The Siege of Van 1915: Ottoman Empire vs Armenian Resistance

In April 1915, as the Ottoman Empire descended into war with Russia, the ancient city of Van became the stage for a desperate Armenian uprising. This episode reconstructs the siege of Van, where Armenian fedayeen, led by figures like Aram Manukian, held out against Ottoman forces and Kurdish irregulars for over a month. We explore the strategic importance of Van, the role of the Russian Caucasus Army under General Yudenich, and the controversial decisions of the Ottoman governor Jevdet Bey, whose orders to disarm and deport Armenians triggered the rebellion. Using firsthand accounts from American missionaries like Clarence Ussher, we piece together the daily reality of the siege: the barricaded streets, the makeshift hospitals, the constant shelling. The episode also examines the aftermath — the Russian relief, the brief Armenian administration, and the forced evacuation that preceded the larger genocide. A focused look at a pivotal moment that foreshadowed the destruction of Ottoman Armenians. #SiegeOfVan #AramManukian #JevdetBey #ArmenianGenocide #Van1915 #OttomanEmpire #RussianCaucasusArmy #NikolaiYudenich #ClarenceUssher #ArmenianFedayeen #WorldWarI #CaucasusCampaign #ArmenianResistance #History #FexingoHistory #GenocideStudies #MiddleEastHistory #OttomanHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo