The Armenian Massacres in Ottoman Turkey: A Disputed Genocide (Utah Series in Turkish and Islamic Stud) Hardcover – November 30, 2005

An exceptional book in every aspect of this long running dispute!When I decided to read an unbiased book on this complex tragic history of the past, I did a little research on the available material. I wanted to pick a book written by a credible western historian who has no ties to Armenian or Turkish side. I'm very glad I picked this one as it turned out to be a gem in more ways than I expected. Guenter Lewy is a much respected historian who previously researched and published various controversial cases of genocides ([...] This is his latest book on this extremely sensitive subject.There is not a claim or quote in the book without pointing to the source (and there are hundreds of them). It certainly encourages the reader to read a few more of those referenced materials. The book has been divided to various sections to explain the events of the period as truthfully as possible, and to show the differences between the Armenian and Turkish views. You end up realizing that most claims are not usually as simple as you've been told and there are no blacks and whites but all shades of gray.Before I bought this book, I also read the reviews on this page. Now, I've come to the conclusion that you would only give "one star" rating to this book if it conflicted with your agenda. The author does not hesitate to point out the lies and half-truths used by both sides of the dispute, and some people naturally take offense in that approach.Read the book and develop your own opinion on an important piece of history that would likely be debated forever.

Lewy has done a phenomenal job in addressing this emotional issue and has taken great personal risk by sticking to the facts alone. Work is scholarly, evidence based, broad scope, delivery and development is easy on the reader and he has taken pains to be as objective as possible.As someone who is more than familiar with the subject, WWI events themselves, many books and research on the topic, I can comfortably claim that this book can certainly be considered as the final word on this controversy.It is clear that this would not be satisfactory to many who have a vested interest in propagating the myths, and those whose identity is now closely tied to a fabricated history and propaganda.Lewy points out that as disturbing as it was the scale of misery suffered by the Armenians during WWI in Anatolia, and the underestimation by the Ottomans of the difficulties of uprooting and moving such a large population, there is no evidence of a plan, policy or intent by the Ottoman government of the time to physically eliminate a whole nation. There is no physical or documentary evidence to support the thesis of a systematic genocide. Period.It does take courage to state the facts and the author has done a very significant service in the name of setting the record straight.

To an outsider, Lewy's book seems a model of objectivity and balance and a sincere effort at unravelling the confusing strands of this story. It is his balanced view that seems to have incited the greatest criticism: the reviews tend to be all or nothing, love or hate, and the reviews appear to fall according to party lines, politics and nationality. To that extent it isn't the book, per se, that has been reviewed, but Lewy's politics, or lack thereof. In refusing to come down on the side of centrally coordinated genocide (as opposed to uncoordinated massacres) Lewy has incurred the wrath of those insisting on the label of "genocide." Of particular interest, in light of a more recent book, was Lewy's note (p 262) that "...even as strong a defender of the Armenian position as the historian Taner Akcam has acknowledged the difference between the generally accepted historical reality of the Holocaust and the issue of the Armenian massacres." Highly recommended to the non-partisan reader. The agreed-upon facts are horrible enough in their own right, and the political questions will likely never be settled to everyone's satisfaction.

I highly recommend this well written and well researched book to each and every person who wants to know the truth, instead of hearing the continuous, one-sided Armenian propagada lies which have been continuously perpetrated upon the Christian nations of the world for 100 years, just so they (Armenians) can get their continous handouts (a.k.a. Foreign Aid) from these nations, and have them do their "dirty work (e.g. fighting)" for them! In reality, Armenians are TERRIFIED of the truth ever coming out! Case in point...one simply has to read their grossly negative "comments" regarding this book. In many cases, some of them have never even read this book, but will make every opportunity to trash it (which is their usual style!).Read the book and come up with your own conclussions. It's free from any bias and propaganda. It tells things like it was!

I liked that the author went to original documents and letters about the actions of both the Turkish and Armenian actors. Nobody at the time was interested in propaganda, just what was happening.

A very informative book about a highly disputed topic. The writer is quite objective and neutral, and explains both sides of the history. Highly recommended to anybody who wants to read an unbiased history.

Es ist erstaunlich und bewundernswert, wie viel Guenter Lewy ohne neue Quellen einfach durch kritische Sichtung der lange bekannten Literatur klären oder doch plausibel machen kann. Mit dieser Methode erstellt er sogar eine Statistik der Opfer und kommt zu dem Ergebnis, daß ungefähr 642 000 Armenier umkamen, was etwa 37 Prozent der Vorkriegsbevölkerung entspricht. Die Frage, ob das mit oder ohne Absicht geschah, kann er nicht zweifelsfrei beantworten. Aber wenn man berücksichtigt, daß auch die Türken und die Kurden schwere Verluste erlitten, und zwar weit mehr durch Krankheit als im Kampf, und wenn man ferner bedenkt, daß etwa von den 1916 in türkische Gefangenschaft geratenen britischen und indischen Soldaten ungefähr ein Drittel umkam, spricht viel dafür, daß keine Absicht vorlag. Lewy vermutet vielmehr, daß die gewaltige Aufgabe, mehrere hunderttausend Menschen in kurzer Zeit und angesichts eines höchst primitiven Transportsystems umzusiedeln, einfach die Möglichkeiten der ottomanischen Bürokratie überstieg. Am Ende erwähnt Lewy einige türkisch-armenische Kolloquien, die an amerikanischen Universitäten stattfanden, und greift den Appell eines Historikers auf, Türken und Armenier sollten endlich die sterile Debatte, ob es Genozid war oder nicht, die nur zu gegenseitigen Beschuldigungen führe, durch gemeinsame empirische Forschung ersetzen. Natürlich sei es nicht leicht, schreibt Lewy, die Geschichte dem Zugriff und den Polemiken der Politiker und Nationalisten zu entreißen. Aber wenn und soweit es gelänge, könne es den Weg zu einer armenisch-türkischen Aussöhnung und zur Beilegung eines Konflikts ebnen, der schon allzu lange anhalte. Lewys Buch könnte ein nützlicher Beitrag dazu sein.

This is a stunningly well-balanced account of what happened to the Armenians in Turkey during the 2nd decade of the 20th century. Not only does he move skilfully through the evidence on both sides of this very controversial debate, but he analyses that evidence and those opinions, supports his own ideas with abundant& convincing research, and shows what questions can be answered and probably cannot be answered. If you are looking for an Ariadne`s thread to guide you through this issue, Lewy`s book is it!

Prof. Guenther Lewy's Recherchen basieren auf öffentlich zugänglichen Dokumenten und Aussagen aus Britischen, Deutschen, Armenischen und Türkischen Quellen. Lewy geht auf die Situation der Armenier in Anatolien des 19 Jahrhunderts ein, und beschreibt ausführlich und strukturiert die politischen Ereignisse und Hintergründe, die zu dem Deportationsbefehl seitens der Osmanen 1915 führte, welches letztendlich der Auslöser für die Tragödie war.Er vergleicht ausführlich die armenischen und türkischen Positionen zu diesem Ereignis. Seine Kernthese ist, das im Zuge einer drohenden Niederlage der Osmanen im 1. Weltkrieg die Umsiedlung der Armenier sehr dilettantisch durchgeführt wurde (fehlender Schutz durch den Staat vor marodierenden Banden und mangelhafte Versorgung mit Nahrungsgütern) welches zu dieser Katastrophe geführt hat. Wie der Titel bereits suggeriert, stuft er die Vorkommnisse von 1915 eher als Massenmord ein , aber nicht als "Genocide" oder Völkermord (Begründung im Buch ist sehr schlüssig), und beziffert Zahl der armenische Verluste im 1. Weltkrieg auf 642000 (inkl. durch Krankheiten und Mangelernährung verstorbener ).Sehr empfehlenswert für diejenigen die sich UNABHÄNGIG über dieses Ereignis informieren wollen.

The fairest and most objective study of the massacres by Armenians, Turks and Kurds of each other during this terrible time. The author demonstrates that there is no evidence to support the Armenian propaganda machine's claims that there was any genocide.