The Heroic Battle of Mousa Dagh
During the Summer of 1915, four major battles arose in Mousa Dagh and all were prevailed by the unprecedented determination of the heroic people of Mousa Dagh. The triumphs were followed by the miraculous emancipation by the French battleships, which transported the Mousadaghians to Por Saaid in Egypt.
Prior to the vile year of 1915, and before the execution of the long planned Armenian Genocide, 2 major federations were active in Mousa Dagh, The Armenian Revolutionary Federation and the Social Democrat "Henchagian” Party.
The Social Democrat Henchagian Party was founded in 1887 by Aghassi and his associates who came to the region to participate in the revolutionary acts and in the rebellion of Zeitun. For 4 years, Aghassi and his friends led the activities of the party but when they left for Zeitun, the party was left without leaders and in a disorganized state.
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation was founded By Anania Viravorian. Anania was educated, impartial and imbibed with the spirit of patriotism. He was born in the Yoghun Olukh village of Mousa Dagh. He received his education in the national schools of Aleppo.
In 1908, when Anania returned to his hometown, Mousa Dagh, he established the local sector of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, inviting the villagers to join in.
After reinforcing the federation, he started the mission of arming the people. But unfortunately he passed away after being infected by tuberculosis. After his death, Movses Der Kalousdian became the chairman of the federation and continued his work, having Kevork Baghdoyian, Moruk Varjabed , Khoren Guilizian and Mekhitar Husneyian(Chapar Varjabed) as associates.
Considering the harsh times ahead, the federation started supplying artillery to the people. The guns and rifles were sent from the Revolutionary Federation unit of Kessab, through devoted and valorous members of the federation. In 1915 the people had 100 rifles and 10 guns, which were enough to battle against the enemy.
In the spring of 1915, when the Turkish government started executing the deportation of the Armenian people, Mousadaghians decided not to be subjected to the orders given and ascend the mountain of Mousa Dagh as an act of resistance. The people chose to die while fighting for their homeland instead of dying in the deserts of Syria.
The people of Yoghun Olukh, Kheder Beg, and Vakef ascended the mountain, taking with them the supplies and apparatus needed, later families from Kebusiye, Haji Habibli and Bitias joined them.
After reaching the mountain top, the influential members assembled and assigned Rev. Dikran Anteriassian as leader. The young fighters clustered in 43 groups having Movses Der Kalousdian as their military leader.
The people soon adapted to the life in the mountains, they made wooden huts making the mountain their home, away from the tyranny of the enemy and its viciousness.
