friend of Kristapor Mikayelian and Simon Zavarian. He was the leader of Khanasor Expedition with Hovsep Arghutian...
nom de guerre Vartan)
- 1st battalion (Andranik Toros Ozanian
Andranik's detachment was assigned to Persian Campaign
Persian Campaign
The Persian Campaign or Invasion of Persia was a series of engagements at northern Persian Azerbaijan and western Persia between the British Empire and the Russian Empire against the Ottoman Empire, beginning in December 1914 and ending with the Armistice of Mudros on October 30, 1918 as part of...
along the Tovmas Nazarbekian
Tovmas Nazarbekian
Tovmas Nazarbekian, commonly known as General Nazarbekov , was an Armenian general in the Russian Caucasus Army that appointed as the governor of the Administration for Western Armenia and later promoted to commander-in-chief of Democratic Republic of Armenia.He was born to a wealthy Russianized...
. The second, third and fourth units were assigned to Caucasus Campaign
Caucasus Campaign
The Caucasus Campaign comprised armed conflicts between the Ottoman Empire and the Russian Empire, later including Azerbaijan, Armenia, Central Caspian Dictatorship and the UK as part of the Middle Eastern theatre or alternatively named as part of the Caucasus Campaign during World War I...
. Drastamat Kanayan
Drastamat Kanayan
General Drastamat Kanayan , known as General Dro, Դրօ, May 31, 1884 March 8, 1956), was a politician, revolutionary, military commander of Hitler’s Armenian Legion of the Wehrmacht, the armed forces of Nazi Germany, and part of Armenian national liberation movement as a member of the A.R.F...
and Armen Garo directed the 2nd battalion over the offensives around Lake Van
Lake Van
Lake Van is the largest lake in Turkey, located in the far east of the country in Van district. It is a saline and soda lake, receiving water from numerous small streams that descend from the surrounding mountains. Lake Van is one of the world's largest endorheic lakes . The original outlet from...
, (Vaspurakan
Vaspurakan
Vaspurakan was the first and biggest province of Greater Armenia, which later became an independent kingdom during the Middle Ages, centered around Lake Van...
). The 3rd & 4th battalion commanded by Hamazaps and Keri were assigned to the positions along the Kars Oblast
Kars Oblast
Kars Oblast was one of Transcaucasian governorates of Russian Empire between 1878 and 1917. Its capital was in the city of Kars, presently in the Republic of Turkey. The governorate bordered with the Ottoman Empire, Batum Oblast, Tiflis Governorate, Erivan Governorate, and from 1883 to 1903 with...
. Enver Pasha's offensive, the Battle of Sarikamish, was planned with great care, and had a great chance of success if all three wings of the Third Army
Third Army (Ottoman Empire)
The Ottoman Third Army was originally established in the Balkans and later defended the northern and eastern parts of the Ottoman Empire. Its initial headquarters was at Salonica. With the onset of World War I, it moved to Erzurum Fortress. The headquarters was moved to Susehir after the Battle...
could reach their objectives on time. The Ottoman tenth army corps, during its march from Olti to Sarikamish, suffered a delay of 24 hours in the Barduz Pass, due to the heroic resistance of the "4th battalion of the Armenian volunteers". This delay enabled the Russian Caucasus Army to concentrate a sufficient force around Sarikamish, resulting in the destruction of the Ottoman Third Army.
Order of Battle, 1915
The acting commander Andranik Toros OzanianAndranik Toros Ozanian
Andranik Ozanian , Andranik Toros Ozanian , General Andranik , also as Antranik or Antranig was an Armenian general, political and public activist and freedom fighter, greatly admired as a national hero.-Early Age:Antranik Toros Ozanian was born in the church...
under Viceroyalty of the Caucasus Nicholas Nikolaevich.
During the Siege of Van
Siege of Vān
The Siege of Vān occurred in 1547 when Suleiman the Magnificent attacked Persia in his second campaign of the Ottoman-Safavid War ....
Armenian detechments provided relief, there were 20,000 Armenian Volunteers under the unit that entered Van
Van, Turkey
Van is a city in southeastern Turkey and the seat of the Kurdish-majority Van Province, and is located on the eastern shore of Lake Van. The city's official population in 2010 was 367,419, but many estimates put this as much higher with a 1996 estimate stating 500,000 and former Mayor Burhan...
on May 16, 1915 which these Armenian battalions led Russian regulars into Van. Later same place on October 15, under heavy fight around the region Lake Van
Lake Van
Lake Van is the largest lake in Turkey, located in the far east of the country in Van district. It is a saline and soda lake, receiving water from numerous small streams that descend from the surrounding mountains. Lake Van is one of the world's largest endorheic lakes . The original outlet from...
, these battalions had lost five hundred (Armenian soldiers) and there were more than twelve hundred wounded or missing.
Order of Battle, 1916
The volunteer detachment contingents, fighting under Armenian commanders, were observed into Russian Caucasian Army as rifle battalions under Russian officers.Order of Battle, 1917
As the war advanced, the Armenian reservists of the Eastern FrontEastern Front (World War I)
The Eastern Front was a theatre of war during World War I in Central and, primarily, Eastern Europe. The term is in contrast to the Western Front. Despite the geographical separation, the events in the two theatres strongly influenced each other...
slowly quit from the Tsarist army and join to the Armenian national forces. Around 1916, more than 1,000 Armenian soldiers quit from Tsarist army and joint to the Armenian irregular units
Armenian irregular units
Armenian irregular units, also known as Fedayees were Armenian civilians who left their families to form armed brigades. Armenian fedayees were volunteers and, literally, "one who is ready to sacrifice his life" for his people)...
(Fedayee). In 1917, the Russian Caucasus Front collapsed following the abdication of the Tsar. Beginning with 1917, Armenian National Organization of the Caucasus, Armenian National Council
Armenian National Council
Armenian National Council is a term that refers to*Armenian National Council of Karabagh was also referred as People's Government of Karabagh before the rename in September 1918*Armenian National Council of Baku*Armenian National Council of Tiflis...
, asked the Armenian soldiers and officers scattered throughout Russian occupied regions to gradually brought together. The plan was to mobilized Armenians on the Caucasian front. With that purpose in view an Armenian Military Committee was formed with General Bagradouni as it's president. This Armenian conscripts and volunteers in the Russian Army later established the Army Core of the Democratic Republic of Armenia
Democratic Republic of Armenia
The Democratic Republic of Armenia was the first modern establishment of an Armenian state...
.
British Army
There were 8,000 Armenian soldiers fighting under the command of General Allenby's Egyptian Expeditionary Force
Egyptian Expeditionary Force
The Egyptian Expeditionary Force was formed in March 1916 to command the British and British Empire military forces in Egypt during World War I. Originally known as the 'Force in Egypt' it had been commanded by General Maxwell who was recalled to England...
. General Allenby said of Armenian soldiers were:
See also
- French Armenian LegionFrench Armenian LegionThe Armenian Legion, established with the French-Armenian Agreement , was a foreign legion unit within French Army. The Armenian legion was established under the goals of the Armenian national liberation movement and was an armed unit besides the Armenian volunteer units and Armenian militia during...
- Armenian militia
- Garegin Nzhdeh
- Andranik Toros OzanianAndranik Toros OzanianAndranik Ozanian , Andranik Toros Ozanian , General Andranik , also as Antranik or Antranig was an Armenian general, political and public activist and freedom fighter, greatly admired as a national hero.-Early Age:Antranik Toros Ozanian was born in the church...
- Movses SilikyanMovses SilikyanMovses Silikyan , , Movses Silikov) was a famed Armenian general and national hero of World War I, Major General in the Russian army and subsequently in the Armenian army...
- Karekin Pasdermadjian
- Krikor AmirianKrikor AmirianKrikor Amirian was an Armenian Revolutionary, who participated in the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Armenia.- Early life :...
Further reading
- Pasdermadjian, GareginKarekin PastermadjianKarekin Pastermadjian , more famously known by his nom de guerre Armen Garo / Armen Karo, was one of the distinguished leaders of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation and an ambassador. He was the son of famous Armenian Haroutiun Pasdermadjian and the grandson of Khatchatour Efendi...
; and Torossian, Aram. Why Armenia Should be Free: Armenia's Role in the Present War, Hairenik Pub. Co., 1918.