Movses Silikyan
Encyclopedia
Movses Silikyan , Movses Silikov) (1862–1937) was a famed Armenian general and national hero of World War I
, Major General
in the Russian
army and subsequently in the Armenian army. He was arrested, charged and executed during Joseph Stalin
's Great Purge
of 1937 against military officers and countless other suspected enemies.
Silikyan was born in the town of Vartashen in Nukhinsky Uyezd
of Elisabethpol Governorate
(modern town of Oguz in Azerbaijan).
Silikyan graduated from the Moscow Military Gymnasium, Alexandrople Military School and the officer rifle school. From 1884 he served in the Russian Army, being promoted from battalion adjutant to division commander. On the eve of the First World War, he was the deputy commander of the forces stationed in Yerevan
and part of the Caucasian Front
.
. In 1916, he took part in the taking of Mush
during the Battle of Mush. He also gained Bitlis during the Battle of Bitlis
. He participated the assault of the Battle of Erzerum.
After his regiment entered the Erzurum, Silikyan was promoted to General. He was rewarded with many governmental honors, including the Order of St. George
. He was promoted to Major General
before the Russian Revolution.
as the Russian Caucasus Army disintegrated, Silikyan left the Russian army. The Armenians reorganized their units and Silikyan became the commander of the 1st Armenian rifle division
in January 1918. In 1918, he effectively commanded the Armenian forces in Yerevan
. With the declaration of independence of the Democratic Republic of Armenia
(ADR) on April 24, 1918, his forces united under the Armenian military
. Within a short period, Silikyan created combat-effective regular units and prepared them to repulse the forces of the Ottoman Empire
.
On March 3, 1918 the Grand vizier
Talat Pasha signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
with the Russian SFSR. It stipulated that Bolshevik Russia cede Batum, Kars
, and Ardahan
to the Ottoman Empire. The ADR did not accepted the loss of its territory, and the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk acknowledged the existence of a state of war between Armenia and the Ottoman Empire.
In May 1918, the Ottoman Third Army
began to advance toward Batum, Kars, and Ardahan. Silikyan commanded the regular troops and militia. In the Battle of Sardarapat
and the Battle of Bash Abaran
, his forces defeated those of the Ottoman Empire. The Armenia
n Army included numerous talented military officers of the time: Andranik Ozanyan, Drastamat Kanayan
, Garegin Nzhdeh, Christophor Araratov
, and the future Marshal of the Soviet Union
, Ivan Bagramyan. Baghramian participated in the Battle of Sardarapat and noted that
In the autumn of 1920, Silikyan commanded Armenian troops against Turkish revolutionaries in the Turkish-Armenian War
.
, Silikyan worked in a number of Soviet positions. In 1937 during the Joseph Stalin
's Great Purge
, he was arrested, imprisoned and finally executed in Nork gorge, together with Christophor Araratov
and other military heroes of Sardarapat. The charges were nationalism. Silikyan was rehabilitated posthumously during the Nikita Khrushchev
era.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
in the Russian
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
army and subsequently in the Armenian army. He was arrested, charged and executed during Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
's Great Purge
Great Purge
The Great Purge was a series of campaigns of political repression and persecution in the Soviet Union orchestrated by Joseph Stalin from 1936 to 1938...
of 1937 against military officers and countless other suspected enemies.
Silikyan was born in the town of Vartashen in Nukhinsky Uyezd
Nukhinsky Uyezd
Nukhinsky Uyezd , sometimes called Shakinsky Uyezd, was one of the uyezds of Elisabethpol Governorate of the Russian Empire and then of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic with its center in Nukha from 1868 until its formal abolition in 1921 by Soviet authorities.-Geography:Elisabethpol Governorate...
of Elisabethpol Governorate
Elisabethpol Governorate
Elisabethpol Governorate or Elizavetpol Governorate was one of the guberniyas of the Russian Empire, with its centre in Elisabethpol . Its area was 44,136 sq. kilometres, and it had 878,415 inhabitants by 1897....
(modern town of Oguz in Azerbaijan).
Silikyan graduated from the Moscow Military Gymnasium, Alexandrople Military School and the officer rifle school. From 1884 he served in the Russian Army, being promoted from battalion adjutant to division commander. On the eve of the First World War, he was the deputy commander of the forces stationed in Yerevan
Yerevan
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
and part of the Caucasian Front
Caucasian Front
Caucaus Front may have one of the following meanings*Caucasus Front , the designation for the main Imperial Russian Army in the Caucaus in World War I from April 1917 until its dissolution...
.
World War I - Caucasus Campaign
In 1915 during the early stages of World War I, Colonel Silikyan commanded a regiment during the Van resistanceVan Resistance
The Siege of Van, Resistance at Van, Van Resistance or Van Rebellion, Van Revolt , Armenian Revolution at Van was an insurgency against the Ottoman Empire's attempts to massacre the Armenian population in the vilâyet of Van...
. In 1916, he took part in the taking of Mush
Mus Province
Muş Province is a province in eastern Turkey. It is 8,196 km² in area, and has a population of 406,886 . The population was 453,654 in 2000. The provincial capital is the city of Muş...
during the Battle of Mush. He also gained Bitlis during the Battle of Bitlis
Battle of Bitlis
The Battle of Bitlis refers to a series of engagements in the summer of 1916 for the city of Bitlis and to a lesser extent nearby Muş, between the Russian Imperial forces and their Ottoman counterparts....
. He participated the assault of the Battle of Erzerum.
After his regiment entered the Erzurum, Silikyan was promoted to General. He was rewarded with many governmental honors, including the Order of St. George
Order of St. George
The Military Order of the Holy Great-Martyr and the Triumphant George The Military Order of the Holy Great-Martyr and the Triumphant George The Military Order of the Holy Great-Martyr and the Triumphant George (also known as Order of St. George the Triumphant, Russian: Военный орден Св...
. He was promoted to Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
before the Russian Revolution.
Democratic Republic of Armenia
After the Russian Revolution of 1917Russian Revolution of 1917
The Russian Revolution is the collective term for a series of revolutions in Russia in 1917, which destroyed the Tsarist autocracy and led to the creation of the Soviet Union. The Tsar was deposed and replaced by a provisional government in the first revolution of February 1917...
as the Russian Caucasus Army disintegrated, Silikyan left the Russian army. The Armenians reorganized their units and Silikyan became the commander of the 1st Armenian rifle division
Armenian volunteer units
Armenian volunteer units, also known the Armenian volunteer corps were Armenian battalions in Russian and British armies during the World War I. Majority of these units support the military activities at the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I. The origin of these units were varied. Some units...
in January 1918. In 1918, he effectively commanded the Armenian forces in Yerevan
Yerevan
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
. With the declaration of independence of the Democratic Republic of Armenia
Democratic Republic of Armenia
The Democratic Republic of Armenia was the first modern establishment of an Armenian state...
(ADR) on April 24, 1918, his forces united under the Armenian military
Military history of Armenia
The military history of Armenia is defined by the situation of the Armenian Highland between the Hellenistic states, and later the Byzantine Empire, in the west and the Persian Empire to the east...
. Within a short period, Silikyan created combat-effective regular units and prepared them to repulse the forces of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
.
On March 3, 1918 the Grand vizier
Grand Vizier
Grand Vizier, in Turkish Vezir-i Azam or Sadr-ı Azam , deriving from the Arabic word vizier , was the greatest minister of the Sultan, with absolute power of attorney and, in principle, dismissable only by the Sultan himself...
Talat Pasha signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was a peace treaty signed on March 3, 1918, mediated by South African Andrik Fuller, at Brest-Litovsk between Russia and the Central Powers, headed by Germany, marking Russia's exit from World War I.While the treaty was practically obsolete before the end of the year,...
with the Russian SFSR. It stipulated that Bolshevik Russia cede Batum, Kars
Kars
Kars is a city in northeast Turkey and the capital of Kars Province. The population of the city is 73,826 as of 2010.-Etymology:As Chorzene, the town appears in Roman historiography as part of ancient Armenia...
, and Ardahan
Ardahan
Ardahan is a city in northeastern Turkey, near the Georgian border.-Ancient and medieval:In Ancient times the region was called Gogarene, which is assumed to derive from the name of Gugars, who were a Proto-Kartvelian tribe...
to the Ottoman Empire. The ADR did not accepted the loss of its territory, and the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk acknowledged the existence of a state of war between Armenia and the Ottoman Empire.
In May 1918, the Ottoman Third Army
Third Army (Ottoman Empire)
The Ottoman Third Army was originally established in the Balkans and later defended the northern and eastern parts of the Ottoman Empire. Its initial headquarters was at Salonica. With the onset of World War I, it moved to Erzurum Fortress. The headquarters was moved to Susehir after the Battle...
began to advance toward Batum, Kars, and Ardahan. Silikyan commanded the regular troops and militia. In the Battle of Sardarapat
Battle of Sardarapat
The Battle of Sardarabad or Battle of Sardarapat was a battle of the Caucasus Campaign of World War I that took place near Sardarabad , Armenia from May 21-29, 1918...
and the Battle of Bash Abaran
Battle of Bash Abaran
The Battle of Bash Abaran was a battle of Caucasus Campaign of World War I that took place in the vicinity of Bash Abaran, in 1918. The Ottoman divisions attacked on May 21, but after three days of fierce combat the Armenians remained firm and the Ottoman regiments retreated in defeat.Armenian...
, his forces defeated those of the Ottoman Empire. The Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
n Army included numerous talented military officers of the time: Andranik Ozanyan, Drastamat Kanayan
Drastamat Kanayan
General Drastamat Kanayan , known as General Dro, Դրօ, May 31, 1884 March 8, 1956), was a politician, revolutionary, military commander of Hitler’s Armenian Legion of the Wehrmacht, the armed forces of Nazi Germany, and part of Armenian national liberation movement as a member of the A.R.F...
, Garegin Nzhdeh, Christophor Araratov
Christophor Araratov
Christophor Araratov – a famous Major General of Armenian army and lieutenant colonel of the Russian army, participated in the battles of Sardarapat and Karakilisa against Turkish invaders. In 1937 arrested and killed on charges of nationalism...
, and the future Marshal of the Soviet Union
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Marshal of the Soviet Union was the de facto highest military rank of the Soviet Union. ....
, Ivan Bagramyan. Baghramian participated in the Battle of Sardarapat and noted that
In the autumn of 1920, Silikyan commanded Armenian troops against Turkish revolutionaries in the Turkish-Armenian War
Turkish-Armenian War
The Turkish–Armenian War stemmed from an invasion of the Democratic Republic of Armenia by the Turkish Revolutionaries of the Turkish National Movement in the autumn of 1920...
.
Transcaucasian SFSR
After the Bolshevik takeover of Armenia and establishment of the Transcaucasian SFSRTranscaucasian SFSR
The Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic , also known as the Transcaucasian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, the Transcaucasian SFSR and the TSFSR for short, was a short-lived republic of the Soviet Union, lasting from 1922 to 1936...
, Silikyan worked in a number of Soviet positions. In 1937 during the Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
's Great Purge
Great Purge
The Great Purge was a series of campaigns of political repression and persecution in the Soviet Union orchestrated by Joseph Stalin from 1936 to 1938...
, he was arrested, imprisoned and finally executed in Nork gorge, together with Christophor Araratov
Christophor Araratov
Christophor Araratov – a famous Major General of Armenian army and lieutenant colonel of the Russian army, participated in the battles of Sardarapat and Karakilisa against Turkish invaders. In 1937 arrested and killed on charges of nationalism...
and other military heroes of Sardarapat. The charges were nationalism. Silikyan was rehabilitated posthumously during the Nikita Khrushchev
Nikita Khrushchev
Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev led the Soviet Union during part of the Cold War. He served as First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964, and as Chairman of the Council of Ministers, or Premier, from 1958 to 1964...
era.
See also
- Democratic Republic of ArmeniaDemocratic Republic of ArmeniaThe Democratic Republic of Armenia was the first modern establishment of an Armenian state...