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Genocide:

  • On April 24, 1915, more than 200 Armenians were gathered in Constantinopole, marking the start of the genocide. 
  • The Armenians under control of the Young Turks were arrested, deported, and executed. From that day fourth, that became the horrible situation the Armenians suffered.
  • The Turkish officials claimed that the Armenians planned to rebel and destroy the Ottoman Empire. Orders made by the government gave the Armenians three days to pack up what they had and leave. People who were strong and were a threat to the government were shot to protect against potential resistance.
  • Men, women, and children began on their march to relocation centers in the Syrian Desert. Hundreds of thousands of people died during deportation from lack of food and water. In some cases, Armenians were shot to death. 
  • In 1918 World War I ended. The leaders of the Young Turks were sentenced to death for their roles in the genocide. They fleed to foreign countries and escaped death.
  • By the end of the genocide in 1923, just about 1.5 million Armenians had been killed under orders given by the government. In 1923 the Ottoman Empire, now called Turkey, was pronounced a republic and the Turkish-Armenian issues were put aside and forgotten by most of the world. Survivors pursued revenge in over two dozen countries.