106 Armenian old woman defends her home with AK. What does she see in her eyes?

This is a photo taken by the United Nations on1October 0990+65438+65438. The Armenian woman of 106 years old in the photo is holding AKM to defend her home, and her eyes seem to be spraying flames.

The shooting location is in Dege village near Goris in southern Armenia. 1990 Armenia was still a member of the Soviet Union. Since 1987, there have been conflicts between Christian Armenia and neighboring Islamic Azerbaijan, especially in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. At present, the result of the conflict is that Nagorny Karabakh has become an independent republic, although it has not been widely recognized by the international community.

At that time, in Goris, located on the southern border of Armenia, young and middle-aged men were almost? They build nests? Only the old, the weak, the sick and the disabled guard their homes, and this 106-year-old lady is one of them.

If we infer from time, the old lady has experienced countless separation of siblings, mutual vendetta and genocide in her life. Since 1884, when the old lady was born, Armenia, an ancient and proud nation, has suffered unspeakable tragedies, which may have been witnessed or heard by the old lady one by one.

1. 10 years old 1884 Let's assume that the old lady was born in Goris. 18 13- 1828, this area was ceded to Russia in several wars launched by Russia against Iran. Although it was ceded, Armenians finally ushered in one of the few days of peace and became a rare day for Armenians in the next few decades? Promised land? .

The former kingdom of Armenia was the first country in the world to take Christianity as the official religion. Under the rule of Russians who are all Christians, the city of Goris developed rapidly.

At that time, under the rule of Ottoman Turks, Armenians gained some autonomy in the local area, but they were discriminated against for religious reasons.

2. In the years after the age of 25, Armenians formed the Armenian Revolutionary Union, and they advocated the establishment of a? Freedom, independence and reunification? And Armenia, in fact, what they want is only the autonomy within the empire, because they know that it is difficult for Armenians to resist the three empires of Russia, Osman and Iran around them.

1909, a military coup took place in Turkey. At that time, Turkey and the Qing Dynasty in China had almost the same name. What was it called? Sick man of West Asia? , divided by power. Therefore, their hostility towards Europeans has also shifted to Armenians who share the same beliefs and think that they are European separatists and spies.

Third, 3 1 year-old was shocked to hear about genocide. If you mention the word genocide, you may think of Germany's genocidal policy towards Jews during World War II, which caused nearly 6 million Jews to die. But in fact, the earliest genocide in modern times was the genocide of Armenians by Ottoman Turkey, which resulted in the death of 1 0,000-10.5 million Armenians.

19 15, it has been 1 year since the outbreak of the First World War. At that time, Ottoman Turkey was in the allied camp with Germany and Austria-Hungary, while Russia in the north was in the allied camp. Turks increasingly feel that these Armenians are likely to become domestic time bombs, on the one hand, because of their beliefs, and on the other hand, because they may have a group of relatives in East Armenia (controlled by Russia).

Sporadic executions have attracted the attention of Armenians since World War I 19 15 19 In April, Turkish military attaché wanted to recruit 4,000 able-bodied young people from Armenia. In fact, this is an excuse to weaken the resistance of Armenians, which aroused the vigilance of Armenians, who organized an army of 500 people to resist.

However, this is defined as? The rebellion soon ended, and the Turkish authorities used it as an excuse to legalize and justify genocide. At first, they just expelled celebrities and politicians from Armenia. Later, they systematically slaughtered and robbed these civilians. Genocide? This word was born here.

Human experiments, concentration camps, germ warfare against civilians, these familiar words, for the first time in this extinction operation? Appear.

Since then, Turkey has burned almost all relevant materials and refused to recognize this genocide for decades. Actually, they still won't use it. Genocide? This word accurately describes the tragedy that lasted for several years.

Four, 34? Motherland? 19 18, the old lady in the photo is 33 years old. She may have been living in East Armenia or Turkey, and she has escaped massacres, disasters and famines again and again. But at this time, she should be happy, because she finally has her? Motherland? Yes

At this time, Russia was in turmoil, and the neo-Bolshevik revolution caused this huge empire to fall into a brief state of division. And Transcaucasia wants to unite. However, while confronting many neighboring empires, only a few months later, East Armenia declared its independence on May 28th 19 18 and became the first republic of Armenia.

However, due to the famine caused by territorial disputes and the influx of refugees, this new country is full of war and turmoil. In just two years, the first Republic of Armenia was invaded and occupied by Turks and the Soviet Union. The tenacious Armenians established the Republic of Armenia in the Caucasus mountainous area, with Goris, where the old lady lived, as the de facto capital. However, only a few months later, the Republic of Armenia was invaded by the Soviet Union? Destroy the country? .

Five, 38-54 years old can't say that Taiping 1922 Armenia was incorporated into the Soviet Union with Georgia and Azerbaijan. Stalin took a series of measures to strengthen his control over this land? Cleaning? A large number of Armenian politicians, poets, novelists and church members were arrested and executed, with more than 4,500 people during the period of 1937- 1938? Anti-Soviet? People were executed, and at the same time, under the intentional control of the Soviet government, some civilians were deported.

On the other hand, after Armenia was merged into the Soviet Union, its economy developed to some extent. For many civilians, life is peaceful compared with before, and the local population is increasing rapidly. 1926, there were only 880,000 Armenians in the Soviet Union. By the eve of World War II, the population had exceeded 1.5 million.

1930s, in which the old lady may live, Goris has become a new regional center with rapid economic development, so it is hard to say whether the old lady really met a peaceful world.

At the age of 6.55, Germany raided Poland 1939 in World War II, which broke out. Although Armenia was not the main battlefield of World War II, due to the continuous retreat of Soviet troops on the Eastern Front, countless Armenian men were mobilized and rushed to the front.

At that time, there were only 6.5438+0.5 million Armenians in the Soviet Union, but more than 500,000 young men were drafted into the army. Among them, 6.5438+0.75 million Armenians died in the front line of the war, and many even became? Soviet hero? More than 60 Armenians became senior generals and 4 Armenians became Soviet marshals.

However, who are the fathers, brothers and sons of these 175000 soldiers who died in battle? Do any of them have anything to do with the old lady in the photo? We don't know, but what we do know is that World War II also brought great suffering to Armenians. After great sacrifices, the status of Armenians in the Soviet Union began to rise.

Seven, seven1year-old finally got peace. After the end of World War II, Armenians did not actually get real peace. Some Armenians are still regarded as? Spy? , became the target of Soviet intelligence agencies, and was exiled to labor camps in Siberia, Central Asia or other regions.

It was not until Khrushchev came to power that the policy towards Armenians was gradually relaxed. And in 1955, Armenians gained a certain degree of religious freedom, and the statue of Stalin in Yerevan was demolished and replaced by Armenian mother.

At this time, Goris has built several new hydropower plants, modern residential areas and new industrial facilities, and started a new life. Armenians with commercial talent have gradually gained a better life here, and the local area even has its own university. The old lady in the photo has rarely lived a stable life for decades.

Eight, 106 years old to defend the country Although Armenians still live in the Soviet Union, there are many time bombs hidden in this land. The same? Transcaucasia? Azerbaijan, as a neighbor of Armenia, also has some Armenians living in Nagorno Karabakh. Today, the population is only1.4000.

It is hard for us to imagine that such a small area of 4,400 square kilometers would cause such a big political fluctuation. 4,400 square kilometers is about equivalent to a county in China (Wenzhou area10.2 million square kilometers), and10.4 million population is only one in China? Small town? That's all. The shortest distance between this land and Armenia is only a few tens of kilometers.

1In August, 1987, local people submitted a petition to Moscow, demanding integration into Armenia.

1988 In February, the people of Nagorny Karabakh marched in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, and the local government decided to merge into Armenia.

However, these demands were rejected by the Soviet Union, and worse things followed.

1988 12.7 An earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale occurred in northern Armenia. Because the houses were in disrepair for a long time, the earthquake caused 25,000-50,000 local deaths and 6,543,800+3,000 injuries. The Soviet government did not respond well? Perfect? This made Armenians more and more disappointed with the Soviet government, and the declining economic situation year after year made Armenians poorer.

The independence tendency of Nagorno-Karabakh has completely linked the centuries-old hostility between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

All this happened to the old lady in the photo. I wonder if she smelled a little war at that time.

1990 65438+ 10/day, a small-scale conflict broke out in Dege, a small village in southern Goris. Western reporters went to the local area to interview and took this photo. The 106-year-old woman in the photo is holding AKM to protect the house.

19911February 10, Nagorno Karabakh held a referendum to declare its independence, but it was denied by 23% of Azerbaijanis. The Soviet Union's proposals for Azerbaijan and Nagorny Karabakh were even more helpful. A full-scale war broke out between the two sides, and the Armenians obviously stood behind Nagorny Karabakh, making it independent and becoming a * * * Republic.

199 1 year 65438+February 25th, the Soviet Union disintegrated.

By 1993, the war has caused thousands of casualties and hundreds of thousands of refugees.

1994, Armenians controlled 0/4% of the territory of Azerbaijan/kloc-0, and ceased fire on May 12 of that year under the mediation of Russia. The war eventually killed 6,000 Armenian soldiers, while Azerbaijan sacrificed 25,000-30,000. Armenia won an absolute military victory, but this led to the displacement of 230,000 Armenians and 800,000 Azerbaijanis.

Twenty-nine years later, Armenia is still hostile to neighboring Azerbaijan, and ethnic and religious conflicts may affect generations of Armenians.

The old lady in the photo may have passed away. Almost all the disasters suffered by this ancient and proud Armenian nation in modern times were witnessed by this 106-year-old woman. In her eyes, generate showed not only the enthusiasm for defending the country, but also a deep helplessness.

Today, Goris has beautiful scenery and prosperous culture and education, with a total population of about 20,000 and a total area of about 8 square kilometers.

Although Armenia is still poor today, life is still calm and the country is developing faster and faster.

Nowadays, Armenia has also become a new tourist target for China people, and its local beauty is like a cloud, which has become a hot topic on the domestic Internet.

I wonder if the old lady in this photo can see these.

What the old lady saw in her life.

Born in 1884.

1894, 10 years old, 250,000 Armenians died.

1909, 25 years old, 30,000 Armenians died.

1915-1917,31-33 years old,100-/kloc-0.5 million Armenians died.

19 18, 34 years old, the first Republic of Armenia was founded and finally became an Armenian citizen.

1922- 1938, aged 38-54, Armenia became a member of the Soviet Union and a citizen of the Soviet Union.

1939, 55 years old, World War II broke out, 500,000 Armenians joined the army,175,000 people died.

1955,71year old, Khrushchev's reform began, and the political and economic status of Armenians improved.

1988, 104 years old, Armenia earthquake, 25-50,000 Armenians died,130,000 people were injured.

1990, 106 years old, holding 106 to protect his house, was photographed by western journalists and finally uploaded to the United Nations in official website.

(The following unknown is alive)

199 1 year, Armenia became independent, the Soviet Union disintegrated, and an all-out war broke out between Azerbaijan and Nagorny Karabakh.

1994, Armenia and Azerbaijan cease fire.

References:

Sun city

The History of Genocide in Armenia

Caucasian Chronicle: Ethnic Construction and Diplomacy in Armenia