Institution:	Institut für Osmanistik und Turkologie
Leiter/in:	Prof. Dr. Elke Shoghig Hartmann
Kooperationspartner
Mitarbeiter/innen:	Dr. Sedat Ulugana
Förderung:	Einstein Stiftung Berlin
Laufzeit:	01.06.2024-31.05.2026

Kurzbeschreibung

The research focuses on the transformation of Kurdish tribes from perpetrators in the 1915 Armenian Genocide to victims in the 1930 Ararat Kurdish rebellion. The study utilizes diplomatic archives and oral history, aiming to provide a new perspective on genocide studies by emphasizing the role of local power nodes. The project aims to publish

a manuscript exploring the socio-political transformation of the Kurdish- Armenian geography from 1908 to 1914 and deepen the understanding of the Kurdish-Armenian relationship post-1915. The researcher plans to spend the first twelve months in various archives, including the Republic of Turkey, France, Britain, Austria, the United States, and Germany. The goal is to collect data on the transformation of Kurdish tribes and their collaboration in the genocide. The subsequent twelve months will be dedicated to writing a book based on the research, examining the role

of tribes as both perpetrators and victims during 1915-1930. The study seeks to uncover the motivations behind tribal participation in the genocide, exploring factors such as cultural plunder, nationalist movements, and religious influences. It also aims to understand the role of Naqshbandi- Khalidi sects in issuing fatwas and their connection to the genocide. The researcher plans to analyze the correspondence between the central state and local officials to trace genocidal policies. Additionally, the project will involve archival research in France, Germany, and the USA, considering sources like the Nubar Library, France External Affairs Diplomacy Archive, German External Affairs Political Archive, and missionary archives. Oral history research, including interviews with Kurds, will also contribute to

the project. The historical background highlights the Hamidiye regiments' role in massacres during Sultan Abdulhamid's reign, leading to increased suppression and genocides. The Young Turks' overthrow of Abdulhamid marked a shift, with the CUP initiating purges and massacres in Kurdish- Armenia regions. The Armenian population was decimated, and properties were confiscated, financing Turkish-Sunni politics. The Kemalist regime later abolished tribal privileges, leading to rebellions in 1920 and alliances between Dashnaksutyun and Kurdish Teali Society in the Aǧrı Rebellion. The project aims to provide a historical sociology perspective on ethnicity, rebellion, state formation, violence, and genocide, shedding light on the complex dynamics between the state, its enemies, and collaborators. The study spans two decades, offering insights into questions of victimhood, genocide memory, accountability, and historical justice.