Armenian Genocide 1915: Timeline
2/21/1914
A Turkish boycott of Armenian businesses is declared by the Ittihadists. Dr. Nazim travels throughout the provinces to implement the boycott.
2/26/1914
The police spy David notifies Reshad Bey, Chief of the Political Section of the Constantinople Police Department that he is providing the names, biographies, pictures, and speeches about reform, as well as other data, of two thousand leading Armenians.
3/2/1914
Parliamentary elections held in Turkey with only candidates approved by the CUP winning seats.
3/14/1914
The Ittihadist Mustafa Abdulhalik Renda, the vice-governor of Seghert, is appointed governor-general of Bitlis Province.
7/28/1914
Negotiations are started between the Turkish and German Imperial governments.
8/1/1914
Germany declares war on Russia. Beginning of World War I.
8/2/1914
A secret treaty of alliance is signed between Turkey and Germany virtually placing the Turkish armed forces under German command.
8/3/1914
The Turkish government sends sealed envelopes containing a general mobilization order to district and village councils, with the strict instructions that they were not to be opened until further notice. A fortnight later, with the approval of the Ittihad Committee, instructions are issued to open the envelopes.
8/8/1914
Censorship of all telegraphic communication is announced by the government.
8/18/1914
Looting is reported in Sivas, Diyarbekir, and other provinces, under the guise of collecting war contributions. Stores owned by Armenian and Greek merchants are vandalized.
8/18/1914
1,080 shops owned by Armenians are burned in the city of Diyarbekir.
8/22/1914
The male population between the ages of 20 and 45 is conscripted by the Turkish armed forces.
8/28/1914
Turkish troops are garrisoned in Armenian schools and churches in Sivas Province. In the city of Sivas, 56,000 soldiers of the 10th Army Corps are quartered in and around the Christian districts.
9/8/1914
The Turkish government abrogates the Capitulations (the commercial and judicial rights of the Europeans in the Ottoman Empire).
9/11/1914
The Armenian National Assembly, composed of civil and religious representatives, meets in Constantinople and advises Armenians in the provinces to remain calm in the face of provocation.
9/27/1914
The Dardanelles Straits are closed to foreign shipping.
9/27/1914
News reaches Constantinople about the demand made by the government of the Armenian population in Zeitun to turn in its weapons, including all types of knives.
9/30/1914
The government distributes arms to the Muslim residents of the town of Keghi in Erzerum Province on the excuse that the Armenians there were unreliable.
10/1/1914
All foreign postal services in Turkey are closed on government order.
10/1/1914
Nazaret Chavush, the most notable Armenian leader in Zeitun, is murdered on the order of Haidar Pasha, governor of Marash.
10/7/1914
News reaches Constantinople of looting under the guise of war contributions in Shabin-Karahisar.
10/10/1914
News that 'the war contribution' looting of Armenians was continuing in Diyarbekir Province.
10/10/1914
In Zeitun, all the Armenian notables are called to a meeting. About three score attend and are immediately arrested.
10/13/1914
News of requisitions imposed on Armenian businesses as 'war contributions' reaches Constantinople from every province.
10/13/1914
News reaches Constantinople of starvation and the spread of disease in Sivas Province because of the desperate conditions created by the 'war contributions' campaign conducted against the Armenians.
10/17/1914
Bands of chetes begin looting, violating women and children, and large-scale murdering in Erzerum Province
10/17/1914
Leaders of the Armenian nationalist Dashnak party organization in Erzerum are arrested.
10/22/1914
Enver authorizes the combined German-Turkish navy to carry out a stealth attack on Russia without declaration of war.
10/29/1914
Hostilities are opened between Turkey and Russia with the shelling of the Russian Black Sea coast by Ottoman naval vessels under German command.
11/2/1914
Russia formally declares war against the Ottoman Empire.
11/9/1914
News from the interior of Turkey reaches the Armenian community of Constantinople that persecutions already exceed earlier actions against the Armenians.
11/9/1914
A Proclamation of Jihad, directed against England, France, and Russia, is issued in Constantinople legitimating the formation of the chete organizations.
11/13/1914
Unfounded accusations are launched against the Armenians that they had revolted and were preparing to join the Russian forces.
11/14/1914
The village of Otsni in Erzerum Province is attacked at night by chete forces. The local Armenian priest and many other Armenians are killed. Every house is looted. The first attacks by chete forces on the Armenian villages of Erzerum are reported.
11/18/1914
The Jihad Proclamation is read in all the provinces of the Ottoman Empire.
11/19/1914
Mass executions of Armenian soldiers in the Turkish army takes place in various public squares for the purpose of terrorizing the Armenians, while with voluntary contributions, Armenians were building several hospitals for the use of the Turkish army through the Red Crescent Society.
11/20/1914
Orders are issued from Constantinople instructing the provincial administrators to oust all Armenian functionaries in the service of the Ottoman government.
11/21/1914
In Mush, Ittihadist agents distribute arms to the Turkish population after arousing them with false stories of Armenian outrages.
11/23/1914
Previously undisturbed Armenian schools and churches in Sivas Province, together with many private residences, are requisitioned by the Turkish army for use as barracks. The carts, horses, and other travel equipment of the Armenian villagers in the provinces are confiscated.
11/26/1914
Robbery and looting on a large scale is reported in Van Province.
11/26/1914
The War Ministry distributes explosives, rifles, and other equipment to the irregular forces of the Special Organization (Teshkilati Mahsusa).
11/26/1914
Enver's uncle, Halil Pasha, the military governor of Constantinople, begins organizing Special Organization units in Constantinople by enrolling criminals released from prison.
11/29/1914
Halil Pasha instructs the governor of Izmid (Izmit) to identify leaders for Special Organization units and to release criminals from prisons to join these bands.
11/29/1914
The vice-governor of Izmid (Izmit) arms the Special Organization with weapons supplied by the War Ministry.
11/29/1914
Chete forces consisting of intentionally released convicts are armed by the government in Van Province. In the region of Van requisitions take the form of open robbery and looting.
11/30/1914
Having completed his job organizing the Special Organization in Artvin, Behaeddin Shakir is instructed to move on to Trebizond.
11/30/1914
The central command of the Special Organization sends instruction for supplying the chete bands with money, vehicles, and others equipment.
12/1/1914
The beginning of a series of isolated murders to terrorize the Armenian population.
12/1/1914
Reports reach Constantinople that raids by irregular chete forces on the Armenian villages of Erzerum Province are continuing.
12/2/1914
Turks loot the properties of subjects of Allied nations.
12/3/1914
The Ittihad Inspector of Balikesir sends a message to Dr. Nazim of the central committee of the Special Organization via Midhat Shukri, the Central Secretary of Ittihad, that the Interior Ministry and the Ittihad Committee, in accordance with issued orders, are busy organizing the irregular chete bands.
12/5/1914
Reports continue reaching Constantinople that chete raids on the Armenian villages of Erzerum Province are continuing.
12/6/1914
Armenians are put to use as porters of army supplies in Erzerum, Trebizond, and Sivas Provinces under the worst of cold winter conditions for the purpose of letting them die of overwork and illness.
12/14/1914
The Turkish Cabinet charges Enver with command of the offensive on the Caucasian front and assigns Talaat the position of Acting Minister of War while retaining his position as Minister of the Interior.
12/22/1914
An attack by the Ottoman Third Army corps opens the Battle of Sarikamish on the Caucasian Front.
12/23/1914
Foreign missionaries abandon the interior of Turkey as crosses on missions are broken by the Turks and replaced by crescents.
12/31/1914
Sahag Odabashian, the newly appointed Prelate of Erzinjan, while traveling from Constantinople via Sivas to Erzinjan, where he was to be installed in office, is slain in the village of Kanli-Tash, near Shabin-Karahisar, by six chetes organized by Ahmed Muammer, the governor-general of Sivas Province
A Turkish boycott of Armenian businesses is declared by the Ittihadists. Dr. Nazim travels throughout the provinces to implement the boycott.
2/26/1914
The police spy David notifies Reshad Bey, Chief of the Political Section of the Constantinople Police Department that he is providing the names, biographies, pictures, and speeches about reform, as well as other data, of two thousand leading Armenians.
3/2/1914
Parliamentary elections held in Turkey with only candidates approved by the CUP winning seats.
3/14/1914
The Ittihadist Mustafa Abdulhalik Renda, the vice-governor of Seghert, is appointed governor-general of Bitlis Province.
7/28/1914
Negotiations are started between the Turkish and German Imperial governments.
8/1/1914
Germany declares war on Russia. Beginning of World War I.
8/2/1914
A secret treaty of alliance is signed between Turkey and Germany virtually placing the Turkish armed forces under German command.
8/3/1914
The Turkish government sends sealed envelopes containing a general mobilization order to district and village councils, with the strict instructions that they were not to be opened until further notice. A fortnight later, with the approval of the Ittihad Committee, instructions are issued to open the envelopes.
8/8/1914
Censorship of all telegraphic communication is announced by the government.
8/18/1914
Looting is reported in Sivas, Diyarbekir, and other provinces, under the guise of collecting war contributions. Stores owned by Armenian and Greek merchants are vandalized.
8/18/1914
1,080 shops owned by Armenians are burned in the city of Diyarbekir.
8/22/1914
The male population between the ages of 20 and 45 is conscripted by the Turkish armed forces.
8/28/1914
Turkish troops are garrisoned in Armenian schools and churches in Sivas Province. In the city of Sivas, 56,000 soldiers of the 10th Army Corps are quartered in and around the Christian districts.
9/8/1914
The Turkish government abrogates the Capitulations (the commercial and judicial rights of the Europeans in the Ottoman Empire).
9/11/1914
The Armenian National Assembly, composed of civil and religious representatives, meets in Constantinople and advises Armenians in the provinces to remain calm in the face of provocation.
9/27/1914
The Dardanelles Straits are closed to foreign shipping.
9/27/1914
News reaches Constantinople about the demand made by the government of the Armenian population in Zeitun to turn in its weapons, including all types of knives.
9/30/1914
The government distributes arms to the Muslim residents of the town of Keghi in Erzerum Province on the excuse that the Armenians there were unreliable.
10/1/1914
All foreign postal services in Turkey are closed on government order.
10/1/1914
Nazaret Chavush, the most notable Armenian leader in Zeitun, is murdered on the order of Haidar Pasha, governor of Marash.
10/7/1914
News reaches Constantinople of looting under the guise of war contributions in Shabin-Karahisar.
10/10/1914
News that 'the war contribution' looting of Armenians was continuing in Diyarbekir Province.
10/10/1914
In Zeitun, all the Armenian notables are called to a meeting. About three score attend and are immediately arrested.
10/13/1914
News of requisitions imposed on Armenian businesses as 'war contributions' reaches Constantinople from every province.
10/13/1914
News reaches Constantinople of starvation and the spread of disease in Sivas Province because of the desperate conditions created by the 'war contributions' campaign conducted against the Armenians.
10/17/1914
Bands of chetes begin looting, violating women and children, and large-scale murdering in Erzerum Province
10/17/1914
Leaders of the Armenian nationalist Dashnak party organization in Erzerum are arrested.
10/22/1914
Enver authorizes the combined German-Turkish navy to carry out a stealth attack on Russia without declaration of war.
10/29/1914
Hostilities are opened between Turkey and Russia with the shelling of the Russian Black Sea coast by Ottoman naval vessels under German command.
11/2/1914
Russia formally declares war against the Ottoman Empire.
11/9/1914
News from the interior of Turkey reaches the Armenian community of Constantinople that persecutions already exceed earlier actions against the Armenians.
11/9/1914
A Proclamation of Jihad, directed against England, France, and Russia, is issued in Constantinople legitimating the formation of the chete organizations.
11/13/1914
Unfounded accusations are launched against the Armenians that they had revolted and were preparing to join the Russian forces.
11/14/1914
The village of Otsni in Erzerum Province is attacked at night by chete forces. The local Armenian priest and many other Armenians are killed. Every house is looted. The first attacks by chete forces on the Armenian villages of Erzerum are reported.
11/18/1914
The Jihad Proclamation is read in all the provinces of the Ottoman Empire.
11/19/1914
Mass executions of Armenian soldiers in the Turkish army takes place in various public squares for the purpose of terrorizing the Armenians, while with voluntary contributions, Armenians were building several hospitals for the use of the Turkish army through the Red Crescent Society.
11/20/1914
Orders are issued from Constantinople instructing the provincial administrators to oust all Armenian functionaries in the service of the Ottoman government.
11/21/1914
In Mush, Ittihadist agents distribute arms to the Turkish population after arousing them with false stories of Armenian outrages.
11/23/1914
Previously undisturbed Armenian schools and churches in Sivas Province, together with many private residences, are requisitioned by the Turkish army for use as barracks. The carts, horses, and other travel equipment of the Armenian villagers in the provinces are confiscated.
11/26/1914
Robbery and looting on a large scale is reported in Van Province.
11/26/1914
The War Ministry distributes explosives, rifles, and other equipment to the irregular forces of the Special Organization (Teshkilati Mahsusa).
11/26/1914
Enver's uncle, Halil Pasha, the military governor of Constantinople, begins organizing Special Organization units in Constantinople by enrolling criminals released from prison.
11/29/1914
Halil Pasha instructs the governor of Izmid (Izmit) to identify leaders for Special Organization units and to release criminals from prisons to join these bands.
11/29/1914
The vice-governor of Izmid (Izmit) arms the Special Organization with weapons supplied by the War Ministry.
11/29/1914
Chete forces consisting of intentionally released convicts are armed by the government in Van Province. In the region of Van requisitions take the form of open robbery and looting.
11/30/1914
Having completed his job organizing the Special Organization in Artvin, Behaeddin Shakir is instructed to move on to Trebizond.
11/30/1914
The central command of the Special Organization sends instruction for supplying the chete bands with money, vehicles, and others equipment.
12/1/1914
The beginning of a series of isolated murders to terrorize the Armenian population.
12/1/1914
Reports reach Constantinople that raids by irregular chete forces on the Armenian villages of Erzerum Province are continuing.
12/2/1914
Turks loot the properties of subjects of Allied nations.
12/3/1914
The Ittihad Inspector of Balikesir sends a message to Dr. Nazim of the central committee of the Special Organization via Midhat Shukri, the Central Secretary of Ittihad, that the Interior Ministry and the Ittihad Committee, in accordance with issued orders, are busy organizing the irregular chete bands.
12/5/1914
Reports continue reaching Constantinople that chete raids on the Armenian villages of Erzerum Province are continuing.
12/6/1914
Armenians are put to use as porters of army supplies in Erzerum, Trebizond, and Sivas Provinces under the worst of cold winter conditions for the purpose of letting them die of overwork and illness.
12/14/1914
The Turkish Cabinet charges Enver with command of the offensive on the Caucasian front and assigns Talaat the position of Acting Minister of War while retaining his position as Minister of the Interior.
12/22/1914
An attack by the Ottoman Third Army corps opens the Battle of Sarikamish on the Caucasian Front.
12/23/1914
Foreign missionaries abandon the interior of Turkey as crosses on missions are broken by the Turks and replaced by crescents.
12/31/1914
Sahag Odabashian, the newly appointed Prelate of Erzinjan, while traveling from Constantinople via Sivas to Erzinjan, where he was to be installed in office, is slain in the village of Kanli-Tash, near Shabin-Karahisar, by six chetes organized by Ahmed Muammer, the governor-general of Sivas Province