ARMENIANS IN THE MEMOIRS OF TURKISH HISTORIAN AHMET REFIK ALTINAY

Abstract

The present paper focuses on the two small-volume autobiographic books, written by the
Ottoman Turkish writer, historian and military officer Ahmet Refik Altinay. The book “Two
Committees: Two Massacres” represents a comparative analysis of the activity of Young Turks committee and Armenian Revolutionary Dashnakcutyun committee. The author highly criticizes the policy of the Young Turks and even considers that they, especially Taleat and Enver
pashas, were guilty for the collapse of the empire. At the same time, Altınay blames the
Armenians for trusting the Russians and ‘betraying’ the Turks. Pretending to represent the
main reasons and consequences of the policy of the Ottoman authorities towards Armenians in
1915-1918, the author also refers to the mass deportations of Armenians and the problem of
Armenian properties abandoned after the Genocide. The second book “On the Caucasus Roads: Memories and Emotions” sheds light on the situation in Erzrum, Kars, Gyumri and other cities according to the author, who was there in April-May, 1918. In this book the author in a very
emotional manner represents military actions of Turkish troops in these regions and tries to
blame Armenians for “killing the Turkish civilians”.