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Independence
After the Bolsheviks came to power in
Russia, in a period of month and a half, half a million
Russian soldiers leave their position and retreat
disorderly, leaving the battle front to a small Armenian
military group. Encouraged by this, the Turkish army starts
concentrating its forces on the Western borders of Armenia.
The leaders of Dashnag party, recognizing the problem
under the slogan of "The
fatherland is in danger" started creating an Armenian army.
The Armenian-Turkish
war starts in January of 1918.
Events leading to
May 28, 1918
Non stop lines of refugees, from
Alexantrapol
to Tbilisi, Northern Caucasus
and Russia. Also on the roads leading from Ikdir to
Etchmiadzine, Yerevan, Ashdarag and Nor Bayazed.
Turkish armies on the
fields of Shirag, the valleys of Lori, at the base of Mount
Arakatz and on the shores of the river Arax, all directed
towards Yerevan.
Internal enemies,
Tatars and Kurds, like wolfs packs, interrupting the flow of
the soldiers to the front.
External enemies,
politicians sitting in Tbilisi, Bakou, Batoum, Moscow and
Constantinople. All trying to dismember and tear apart the
surviving pieces of Armenia.
Tired, defeated and hopeless
Armenian troops retreating for months now.
Total carnage and
devastation prevailed everywhere.
All the roads are
closed, completely cut off from the world, left to its own
fate, a helpless Armenia, without a government or help.
Surviving Armenians on their last breath.
This is the
Armenian May in 1918 and just like the murderous April of
1915. Only a miracle can save Armenia and its people.
The Miracle
At that critical hour,
alarms start blasting from Araradian fields. "Everything and
Everyone to the Battle front" - the announcement of the
governing council of city of Yerevan, chaired by Aram
Manoogian, starts spreading among the people as a challenge.
"Everything" changes, retreat transforms into attack, defeat
becomes victory, and the miracle happens.
The Battlefront
The Turkish army starts
attacking, hoping to finish the Armenian issue once and for
all with one last stroke. By May 23rd they take Hamamlou,
Gharakilise, Pash Abaran, Sartarabad and Sourmalou on the
banks of the river Arax.
The Armenian response
On may 21, ignoring the
retreat, colonel Daniel Beg Piroumian gets behind the
Turkish army in Sartarabad and starts hitting them from the
sides. The surprised Turkish army gets disorganized and
scared.
This heroic act
encourages the Commander of the Araradian front, General
Movses Siligian on may 23rd to order the attack on
Sartarabad. People and army, rush the enemy.
On the Arakats front,
General Tro's army counter attacks and after fierce battles Armenians take back Pash Abaran and
start advancing towards the fields of Shirag.
The Armenian soldiers,
gathered in Tilichan, go on the offensive on May 26 under the
command of General Thomas Nazarbegian on the Gharakilise
front, stop the enemy and take control of the war.
On May 28, Armenian
forces are victorious everywhere and the Turkish army is in
defeated retreat.
Encouraged from these
victories, General Siligian orders "towards guns, towards
Alexantrapol." Upon this famous challenge, "Everybody" gets
ready to take back the lands from the Turks.
The Victories of May
end unfinished. 
In Tbilisi, The Armenian National
Committee unaware of the victories and trying to save what
is left signs an armistice with the Turkish representatives
and orders General Nazarpegian to cease all military action,
stopping the Armenian army on its tracks. Instead of the
soldiers marching into
Alexantrapol,
it is the politicians that go
there
to sign the ceasefire agreement.
The new Armenia is
established on may 30th 1918 when the Armenian national
committee in Tbilisi declares Armenia independent. Socialist
Republic was the form of Government. Hovannes Kachazouni is
assigned as prime minister, who creates the first Armenian
government.
The Armenian government
and the legislature are transferred from Tbilisi to Yerevan
in July 1918. Quoting the Prime Minister "Under Rain, Chaos
and catastrophic conditions" the new government starts its
work.
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