THE ESTABLISHMENT AND ACTIVITIES OF THE EASTERN LEGION IN FRENCH ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTS (NOVEMBER 1918 – 1921)

Year 2008, Issue: 18, 1 - 20, 01.05.2008

Abstract

This article is the sixth and the last of a series of articles regarding theestablishment and activities of the Eastern Legion. The basic aim of this articleis to examine the changes in the structure of the Legion, the debates concerningits composition and activities in the Cilician region between November 1918,(when the Legion occupied the Cilician region), and the end of 1921, (when thelegion was finally disbanded). In this period, first of all the French-Armenianoccupation of the Cilician region and the subsequent Armenian atrocitiesperpetrated against Muslims are briefly examined. Then, the criticisms putforward by Armenian and Syrian committee leaders towards the Eastern Legion,which was divided into Armenian and Syrian Legions, are touched upon. Theindiscipline and disobedience of the Armenian legionnaires and the subsequentreactions of the French soldiers to this situation are covered as well. Finally, thesteps taken for the disbanding of the Legion is dealt with. In sum, this articleanalyzes developments regarding the Eastern Legion in the aforementionedperiod through French archival documents

Keywords

Eastern Legion, Armenians, Syrians, Cilicia, the Armistice of Mudros, the Treaty of Ankara