Armenian Genocide Museum obtains rare 1915 photograph

September 24, 2015 - 14:08 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute director Hayk Demoyan announced that a few days ago, the original version of an unidentified photograph taken during 1915 was obtained. It depicts homeless Armenian orphans wandering the streets of Diyarbekir and Austrian soldiers who give them bread.

“This can be inferred from the German inscription on the photograph. The picture was most likely taken by German soldiers as it was found in Germany.

A truly unique photographic sample that depicts the consequences of the Genocide,” wrote Demoyan on his Facebook page.

Related links:

Hayk Demoyan's Facebook Post

The Armenian Genocide

The Armenian Genocide (1915-23) was the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I. It was characterized by massacres and deportations, involving forced marches under conditions designed to lead to the death of the deportees, with the total number of deaths reaching 1.5 million.

The majority of Armenian Diaspora communities were formed by the Genocide survivors.

Present-day Turkey denies the fact of the Armenian Genocide, justifying the atrocities as “deportation to secure Armenians”. Only a few Turkish intellectuals, including Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk and scholar Taner Akcam, speak openly about the necessity to recognize this crime against humanity.

The Armenian Genocide was recognized by Uruguay, Russia, France, Lithuania, Italy, 45 U.S. states, Greece, Cyprus, Lebanon, Argentina, Belgium, Austria, Wales, Switzerland, Canada, Poland, Venezuela, Chile, Bolivia, the Vatican, Luxembourg, Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands, Paraguay, Sweden, Venezuela, Slovakia, Syria, Vatican, as well as the European Parliament and the World Council of Churches.