24.05.2025


At the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, a book presentation was held for “Humanismus und christliche Barmherzigkeit: Geschichte der deutschen Missionen für die Armenier im Osmanischen Reich 1896–1919” (“Humanitarianism and Christian Compassion: The History of German Missions for the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, 1896–1919”) by Dr. Hayk Martirosyan, Turkologist and research fellow at the Johannes Lepsius House Archive.

The book examines the activities of six German evangelical missions as well as Catholic circles operating among Armenians in the Ottoman Empire from 1896 to 1919. In his remarks, the author noted that the idea for the book took shape during his tenure at the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, where he began studying the humanitarian work of German missions, later continuing his research in Germany.

The result of extensive scholarly research, the book offers valuable insights into the Hamidian massacres and the Armenian Genocide, highlighting the relief work—especially in caring for orphans—undertaken by German missionaries. Despite being citizens of a state allied with the Ottoman Empire, many German mission members acted in accordance with their Christian conscience, often opposing their own government’s stance during the Armenian massacres. Their actions provide powerful testimony to faith-based humanitarian resistance in the face of atrocity.