Sardarapat

Sardarapat - darkometer rating : 1 - A huge monument commemorating the decisive battle in which Armenia defeated Turkey in 1918 and thus "saved the nation" from potential annihilation. > More background info > What there is to see > Location > Access and costs > Time required > Combinations with other dark destinations > Combinations with non-dark destinations > Photos More background info: In the wake of the Armenian genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Turks, the remaining lands of Armenia north and east of Mt Ararat served refugees as a safe haven for most of the time during the remainder of World War One . Only towards the end of this "Great War", even these last parts of Armenia came under threat too – as Russia withdrew its troops after the October Revolution of 1917, Armenia feared a renewed Turkish advance. And indeed it did come to this. Turkish forces moved into eastern Armenia, attacking Alexandropol (today's Gyumri ) and were advancing towards Yerevan in May 1918. But a newly formed army of the newly independent remaining Armenia managed to fight back at Sardarapat and dispelled the Turkish forces. The latter then gave up their campaign. Victory! The battle of Sardarapat is therefore regarded as the decisive feat through which Armenia managed to save the remaining homeland. All of Western Armenia had already been taken by Turkey . And it may indeed have been swallowed up the rest of Armenia too. That is: without the victory at Sardarapat, Armenia may have ceased to exist altogether. No wonder, then, that Sardarapat is of supreme importance to nationalist Armenians – to them a visit to Sardarapat is therefore a kind a pilgrimage. The Sardarapat monument was erected, at the historic battle site, for the 50th anniversary of the battle in 1968, i.e. during the times when Armenia was a constituent part of the Soviet Union .