How was the Armenian genocide addressed following World War I?
1. The Allied powers found no evidence that Turks committed atrocities against Armenians.
2. Armenians rehabilitated those responsible for the genocide, integrating them back into society.
3. Most politicians and officers responsible for the genocide were never brought to justice.
4. A large trial was held in Paris for war criminals, and those responsible for war crimes were convicted and executed.
The correct answer is C. Most politicians and officers responsible for the genocide were never brought to justice.
The correct answer is option 3: Most politicians and officers responsible for the Armenian genocide were never brought to justice.
To understand how the Armenian genocide was addressed following World War I, we need to look at historical events and the aftermath of the genocide.
During World War I, the Ottoman Empire, which included present-day Turkey, carried out a systematic campaign of deportation, forced labor, and mass killings against the Armenian population. The genocide resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians, as well as countless deportations, forced conversions, and other atrocities.
After the war, the Allied powers, which included countries like France, the United Kingdom, and the United States, set up a series of investigations known as the Malta Tribunals to examine war crimes and atrocities committed during the war. However, the focus of these investigations was primarily on prosecuting high-ranking German officials and not specifically addressing the Armenian genocide.
Option 1, which states that the Allied powers found no evidence that Turks committed atrocities against Armenians, is incorrect. There is ample evidence, including eyewitness accounts, survivor testimonials, and official documents, that prove the occurrence of the Armenian genocide.
Option 2, which claims that Armenians rehabilitated those responsible for the genocide, integrating them back into society, is not accurate. After the end of World War I and the establishment of the Republic of Turkey in 1923, the leadership under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk tried to distance itself from the events of the genocide, denying its occurrence. While some individuals responsible for the genocide were able to escape justice, there was no official rehabilitation or integration of those responsible on a large scale.
Option 4, which mentions a large trial being held in Paris for war criminals, and those responsible for war crimes being convicted and executed, is not a correct representation of what took place. Despite some discussions about prosecuting Ottoman officials for war crimes, these efforts were hindered by diplomatic challenges and the political landscape following World War I. The trials that did take place were on a smaller scale and were far from comprehensive.
In reality, option 3 is the most accurate. The majority of politicians and officers responsible for the Armenian genocide were never brought to justice. The lack of international accountability for the genocide has been a source of ongoing controversy and historical debate.