The Occupation of the Eastern Black Sea Region and Its Events (1916-1918) in Light of Bernt Brendemoen’s Work: An Evaluation With Oral History Witnesses

The First World War and the fronts on which the Ottoman Empire fought are crucial for world history. Particularly in the struggles with the Russians on the Eastern Front, the region became vulnerable after the 3rd Army was virtually destroyed in the Sarıkamış Siege Operation. The Roussians carried out a swift and successful operation, advancing almost to the center of Anatolia along land and sea lines in just two years. The emigration route, which began at Batum and Hopa along the sea route, extended to Giresun, Ordu, Samsun, Bolu, Adapazarı, and Düzce, with the occupations of Artvin, Rize, and Trabzon. The land route extended generally to the plateaus of Trabzon, the forested interior of Karadağ and Hıdırnebi, and the Havza, Merzifon, Tosya, Sivas, and Gümüşhane lines. The occupation process and the state of the armies have generally been covered in academic studies, but little has been evaluated in the field of oral history. Brendemoen’s work in particular, stands to make significant contributions to this field. While the study is primarily focused on language, the freedom of subject matter covered in the 139 interviews provides significant historical insights. The work clearly identifies the Russian occupation, immigration, the relations between the peoples of the region, and the experiences of civilians. The fact that the study reaches both male and female participants, as well as generations who witnessed and heard about the war, further enhances its contribution.