Mehmet PERİNÇEK

It is understood from the Dashnag’s correspondence and talks with the officials of the Tsardom Russia that the Armenians have been assigned two missions within the framework ofthe plans to occupy Turkey. The Armenians would launch an uprising in the rear front and weaken the Turkish army. This is the first assignment. The second assignment is to split the line of defence of the Turkish army and facilitate the Russian occupation by means of the Armenian volunteer units. In addition, there are numerous reports written by the Russian officials in this regard. All these plans have been carried out under the command and control ofthe Western States and Tsardom Russia. The Turkish Armenians played an active role in the performance of this duty. It was not the matter of several Dashnag terrorists. Broad Armenian groups participated in forming the volunteering units and triggering the rebellions. The archives are full of Armenian’s applications to the Russian officials in orderjoin the Tsardom armies to fight in the voluntary units against the Turks. The names ofthousands ofArmenian citizens ranging from ordinary peasants subordinate to the Turkish subjects, university students and doctors can be seen in the archives. These documents are significant from the point of view of showing the dimension ofthe threat.

Key Words: Armenian Question, First World War, Caucasian Front, Russian State Archives, Armenian Volunteer Units