Anti-Semitism we rarely hear about

[Khazar]

“Torchlight procession of the youth dedicated to the 88 anniversary of the Genocide of the Armenians in the Osman Empire was held yesterday evening in Yerevan. The emphatic procession spread along the streets of the downtown. Members of the youth wing of ARFD (Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun) burned up publicly the Turkish flag at the Matenadaran (depository of ancient manuscripts – M. D.) and with torches lit by its fire made for the Tsiternakaberd” (site of the monument dedicated to the Armenian Genocide). This is the signature below the photo in the front page of the Russian-language newspaper “Novoje Vremja” (editor Ruben Satyan) on April 24, 2003 with 5 000 printing copies in Yerevan. The author of the signature below the photo lied – the flag is not Turkish. The star of David is related neither to the present-day Turkey nor the Osman Empire. The text, in its turn, is full of the sense of dignity for this sort of “youth”, whose actions can be compared with torchlight processions of the Nazis. And this happens for the second year in a row.
According to the Chairman of the Armenian Jewish Community, Rima Varjapetyan-Feller, an unknown person drew swastika on the door-plate of the Community office situated right in the Center of Yerevan. Swastika was also drawn on the memorial stone dedicated the victims of the Holocaust. But this time vandals weren't satisfied with swastika only. In 1999, just three weeks after the official opening of the monument, the stone was stolen. The case didn't receive publicity and fairly soon a new stone was put instead. The initiation of a criminal case produced no results. In 2002 the stone was taken off while 12 trees, which surrounded it as a symbol of 12 Israeli descents were chopped down. This time the customers and the executors – Yerevan city hall and the owner of just another restaurant opened on the site of the memorial, are known, but, of course, not punished. During the meeting of R. Varjapetyan-Feller with the general city architect the latter insisted that this was not a political action but a «commonplace casus». Foreign Minister of Armenia, Vardan Voskanyan, commented on the incident as neither anti-Semitism, nor vandalism, but mere negligence. By the way, this comment coincides with that of the adviser to President on National Minorities and NGO-s issues, Razmik Davoyan, who said: “This procession conducted by the youth shouldn’t be perceived as a manifestation of anti-Jewish sentiment, but simply as illiteracy”. Well, young people – illiterate people, but hadn’t been their senior comrades informed in advance about the upcoming Sabbath? Sure they had. Moreover, they sanctioned this “undertaking” for we shouldn’t forget that the national-socialist party ARFD is presently one of the two ruling parties in Armenia.
In February the presentation of a book entitled “National Systems” written by Romen Episkoposyan was held. The chapter 8.6 of it entitled “Killer Nation” begins with the following words: “There are two nations in the present-day world, which bear evil in the most concentrated and aggressive way. These are the Jews – nation of demolition with a mission to demolish and decompose, and the Turks – killer nation with a mission to destroy and suppress (page 127). The teachers who were present at the gathering are satisfied: “Finally there is a book we can make use of to bring up younger generations”.
Now it is neither “negligence” nor “illiteracy”. It is already a rise of ideology.

http://www.hahr.am/english/open/hydesem.htm

[Khazar]

“National System” by Romen Yepiskoposyanis a book published and on sale in Armenia which identifies Jews and Turks as the leading enemies of the Armenian nation. According to the ‘National System’ the Holocaust is a myth, which was created by the Zionists. The leader of Armenian Jewry at the 9 February gathering said, they are going to meet with Armenian President about the rising anti-Semitism in Armenia, yet the officials made no statement about the book and the anti-Semitic movements in the country.


Antisemitic Book Presented in Armenia; Jewish Leader Heckled


(February 20, 2002)
On February 9, 2002 in Yerevan, a book entitled “National System” by Romen Yepiskoposyan, printed in Armenian and Russian, was presented at the Union of Writers of Armenia, according to Artak Varzhapetyan, head of international relations at the Jewish Community of Armenia. The author of the book identifies Jews and Turks as the No. 1 enemies of Armenians, writing that:

“In the contemporary world there are two nations that are the carriers of evil of the most concentrated and aggressive type. These are the Jews – the nation-destroyer with a mission of destruction and decomposition, and the Turks – the nation-killer with a mission of devastation and crushing.”

A section in the book entitled “The Greatest Falsification of the 20th Century” denies the Holocaust, claiming that it is a myth created by Zionists to discredit “Arians.”:


“The greatest falsification in human history is the myth of Holocaust. …no one was killed in gas chambers. There were no gas chambers.”

A speaker at the event called for the book to be distributed in schools in order to “develop a national idea and understanding of history.”

The President of the Jewish Community of Armenia—Mrs. Rimma Varzhapetyan—was at the presentation, and when she introduced herself to the audience, many people in attendance shouted that Jews are to blame for the Armenian genocide of 1916 in Turkey and that they are enemies.

Mrs. Varzhapetyan responded that the book is totally absurd and a falsification of historical and contemporary facts. She sharply reminded the audience how many things Jews and especially she herself have done for Armenia—the answer from the audience was that there are some good Jews.

Mr. Varzhapetyan told UCSJ that: “In the beginning of next week we, the Jewish Community of Armenia, are going to meet the President of the Republic of Armenia to ask for a reaction against such actions.”

http://www.fsumonitor.com/stories/022002Armen.shtml


NEW BOOK CLAIMS JEWS AND TURKS ARE THE GREATEST ENEMIES OF ARMENIANS. A book, titled "National System," published in Yerevan identifies Jews and Turks as the greatest enemies of Armenians and "the carriers of evil in a most concentrated and aggressive form." Written by Romen Yepiskoposyan and printed in Armenian and Russian, the book denies the existence of gas chambers and calls the Holocaust "the greatest falsification of the twentieth century." The head of Armenia's Jewish community, Mrs. Rimma Varzhapetyan, attended the presentation of the book on February 8 in the building of the Union of Writers of Armenia. When she introduced herself, people in the audience shouted that Jews were guilty of the Armenian genocide in 1915.

[Mil]

Iran is getting its propoganda over the border.... Sad.

Armenians have fought in WWII producing some of the greatest generals and soldiers. All of them know exactly of what happened to the Jews and how.

What a shame. They should have invited Kasparov to that particular conference.

[Khazar]

Yes it is a shame, Iran and Armenia are key allies in the region unfortunately Azerbaycan suffers as a result, 20% of its land is Illegally occupied by Armenia and they suffered what they claim is a genocide in Karabag.

As Azerbaycan is a key ally in the region of America and Israel and the only country in the Caucaus free of Iran and Russian domination and control I hope more help is given to them and their difficult task ahead against these agressors in the region.

It also doesnt help that "Pan-Aryanism" has infected the region, its very sad to see these pro-Aryan Supremacy sites popping up and Racist Extremism being spread from Russia into the region tricking Armenians due to them also being "Aryan" aswell.


By Dr. Sedat Laciner

‘It is in our blood to hate the Turks. However, we hate Bulgarians and Greeks also. The Jews like Turks, but they hate Arabs. The Arabs, in their turn, are not in favour with the Turks. And the level of hatred is rising’

Although the Jewish community in Armenia dates back almost 2,000 years, the population of the Jews has reduced to fewer than 1,000 individuals in Armenia and in Karabakh province, which is the Azerbaijan territory under the Armenian occupation. Ironically this tiny Jewish community has exposed to the rising Armenian anti-Semitism in the recent years, and now they are considered as ‘guests’ in Armenia where they have lived for the ages.[2] The reasons for anti-Semitism among the Armenians is not actually the Jewish activities, but the regional and international politics and the historical mistrust, namely the problems between Armenia, Turkey and Azerbaijan, and Israel’s recent co-operation with Turkey. Before analysing the reasons, the study will provide the historical background of the Armenian ‘antagonism’ against the Jews and the history of the Jewish community in Armenia. Then it will move in to the current reasons of the Armenian Jewish scepticism in the recent years. The study, in questioning the reasons, also focuses on Armenia-Israel relations and the Israeli-Turkish alliance’s impact on Armenia’s perception of the region. The article further discusses Israel’s and the world Jewish community’s attitude regarding the Armenian ‘genocide’ allegations. The author reminds that the Jewish community clearly oppose the Armenian allegations and reject all the Armenian attempts to create a similarity between Holocaust and the 1915 events, and the article discusses the Jewish opposition’s effects on the Armenian issue.

I. ARMENIAN ANTI-SEMITISM IN THE OTTOMAN PERIOD
The Ottoman experience proves that anti-Semitism is an old Armenian habit. The main reason for anti-semitism among the Ottoman Armenians was mainly religious biases. For the Christian Armenians the Jews were in great sin. It was a common belief among the Armenians that the Jews slaughter young Christian Armenians and use their blood at the Passover feast. In Amasya province for instance local Armenian priests and notables claimed that an Armenian woman had seen Jews slaughter a young Armenian boy and use his blood for religious purposes. Stanford J. Shaw describes the following events:

‘Several days of rioting and pillaging and attacks on Jews followed, with Armenian mobs devastating the Jewish quarter of the city, beating men, women and children alike. The Armenian notables convinced the local Ottoman governor to imprison several Jewish leaders, including Rabbi Yakub Avayu, who was accused of having supervised the blood letting. They were said, after undergoing severe torture, to have confessed to their crimes and were hanged. Later, however, the Armenian boy who supposedly had been murdered was found and a new Ottoman governor punished the accusers, though nothing could be done about the Jews who had suffered in the process.’[3]

As Abraham Ben-Yakob put it, the Armenian and Greek attacks against the Armenians continued in the following years:

‘There were literally thousands of incidents in subsequent years, invariably resulting from accusations spread among Greeks and Armenians by word mouth, or published in their newspapers, often by Christian financiers and merchants who were anxious to get the Jews out of the way, resulting in isolated and mob attacks on Jews, and burning of their shops and homes.’[4]

Apart from the religious prejudices, the Jewish community in the Empire dramatically rose in numbers and their influence over the administration and economy increased, and this development made the Christian subjects (Armenians, Greeks etc.) worried. Unfortunately this competition between the Jews and Christians resulted in a long series of attacks against the Jews by the Armenians and Greeks, who simply did not want to lose their influential position in terms of politics and economy. In these assaults many Jews were assassinated. When the Europeans increased their economic and political influence over the Ottoman Empire they publicly supported the Ottoman Christians and the Armenians and Greeks gained a clear privilege in trade, which was unfavourable to the Jews. The local Armenians and Greeks had the American and the European diplomats and businessmen with them, while the Jews had to rely on their own sources and their good relations with the Ottoman bureaucracy. In addition, as the Armenians and Greeks got richer and more influential, harassments and the constant attacks against the Jews increased as witnessed in Izmir during the 19th century. The competition between the Armenians and the Jews was severe in Palace and the financial system in particular. When the Armenian bankers sustained monopoly over the Ottoman financial system they did everything to get the Jews out of the Palace, and even libelled Jews by accusing the Jews of not being loyal to the Sultan. As a result of these slanders, many Jews lost their life.[5]

Another dramatic development for the Jews was the impact of the European military victories and conquests of Ottoman territories by the European armies, because when the Christian European armies occupied the Ottoman possessions they were supporting their Christian ‘brothers’, Armenians, Greeks and Bulgarians, and punishing the Jews and Muslims alike.[6] Consequently the Jews became the most loyal ones to the government in the 19th century and this also worsened the relations between the nationalist Armenians and the Jews. The radical Armenians perceived the Jews as the agent of the state against their ‘revolutionary’ movement. Even some Armenians would claim that some of the responsible officers for the 1915 events, which the Armenians see these events as ‘genocide’, were Jews, freemasons or supported by the Jews or freemasons. Although this kind of claims cannot be considered as serious or scholarly, they are useful to understand the degree of the Armenian anti-semitism.

The fourth negative development for the Ottoman Jews was the nationalist-separatist movements in the Arab territories, the Balkans and in Anatolia. The only protector of the Jews in these regions was the Ottoman state and its governor because the Arabs and the Christians hated the Jews due to the tradition and religion. That is why the Jews became more and more loyal to their state, and this more annoyed the nationalist groups, particularly the Greeks and the Armenians. In many Greek uprisings for instance the Jews supported the Ottoman State against the rioters as witnessed in the Ottoman – Greek War in 1897 for Crete island. The Ottoman security forces had to intervene to protect the Jews from the Armenians, Greeks and the Arabs especially in the 19th century. In Syria in particular the Christian Arabs and Armenians hated the Jews as a result of the religious biases.[7]

In summary, the Armenians continually attacked the Jews for the religious reasons and for personal and ethnic interests. In the words of Shaw, ‘the attacks were brutal and without mercy. Women, children, and aged Jewish men were frequently attacked, beaten and often killed’.[8] These attacks inevitably caused a severe tension and nourished mutual hate between the Armenians and the Jews. As a result the Jews sometimes co-operated with other ethnic groups against the Armenians as Shaw puts it:

‘Jewish resentment against the continued persecution and ritual murder attacks by Greeks and Armenians led to such hatred that, for example, many Jews actively assisted the attacks of Kurds and Lazzes on the Armenian quarters of Istanbul in 1896 and 1908, showing the Kurds where Armenians lived and where many of them were hiding and joining them in carrying away the booty. The result was even greater Armenian hatred for Jews than had been the case before, leading to further persecution and attacks in subsequent years’.[9]
In addition to the assaults against the Jewish people the Armenians and Greeks made enormous efforts to keep the Jews out of the Palace and other important official places. Furthermore they tried to prevent constructing new synagogues in Istanbul. Guleryuz’s research on Turkish Jewry’ gives an example:




‘Greeks and Armenians agitated widely to prevent Jews from constructing new synagogues when needed in the Empire. The best example of this came with Greek and Armenian opposition to the construction of a new Jewish synagogue at Haydarpasha in 1899. Sultan Abdul Hamid II allowed the synagogue to be built, and assured its opening despite the protests by sending a contingent of soldiers from the nearby Selimiye barracks, leading the contregation to adopt the name Hemdat Israel synagogue, but also the word Hemdat was close to the name of their benefactor, Sultan Abdul Hamid.’[10]

In conclusion, anti-Semitism was a strong tradition among the Ottoman Armenians, and as will be seen it would be revived in the modern ages.

[Khazar]

II. THE SECOND WORLD WAR: ARMENIAN-NAZI COLLABORATION?

The historical Armenian mistrust towards the Jews continued in the 1930s and 1940s and some radical Armenians did not hesitate to support the Nazi administration. Ayhan Ozer claims that Hitler aimed to get the Armenian support in his anti-Semitic campaign. In other words both, Nazi party and the radical anti-Semitic Armenians saw each other in the same side. Apart from the ‘common feelings’ about the Jews, in foreign policy, ‘Hitler’s future invasion plans of Russia provided a golden opportunity for the Armenians to liberate what they considered to be “Historic Armenia” from the Soviet as well as the Turkish rule’.[11] The Armenian-German alliance alarmed not only Turkey but also the Turkish Jews. The British Ambassador in Ankara reported to his government that ‘the Armenians (in Turkey) are extremely fruitful ground for German activities, and these non-Muslim elements with their mentality (rooted in the Ottoman years) are always viewed with mistrust by the Turkish authorities’.[12] Ozer claims that as a result of the Armenian-Nazi alliance, the 812th Battalion later developed into a so-called ‘Armenian Legion with the efforts of Alfred Muradian, a German–Armenian, and by Armik Jamalian, the son of Arshak Jamalian, the Foreign Minister of the short-lived Armenian Republic. Some of this 20,000-strong Armenian legion were trained by the SS and its Security Division S. D. and later they joined the Nazi Einsatzgruppen in the invasion of the Crimea and the North Caucasia.[13] The skilled legion served the Nazi army as police unit for internal intelligence and controlling the ‘undesired elements’ like the Jews.

Moreover as Christopher Walker, a pro-Armenian researcher, admits that the relations between the Nazis and the Dashnaks living in the Nazi occupied areas were very close and active. The Armenians of Bucharest in May 1935 for example attacked the local Jews.[14] Walker summarise the close ties between the Nazis and Dashnag Armenians:


‘There remains the incontestable fact that relations between the Nazis and the Dashnags living in the occupied areas were close and active. On 30 December 1941 an Armenian battalion was created by a decision of the Wehrmacht, known as the Armenian 812th Battalion. It was commanded by Dro, and was made of a small number of committed recruits, and a larger number of Armenians from the prisoners of war taken by the Nazis in their sweep eastwards. Early on the total number was 8,000; this number later grew to 20,000. The 812th Battalion was operational in the Crimea and the North Caucasus.’[15]

Apart from the assaults against the Jews, the Armenians also published a German language magazine, with fascist and anti-Semitic tendencies. In these publications the radical Armenians supported the Nazi doctrines and justified the anti-Semitic Nazi policies.[16]

Though pro-Armenian researcher Christopher J. Walker admits that the Armenians collaborated with the Nazis, some of the Armenian authors may refuse these claims. However the Armenian periodicals of that period provide abundant proof for the Nazi-Armenian collaboration. For example the Armenian-language daily Hairenik on 17 September 1936 tried to legitimate the Nazi administration:

‘…and came (to power) Adolph Hitler after Herculean struggles. He spoke to the racial heart strings of the German, opened the fountain of his national genius…’[17]


Similarly Hairenik named the Jews as ‘poisonous elements’ in its 19 and 20 August 1936 issue:


‘Sometimes it is difficult to eradicate these poisonous elements (the Jews) when they have struck deep root like a chronic disease, and when it becomes necessary for a people (the Nazis) to eradicate them in an uncommon method these attempts are regarded as revolutionary. During a surgical operation the flow of blood is a natural thing…’[18]


‘…Jews being the most fanatical nationalists and race-worshippers, are compelled to create an atmosphere of internationalism and world-citizenship in order to preserve their race. As the British use battleships to occupy lands, the Jews use internationalism or communism as a weapon…’[19]

[Khazar]

James R. Russell states:
“The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnakts'ut'iun) in America at the same time praised German fascism and Nazi anti-Semitism and racial persecution in its newspaper, Hayrenik; and sponsored the Ts'eghakron, or "Race-Worship" society for young Armenians. General Drastamat ("Dro") Kanayan and Garegin Nzhdeh, both Dashnak heroes today, commanded units in Hitler's army through the war.”

More info here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Dro


General Dro comanded the 812th Armenian Nazi Battalian

"...Nevertheless there remains the incontestable fact that relations between the Nazis and Daschnaks living in occupied areas were close and active. On 30 december 1941 an Armenian batallion was created by a decision of the Wehrmacht, known as the Armenian 812th Battalion. It was commanded by Dro, and was made up of a small number of committed recruits, and a larger number of Armenians from the prisoners of war taken by the Nazis in their sweep eastwards. Early on the total number was 8000; this number later grew to 20,000. The 812 th Batallion was operational in the Crimea and the North Caucasus. A year later, on 15 December 1942, an Armenian National Council was granted official recognition by Alfred Rosenberg, the German minister of the occupied areas. The Council president was Professor Ardasher Abeghian, its vice-president Abraham Guilkhandanian and it numbered among its members Nzhdeh and Vahan Papazian. From that date until thje end of 1944 it published a weekly journal, Armenian, edited by Viken Shantn (the son of Levon) who also broadcast on Radio Berlin...
Hence it was important to prove to the Nazis that the Armenians were Aryans. With the aid of Dr. Paul Rohrbach they seem to have achieved this. The Nazis did not persecute Armenians, just for being Armenians, in the occupied lands..."

The preceding is from Christopher J. Walker's "Armenia —The Survival of a Nation," page 357, para 2.



"Above: Armenians in Paul [Leverkuen's] staff visit Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Paul Goebbels before returning to Middle East to spread Nazi propaganda from [base] at [Adana]"


Now the problem is, today in Armenia General Dro is heralded as a Hero.

More info is here

http://forum.stormfront.org/showthre...=141910&page=3

[Theodikritis]

Well the Turks did not exactly act like angels by enlisting in the Waffen SS en masse in enough numbers far greater then the Armenians.

[Khazar]

What is wrong with you, what has this got to do with Turks? why do you bring up Turkey? you are a person obsessed

Armenians founded a Nazi Batallion, 812th Batallian, the sad part is this isn't condemned and the Leader of it General Dro is today a Hero in Armenia that's the worst part.

Excuse me, the Turkish Republic never involved in such matters, take your lies about Turkey and shove it where the sun don't shine.

Don't get me started about what happened in the Jewish city of Salonika, the Burning the Jew effigy of Greek islands or the attrocities in Rhodes!

TURKEY AND THE JEWS OF EUROPE DURING WORLD WAR II - ( #1)

"While six millions Jews were being exterminated by the Nazis, the rescue of some 15,000 Turkish Jews from France, and even of some 100,000 Jews from Eastern Europe might well be considered as relatively insignificant in comparison. It was, however, very significant to the people who were rescued, and above all it showed that, as had been the case for more than five centuries, Turks and Jews continued to help each other in times of great crises." Stanford J. Shaw


By Stanford J. Shaw,

http://www.sefarad.org/publication/lm/043/6.html

Story of Turkish Jews
"The Sephardic communities in Turkey and Bulgaria were the only communities that did not suffer the Nazi Holocaust"
Israel Hanukoglu, Ph.D. Research Institute College of Judea and Samaria Ariel, Israel

http://www.ataa.org/ataa/ref/tjews_story.html

Sturma Tragedy

http://www.turkishjews.com/struma/

This is very sad story

[Theodikritis]

What is wrong with you, what has this got to do with Turks? why do you bring up Turkey? you are a person obsessed

Armenians founded a Nazi Batallion, 812th Batallian, the sad part is this isn't condemned and the Leader of it General Dro is today a Hero in Armenia that's the worst part.

Excuse me, the Turkish Republic never involved in such matters, take your lies about Turkey and shove it where the sun don't shine.

Don't get me started about what happened in the Jewish city of Salonika, the Burning the Jew effigy of Greek islands or the attrocities in Rhodes!

TURKEY AND THE JEWS OF EUROPE DURING WORLD WAR II - ( #1)

"While six millions Jews were being exterminated by the Nazis, the rescue of some 15,000 Turkish Jews from France, and even of some 100,000 Jews from Eastern Europe might well be considered as relatively insignificant in comparison. It was, however, very significant to the people who were rescued, and above all it showed that, as had been the case for more than five centuries, Turks and Jews continued to help each other in times of great crises." Stanford J. Shaw


By Stanford J. Shaw,

http://www.sefarad.org/publication/lm/043/6.html

Story of Turkish Jews
"The Sephardic communities in Turkey and Bulgaria were the only communities that did not suffer the Nazi Holocaust"
Israel Hanukoglu, Ph.D. Research Institute College of Judea and Samaria Ariel, Israel

http://www.ataa.org/ataa/ref/tjews_story.html

Sturma Tragedy

http://www.turkishjews.com/struma/

This is very sad story

The reason I brought it up was because you made the assertion that the Armenians supported the Nazis, however many Turks also enlisted in the Waffen SS so I was just pointing that out.

I never claimed that the Turkish Republic was in the war, what I was talking about though was Bosnia.

You know about the Bosnian SS Divisions right?

One thing about World War Two you shoudl remember is that Turkey was never invaded.

[Ara]

How cute muslim turk.
Tell us turk why the best seller in turkey is Mein Kampf?
Tell us turk why are you blowing up Synagogues?
Tell us turk why are you producing anti jewish movies?
Tell us turk why are you picking on the remaining Armenians that you didn’t massacre.

"For a nation of pigs, it sure seems funny that you don't eat them! Jesus Christ forgave the bastards, but WE can't! WE hate! WE hate you! WE hate your nation! And WE hate your people! And WE f.uck your sons and daughters because they're pigs! You're all pigs!"

From the movie “Midnight Express”

[Leon]

This country hates this country. This person hates this person. And so and so forth. But they are all however united in one thing - Jew hatred.

I guess thats why the United Nations was formed.

[Mil]

No, that's why we have the United States. Everyone is welcome to live here.

[Mil]

Most Armenians fought against the Nazis during WWII - at least those who lived in USSR.

Soviet Armenia alone gave the Soviet Army 300,000 fighters and 62 Generals.
The most prominent Armenian was General-Colonel Ivan Kristoforovich Bagramian commander of the Soviet 1st Baltic Front. Later he was promoted to the rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union.

The Turkish role in WWII was that of neutrality though pro-German and anti-British views were very much overpowering. In any case Turkey's fate of participating in WWII was ceased after Stalingrad.

[Womble]

Well, from the sound of it Armenia suffers from the same disease the rest of the post-Soviet space suffers. Extreme nationalists asserting their ideology by Jew bashing. Sad and quite disgusting, but nothing exceptional. I wish I could be properly outraged about such things, but it's way too routine these days. Happens in Armenia, happens in Turkey, happens in France- everywhere.

On the subject of who collaborated with the Nazis- Hitler indeed had some Armenian troops (the Armenian Legion mentioned by Khazar) and
some Turkish troops as well (I mean the actual Turks, from the Osttürkischen Waffen-Verbände der SS, not the Bosnian Muslims or the Azeris, who also served in Hitler's Muslim legions, but whom I am not sure if I should regard as Turks). It is important to notice though that neither nation or the majority of their population was ever swayed to Hitler's side. The Armenians, as Mil notes, were very prominent in the Red Army and contributed much to the victory. Turkey, while being officially neutral and having signed a non-aggression pact with Hitler, also had a mutual assistance treaty with the Allies, and bugged the hell out of Hitler with both its stubborn neutrality and their scrupulous observance of the Montreux Convention. Not a single Axis military unit, warship or aircraft was allowed to pass through Turkey at any time, which severely complicated Germany's cooperation with Italy and his Arab allies. As Khazar noted, the Turks had saved a large number of European Jews. What he forgets to note is that Turkey played the role of a buffer that cut Hitler off the Middle East, effectively saving the Jewish Yishuv in the land of Israel and the Jewish community of Iraq. Were the Nazi troops to cross into the already pro-Nazi Iraq, they could recruit enough willing Arab soldiers there and in the nearby Transjordan to make the Yishuv's survival problematic.

[Mediocrates]

Close to shutting this down -