Armenian Legion to be Featured in ALMA Exhibit

WATERTOWN, MA-An exhibit honoring the Armenian Legion (Legion d'Orient) will open at the Armenian Library and Museum of America (ALMA) on September 23, 2001, and continue for several months. This exhibit coincides with the 83rd anniversary of the historic battle of Arara, which took place on September 19, 1918. The Armenian Legion, 1916-1920, was a volunteer regiment organized on the basis of the October 1916 Sykes-Picot Accord reached in London between Mark Sykes (England) and George Picot (France).

The French government defined the principles of the volunteer movement, stating that only Armenians and Arabs could become legionnaires, the commanders would be French, and the French government would provide for the legion's expenses. In 1918, the Armenian Legion, comprised of four companies of volunteers from throughout the Diaspora including a core of survivors of Musa Dagh, numbered about 5,000 and were to participate in wartime operations on the Syrian-Palestine front against the Turkish army.In exchange, France promised to give autonomy to Cilicia Armenia after the war.

As part of the Allied Forces under command of Edmund Allenby, the Armenian Legion received its military baptism in the Battle of Arara in Palestine, spearheading the assault from a central position and destroying the Turko-German forces. The victory marked the collapse of the Turkish army and the British forces proceeded to Aleppo.
In November-December 1918, the Armenian Legion entered Cilicia, occupying sites of strategic importance. In 1920, France secretly changed its policy toward Turkey, breaking its promise of granting autonomy to Cilicia and dissolving the Armenian Legion. This betrayal deprived Cilician Armenians of the means to defend themselves against Turkish forces, resulting in renewed atrocities by Kemalist forces.

The exhibit will focus on the events from the perspective of the volunteers from America, with photographs and memorabilia saved by the families of the legionnaires, along with descriptive narratives.

For additional information, contact ALMA, 65 Main Street, Watertown, or call (617) 926-2562.