Introduction

In Part One I covered the activities of the Greek Army during World War One and their post war invasion of Turkey.

See TPP Spring 2004 issue for Part One --RL

This article covers the chaos in the Trans-Caucasus region during World War One and immediately afterwards. The focus will be on the Armenian activities as they are some of the most extensively reported. Other countries covered will include Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kurds, Ottoman Turkey and France. These articles will increase number of small unit and skirmish actions by which gamers can design scenarios and provide additional uses for certain ranges of World War One era miniatures.

The same villages may be spelled in different fashions based on which nationality is making the report. Due to the possible similarity in village names, I have elected to use the spelling of the names as they appear in the source that I used. I apologize if this causes some confusion but it seemed to be the best method to use.

The bibliography of source materials includes a number of internet sites and the following books.

A Myth of Terror by Erich Feigl, EZG, 1986.
Armenia in Historical Crossroad by Yasin Asian. Exerts used from the www.ermenisorunu website
The Tricolor Over the Taurus: Franco-Turkish War for Cilicia by Robert F. Zeidner.

One issue that arises anytime the region is researched is the practice of ethnic cleansing. All sides were involved in the practice and all sides were guilty to some degree for the practice of deportation, murder and mass executions. The practice was so common, poorly recorded and inaccurately reported that the accused parties could not be held accountable. An example of poor reporting is that on one occasion an European Ambassador reported an incident where 2,000 people were killed but Reuters used the message and reported the same incident with a casualty number of 70,000. It is not the purpose of this article to attempt to assign blame for those actions. It has to be viewed as a result of the defender’s failure to protect their populace.

Turmoil of the War That Would Not End Part Two: The Trans-Caucasus 1918-1921

Introduction
Trans-Caucasus Players
Notes on Military Forces and Uniforms
Summary of Events and Significant Battles
Event Chronology 1905-1921
The French–Armenian War-Time Connection