From: han@anadolu.michigan.com (hasan.b.mutlu)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.turkish,talk.politics.mideast,talk.politics.soviet,soc.culture.soviet,soc.culture.greek,soc.culture.europe,soc.culture.german
Subject: In 1933, Armenians Had Been Recognized As Aryans By The...'Neitzel.'
Date: 10 Apr 92 00:39:00 GMT


<1992Apr8.200434.11002@ncar.ucar.edu>
thor@surt.atd.ucar.edu (Richard Neitzel)

|> >Interesting. Was he already Nazi in 1914 ? Or is it just you,
|> >Mr Mutlu-famous-historian, that qualifies him of Nazi ?
|> 
|> Your ignorance simply cramps my conversation, 'Milanini.'

>Please note that in all the text following this point, you nowhere answered 
>the question. 

If you don't see the answer, then you are suffering from a severe case of 
myopia at best.

>Since Nazism is a post World War One phenomena, how can one be 
>a Nazi in 1914? Do you mean he later became one? If so, be more accurrate
>by specifying so. 

Why am I condemned to repeat ad-infinitum that the above is nonsense?
Germany had shown interest in nationalities, as a tool to dismember 
the Russian empire, back in World War I. In the time between the 
two World Wars, expelled leaders of Soviet nationalities were 
lobbying the capitals of European powers to gain support for 
their respective causes. Already in 1936, the SS Headquarters
(Reichssicherheitshauptamt) had created bureaus (Vertrauensstellen)
to contact emigrants and oversee their activities. The Vertrauensstellen
for the Caucasus was led by the Armenian Deirajr Froundjian and the
Georgian Lado Achmeteli.[1] 

Shortly after the occupation of Warsaw and Paris, the German Abwehr
(Secret Service) assumed ties with exiled leaders of diverse Soviet
nationalities, among them Armenian Dashnags.[2] One of the leaders
of the Dashnaktzoutun, the aforementioned General Dro 'the butcher'
(Drastamat Kanajan) began working relationship with the Nazis around 
that time.

[1] Patrick von zur Muhlen (Muehlen), 'Zwischen Hakenkreuz und
    Sowjetstern,' (Droste Verlag Duesseldorf 1971), p.37
[2] Ibid., p. 84.
 
In April 1942, Hitler was preparing for the invasion of the Caucasus.
A number of Nazi Armenian leaders began submitting plans to German
officials in spring and summer 1942. One of them was Souren Begzadian
Paikhar, son of a former ambassador of the Armenian Republic in Baku.
Paikhar wrote a letter to Hitler, asking for German support to his
Armenian national socialist movement Hossank and suggesting the
creation of an Armenian SS formation in order 

"to educate the youth of liberated Armenia according to the 
 spirit of the Nazi ideas."

He wanted to unite the Armenians of the already occupied territories
of the USSR in his movement and with them conquer historic Turkish
homeland. Paikhar was confined to serving the Nazis in Goebbels
Propaganda ministry as a speaker for Armenian- and French-language
radio broadcastings.[1] The Armenian-language broadcastings were
produced by yet another Nazi Armenian Viguen Chanth.[2]

[1] Patrick von zur Muhlen (Muehlen), p. 106.
[2] Enno Meyer, A. J. Berkian, 'Zwischen Rhein und Arax, 900
    Jahre Deutsch-Armenische beziehungen,' (Heinz Holzberg
    Verlag-Oldenburg 1988), pp. 124 and 129.

The establishment of Armenian units in the German army was favored
by General Dro (the Butcher). He played an important role in the
establishment of the Armenian 'legions' without assuming any 
official position. His views were represented by his men in the
respective organs. An interesting meeting took place between Dro
and Reichsfuehrer-SS Heinrich Himmler toward the end of 1942.
Dro discussed matters of collaboration with Himmler and after
a long conversation, asked if he could visit POW camp close to
Berlin. Himmler provided Dro with his private car.[1] 

A minor problem was that some of the Soviet nationals were not
'Aryans' but 'subhumans' according to the official Nazi philosophy.
As such, they were subject to German racism. However, Armenians
were the least threatened and indeed most privileged. In August 
1933, Armenians had been recognized as Aryans by the Bureau of
Racial Investigation in the Ministry for Domestic Affairs.

[1] Meyer, Berkian, ibid., pp. 112-113.

Altogether 30,000 Nazi Armenians served in various units in the
German Wehrmacht, according to Ara J. Berkian. 14,000 in predominantly 
Armenian army units, 6,000 in German army units, 8,000 in various working 
units and 2,000 in the Waffen-SS.[1]

A number of these Nazi Armenians were volunteers from France,
Greece, Rumania and Bulgaria who had chosen to commit
themselves to the German war effort. Derounian says that

"Dashnag Armenians from France bore the mark 'Legion 
 Armenienne.'"[2]

That Nazi Armenians like Dro 'the Butcher,' Boyadjian and Nezhdeh 
sided with the Germans probably had an impact on the decision of
Armenians who overwhelmingly opted for armed service.

[1] Enno Meyer, A. J. Berkian, 'Zwischen Rhein und Arax, 900
    Jahre Deutsch-Armenische beziehungen,' (Heinz Holzberg
    Verlag-Oldenburg 1988), pp. 118/119.     
[2] John Roy Carlson (Arthur Derounian), in 'The Armenian 
    Displaced Persons,' ibid., p. 19.

Need I go on?

>Of course, this really brings up another question - Can
>any non-German peoples truely be considered Nazis? To rephrase the question
>in a more correct manner - how did the Nazis view their relationship to other
>groups? Where there feelings of kinship or was the relationship simply one
>of expediancy?

In Nazi Germany, Armenians were considered to be an Aryan race and certain
political, economic, and social rights were thus granted to them. They 
occupied positions in public service and were partners in Nazi practices.
The whole world of course knows what awaited those who were not considered 
"Aryan" and what befell them.

Hasan B-) Mutlu

                     'Kill Turks and Kurds wherever you find them 
                      and in whatever circumstances you find them. 
                      Turkish children also should be killed as 
                      they form a danger to the Armenian nation.' 
                                     (Hamparsum Boyadjian - 1914)