Armenian Media’s First Genocide Mention

Levon Sharoyan provided a copy of "Haratch"(Dec. 9, 1945) of Paris, where for the very first time the word "genocide" was reported in the Armenian press, in an editorial by the publication's longtime editor Shavarsh Missakian.

Levon Sharoyan provided a copy of "Haratch"(Dec. 9, 1945) of Paris, where for the very first time the word "genocide" was reported in the Armenian press, in an editorial by the publication's longtime editor Shavarsh Missakian.

In fact, the four victorious governments declare in their historic accusation that “Germany is guilty of genocidal premeditated, planned crimes, eradicating national, religious or ethnic groups, especially the Poles, the Jews and others…..”

People knowledgeable in law note that it is the first time the word ցեղասպանութիւն (genocide) appears in an accusation.

The author of the word is an American lawmaker by the name of Lemkin. He explained the origin and the meaning of the word in a recent book.

The word "genocide" is formed by adding to the Greek genos (race or tribe) cide (Latin) which means killing such as in homicide, infanticide. Thus "genocide" means to destroy according to a particular and premeditated plan the necessary foundations of a racial group to obliterate its political, social, cultural, linguistic, economic being. Genocide is directed against a racial group as a whole and its actions against individuals are not directed against them per se but as members of that racial group.

The same methods were used there also-–decapitate the leadership; dismantle, destroy and eradicate the political, social, cultural, economic foundations and uproot them. Massacre and obliterate them in groups on the spot, during their exodus or in the desert. Kill them with sword, dagger, gun, cannon, hatchet, stone, axe or hammer; by hanging or burning them; by starving or throwing them in the river or sea. Even inject them with deadly microbe, stuff their still-nursing babies in wooden boxes and nailing them shut.