From: sera@zuma.UUCP (Serdar Argic)
Newsgroups: talk.politics.mideast,talk.politics.soviet,soc.history,soc.culture.jewish,soc.culture.turkish
Followup-To: soc.culture.turkish
Subject: Re: Jesus: Would he support the Turks or Armenians?
Date: Mon, 04 Jan 93 20:37:28 EST
Reply-To: sera@zuma.UUCP (Serdar Argic)
Distribution: world

In article <1993Jan4.201706.17996@aplcen.apl.jhu.edu> levene@aplpy.jhuapl.edu (Robert A. Levene) writes:

>The question raised in the subject line was directed specifically to
>Vijay Buchar, asking for his views on the matter.  I thought he might
>find the topic interesting.

How absolutely clever of you.

>Sorry if it looked like a general query, it was not.

No sweat. But, did you know that 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]

[1] Enno Meyer, A. J. Berkian, 'Zwischen Rhein und Arax, 900
    Jahre Deutsch-Armenische beziehungen,' (Heinz Holzberg
    Verlag-Oldenburg 1988), pp. 118/119.     

In fall 1942, the Armenian infantry battalions 808 and 809 were formed,
to be followed by battalions 810, 812 and 813 in spring 1943. In the 
second half of 1943 infantry battalions 814, 815 and 816 were created.
These battalions together with other indigenous Caucasian units were
attached to the infantry division 162. Also attached to ID 162 were
the field battalions II/9, I/125 and I/198 which were formed between
May 1942 and May 1943. Altogether twelve Armenian battalions served the
Nazi army, if battalion II/73, which was not employed at any time, is to be
included.[1] Most battalions were commanded by Nazi Armenian officers.
Armenians wore German uniforms with an armband in the Dashnag colours 
red-blue-orange and the inscription 'Armenien.'

[1] Joachim Hoffmann, 'Dies Ostlegionen 1941-1943, Turkotataren, 
    Kaukasier und Wolgafinned im deutschen Heer,' (Verlag Rombach
    Freiburg 1976), p. 172.

Serdar Argic

                     'This war quickly developed into one of extermination. 
                      We closed the roads and mountain passes that might 
                      serve as ways of escape for the Tartars [Turks] and 
                      then proceeded in the work of extermination.'
                                                       (Ohanus Appressian)