Customer Reviews

Armenian Golgotha

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a singularly amazing account of the detailed processes involved in the execution of the state-sponsored murder and looting of the wealth of the entire Armenian Christian minority in Turkey during the 1915 to 1918 period. The memoir of Rev. Grigoris Balakian, himself a victim, who was arrested, deported and exiled to later miraculously escape the carnage, lucidly narrates (big thanks are due to the sensitive and sensible translation by Peter Balakian & Aris Sevag) the entire process of mass killings and the generalized theft of the victims' wealth in chilling details after seeing them all first hand. The agonizing and terrifying ordeal in the exile and during his escape as as a fugitive lasted almost the entire 1915-1918 period. The details are nerve-racking as they are compelling. The author powerfully exposes the juxtaposition of two asymmetric human conditions. The psychic feelings of the fearful victims and the determined mindset of the powerful perpetrators bent on killing unless bribed. Bribe had the magic power it seems to delay, at least for a while, the determined slaughter of the victims. Here it is worthy to bring to memory Article 142 of the 1920 international Sèvre Treaty, to which Turkey was a signatory, which had branded the revolutionary group that ruled Turkey (Ittihad vé Térakki Jemiyeti, Committee of Union and Progress) during World War I (1914-1918) as a "terrorist" regime. In today's parlance, these crimes are defined as Genocide and undeniably constitute crimes against humanity requiring retributive judicial condemnation and reparations however symbolic they might be. It is unfortunate however, that today Turkey and the western states doing business with Turkey including ours, are engaged in covering up and denying these crimes as Genocide. The translation of this book to English, first published in Armenian in 1922, is way too long overdue! However, there is one thing that the author of this book can rest assured and that is, the voices of the victims that he heard and recorded in his mind can now be heard by the "outside world," a pledge that Rev. Balakian had made to honor the last request of the dying victims in his arms.

This may perhaps be the saddest book that I have ever read. Most folks are unaware of the calculated plan to exterminate the Armenian people initiated by the Young Turk government of the Ottoman Empire during World War I. While the rest of the world was concentrating on the fighting, the government of Turkey was busily killing off all of the Armenians possible.

The author is not some historian looking back on a period of history. He is, rather, an eye witness to this tragedy and barely escaped death himself several times. He tells his story with sorrow, but also with hope for the future of the Armenian nation.

Luckily the Ottoman officials were so venal that a well placed bribe could often save a person or an entire family from the ghastly fate awaiting all Armenians. Our author travelled many, many miles as a captive of the Ottomans, yet managed to survive. he felt thst his survival was meant to be so that he could put down in writing what he saw and what he was told about this horrid period of history. At times the book becomes repetitious, but that is because he wrote with emotion and had to retell some things so that they could be impressed into the minds of his readers.

The 20th century is, unfortunately, know for its genocides, the Holocaust being the most well known. There are also others; Cambodia, Darfur, Uganda, etc.. The difference is that in the Armenian situation, not only government officials, but many of the ordinary Turkish citizens actively cooperated in the mass killings. It's unfortunate that even today the government of Turkey denies that these events took place. If you have any doubts on that point, read this interesting but tearful book and you will be convinced!

a gripping first hand story of the genocide of the armenians from someone who lived through it. More people need to read about and understand that this horrible crime against humanity did take place and what actually did happen. A must read.

Gripping, emotional account - the most detailed, day by day, description of the deportation and genocide of all the Armenian History books I have read. Truly inspirational quotes of dying requests from hundreds of victims to, "Record these crimes for future generations," and "I wish I could be there with you to see the rebirth of the Armenian Nation after the end of this war." Tremendously important perspective on not only the mindset and actions of the filthy Turks, but also the complicity of the Germans, as well as some truly heroic actions of a few Swiss and other Europeans. Places the personal perspective within the world and national events of the time. If you got this far, just buy the book.

While studying in Germany at a theological seminary in Berlin, Grigoris Balakian, found himself getting caught up in the days events. Events in Austria-Hungary and Serbia started the war. Turkey and Germany were on the same side. In the midst of his studies Grigoris Balakian is summoned back to Turkey. While making his way back Grigoris make several poignant observations. The Germans mistreat people of foreign decent, especially if they are from enemy countries. Taking the ship back Grigoris realized that it was to his advantage to praise the Germans and the Turks. This made traveling g easier and may have even saved his life.

Upon arriving in Istanbul Grigoris makes several observations, about both the Turks and the Armenians and their political parties. He views things intelligently and with a critical eye. As World War I is looming most countries are keeping quiet and holding their cards close to their chest. The Armenians are the opposite they are loudly proclaiming support for Britain and France, the enemies of Turkey and Germany. Grigoris senses quite accurately that the Turkish government is preparing something big for the Armenians and feels that Armenian actions are just provoking Turkish ire and giving them man excuse for what they plan to do.

April 24, 1915 along with other leaders and intellectuals of the Armenian nation, Grigoris finds himself arrested and being deported to the interior of Turkey. The Destination is Chatirli. The trek in a caravan drives Komitas insane. Other intellectuals die along the way. This book is testament to what Grigoris Balakian was forced to endure. The ultimate aim of the Turkish government was to annihilate the Armenian nation. Along with arresting the intellectuals young men of fighting age were drafted as soldiers and then placed into labor battalions. After being place into a labor battalion they were disarmed worked to death and then finally executed at a mass grave. Turkish military also searched the homes of Armenian families confiscating what ever weapon they could find. Most Armenians did not have weapons so the Turks ended up confiscating kitchen knives. Later on the elderly, women and children were marched through the desert al the way to Dar es Zor a fiery hot desert.

The march was a death march. The Armenians were marched under the hot blazing sun and exposed to the elements. They were deprived of food and water. When they made enough distance from population centers the caravans of Armenians were set upon by violent criminals called "Chetes". They were released from Turkish prison with the sole purpose of annihilation of the Armenian population. They not only stole from the Armenians but they butchered the Armenians ruthlessly like savages.

Grigoris Balakian eventually escapes by working for a German rail road company. Disguised as a German he makes his way make to Constantinople or Istanbul. He eventually settled in Paris, France.

This is one document that demands to be read. It is a first hand account of the horrors experienced by the Armenian nation and it is filled with plenty of background knowledge. Grigoris Balakian does not just state the facts of tell a story. He informs the reader and analyzed everything with a critical eye. The man survived by his wits.

Grigoris tells us well the nature of the Turk and their brutal way of life. They have no education yet they persecute the Armenians for having an education. Their way of life is depredation and thieving. They thieve not only from Armenians but also from other Muslims. It was Armenians who were the craftsmen, farmers, doctors, intellectuals and financiers. When the Armenians were annihilated the Turks lost everything. They had no doctors to cure the sick, no one to harvest the grain, no craftsmen to repair needed tools. The Armenians were the pillar of Ottoman society.

The Germans who were Christians like the Armenians yet allied with the Turks were just as disdainful toward the Armenians as the Turks were. They stopped people from giving Armenian refugees food and they held very negative opinions towards the Armenians. The German military supported and even promoted the Ottoman campaign against the Armenians.

The Armenian leadership does not escape unscathed by his critical eye either. Many like the Nalbandian profited from the Genocide because the Turks gave them confiscated Armenian property and wealth. The Patriarchate was infiltrated with traitors who informed the Young Turks of everything that transpired. Many Armenians helped turn over other Armenians to the Turks and even helped the Turks draw up lists of Armenian community leaders. Other Armenians who were in the Turkish government knew in advance about the Young Turks plans and did not do anything to warn their fellow Armenians.

This book gets a five star rating.

This is an exceptionally powerful, moving, and important book that was almost impossible to put down. Not only is it the single greatest memoir I've read from a survivor of the Armenian Genocide--which alone makes it exceptionally significant--but it's also one of the most powerful and moving books I've ever read on any subject. Father Balakian's story is unique in every respect, and he tells it so powerfully that it's not possible to NOT choke up and be in tears as you read this. Father Balakian was an exceptionally intelligent man, and not only did he go through the deportations and suffer the death marches as a million and a half Armenians did before dying, but his numerous escapes, near-death experiences, and deliverances defy the possibilities.

Unlike most survivor memoirs, Father Balakian presents a political and sociological perspective on Turkey and the Armenians, Germany, and the Great War, which is not only first-hand but also first-rate. His analysis reflects not only exceptional intelligence, but also perceptive listening and analytical skills. Also most unusual, Father Balakian had a vantage point that gives his memoirs a unique perspective. As an intellectual and religious leader, he had access to regional government and military officials who were carrying out the orders to commit genocide, and captures their voices and perspectives. Particularly chilling is the voice of Captain Shukri of Yozgat, who openly discusses with Father Balakian the plans and logistics for mass murder of the Armenians, because both men understand that Father Balakian is on his way to his death. Father Balakian understood how to work the "system" to whatever little advantage possible. And he witnessed, over and over again, the mass murder of the Armenians in the Ottoman empire. He is clear that without his exceptional faith and belief in the rebirth of the Armenian nation, it would have been too easy to give up the fight and to die. He never stopped fighting in the ways he could--which is why he survived. And he had a lot of help. It's clear that had he not spoken German (because he lived and studied in Germany), he likely would not have survived.

If this book were simply the memoirs of a particularly significant survivor, it would be important. But what makes this book far more than that is the life wisdom that Father Balakian imparts. His commentaries on what makes life worthwhile, why some go through life happy and why others go through life miserable, where the joy in life truly comes from, what makes for success, would be credible and worthy of attention even without the historical narrative. Also, his perspective on the attitudes of every-day Germans prior to the start of World War I was eye-opening to me. The book begins in Germany, where Father Balakian was studying when World War I broke out. He had to return to Turkey, the country of his origin, and was one of the 250 Armenian leaders/intellectuals arrested in Constantinople on April 24, 1915, the night the Genocide began.

We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Peter Balakian, Aris Sevag, and Anahid Yeremian for re-discovering, translating, and editing this book. "Armenian Golgotha" had originally been written in Armenian and published in two parts in the 1920s and 1950s in the Middle East (but not translated into English), and had largely been forgotten. That these three "saved" such an important book and gave it new life is something I am tremendously grateful for. Thank you for your time, dedication, and effort, to make sure the voice of Father Balakian was preserved forever. His story and message need to be heard, and is timeless.

This book is an incredible relaying of a horrific struggle to live through some very evil times. I was generally unfamiliar with the Armenian genocide up until I read Armenian Golgotha a few weeks ago. Grigoris Balakian's story was both spellbinding and sickening at the same time and I honestly couldn't put the book down. Now I have burning desire to find out as much as I can about the subject. I feel that this book should be highly recommended reading material for persons interested in Middle Eastern studies.

Wonderful book, how he survived is a real miracle, always looking up, dreaming of the day the Armenian people would be free, praying that there would be some left alive.
WELL WRITTEN, ALWAYS ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT, SOOOOOO SAD YET VICTORIOUS

Peter Balakian did his family proud with this interesting and true account of survival through the blackest history of the 20th century. A must-read for all by an excellent author!

Cannot imagine why more people the current president included are afraid to tell the truth about two million catholics and christians murdered by sunni turks. Censorship plain and simple. This author is a hero and we are victims of p.c. liars.