The Tragic Story of 8 Thousand Crimean Turks

Recently, we told you the story of the Struma Travelers who embarked on a journey of hope to survive. This week, we would like to tell the story of a journey of hope that once again fell in our country: Blue Regiment of Crimean Turks…

While living a normal life in Crimea; Unfortunately, this bitter story of the Crimean Turks, who entered the war in the ranks of Nazi Germany, due to the oppressive administration of Josef Stalin on the Crimean Turks, unfortunately did not reach the value it deserved in history. Here is the story of the Crimean Turks and the Blue Regiment in all its details.

Stalin’s policy of pressure on Crimea

Map of Crimean (Crimean)

In the 1930s, in Soviet Russia, including Crimea, especially in Ukraine, Holodomor Genocide of people of non-Russian descent was being implemented. In this genocide artificial scarcity and people were forced to starve, that is to die. 10 million people lost their lives The main reason for this genocide was Soviet Leader Josef Stalin’s desire to equip the region with a predominantly Russian population due to its geopolitical location. As a matter of fact, the Crimean Turks (Crimean Tatars) who continued their lives in the region were also exposed to this genocide.

The Blue Regiment was established with Turkey’s initiatives

The armies of Nazi Germany, which stood at the Soviet gate, could have been an escape route for the Crimean Turks from this nightmare. As a matter of fact, when the Crimean Turks, who were extremely disturbed by the Stalin administration, demanded support from the Republic of Turkey, the response they received was as follows: side with Nazi Germany they were.

Before Hitler’s army arrived in the Crimea, Turkey’s official name was also initiated. “Crimean Turkish Self-Defense Battalions” They were briefly sent to the army, which consisted of approximately 8 thousand people, due to the gray wolf symbol and sky-colored banners they carried as the symbol of Turkishness. Blue Regiment was named.

German-fan administrators from the Ottoman Empire are still administrators.

Turkey itself wanted the Blue Regiment to join the war on the German side. This decision would be a way out for the Crimean Turks, and Turkey wanted to be proud of being a state that took care of its kin. The general thought in the Ankara Government is that Germany will win the war.was. Just like in the First World War, many administrators who harbored German admiration also held important positions in the Republic of Turkey and were instrumental in making this decision.

At the same time, Turkey had not made any concessions from the balance policy it had followed and had not entered the war directly. After winning the war in Germany, The promise of an autonomous state in Crimea to the Crimean Turks where they can live in prosperitywas found in The arbitrator of the bilateral agreement was Turkey.

Blue Regiment, II. He served as a guide and intelligence officer in World War II.

Although the Blue Regiment was small in number, it was a unit that Germany could benefit from in many ways. As a matter of fact, Hitler’s Army did not have much knowledge of the geographical information of Soviet Russia. At least The Blue Regiment knew Russia better than the German soldiers. For this reason, the Blue Regiment generally guided the Nazi soldiers; intelligence, espionage and communications supported the issues. Therefore, we can clearly say that the Blue Regiment did not fight on the fronts.

When Germany lost the war, a new story began for the Blue Regiment

“The Crimean Flag” for those who have not seen it before

When the war resulted in the loss of Germany Crimean Turks also had to migrate to save their lives. left. As a matter of fact, every breath they took on the territory of Soviet Russia meant a painful death for them.

Crimean Turks took their breath in Italy after the war. of Italy Pazulla Region’neither the immigrating Crimean Turks; they were living a more comfortable life in the Pazulla Region, which is geographically similar to the Caucasus, than they lived in the Crimea, but they had to migrate to Austria due to the Allied Forces’ approach to Pazulla.

They were guests of the British for 1 month.

Stalin was disturbed by the escape of the Crimean Turks. He had already tried the Crimean Turks for the crime of treason (?) and had a death sentence for them. When British troops arrived in Austria, they took control of the Crimean Turks in a refugee camp. The Crimean Turks, who lived here as refugees, were not too bothered by the situation. Thus British; He treats the Crimean Turks more humanely than Stalinand their life was more comfortable than their life in the Crimea.

death warrant from Moscow

In this process, both the British and the Crimean Turks had only one possible scenario in mind. both sides Turkey’s demand for the extradition of the Crimean Turks was waiting. In this way, the British would not only get rid of the plague of the Crimean Turks, whom they saw as refugees, but also the Crimean Turks would end their nomadic lives and start a regular life.

However, the expected extradition request from Turkey never came. Worse still, an “order” notification was sent from Moscow. In the communique signed by Stalin on May 28, 1945, “The Crimean Turks should be sent to the Dellach Camp and handed over to the Soviet Armies there.” was written. In addition, according to the notification, the number of Crimean Turks was determined by the Soviets. The article “England will be held responsible for desertions” was also noteworthy.

The British waited for news from Turkey with their hands tied.

The British gave this news to the Crimean Turks in order not to experience any outrage at first.You are forgiven, you are expected from Russia to have a fair trial and live a free life.” he conveyed. In some sources Russia gave assurances to England for the survival of the Crimean Turks. is also written.

When the Crimean Turks were brought to the Dellach Camp by the British, the British understood the situation from the attitude of the Soviets. The only thing waiting for these helpless people in Russia is death. The British are upset about this situation, but there is nothing they can do. On the possibility of Turkey’s intervention or Stalin’s renunciation they take the paperwork slowly, but neither Turkey nor Stalin take the steps they expect.

The only option offered to the Crimean Turks: You can commit suicide

The British, with their hands tied, share the bitter truth with the Crimean Turks and say:Unfortunately, your only option instead of this painful death is to jump into the river and commit suicide., we can only turn a blind eye to it”.

The next day, about 3 thousand of the 7 thousand Crimean Turks who were put on the trains jumped into the Drau River and ended their lives. In any case, the end awaiting them in Russia is not much different. The remaining 4 thousand Crimean Turks preferred to take the train. What they hope is that Turkey will somehow take care of them as the train passes through Turkey.

When the death train arrived in Turkey, the expectation of the Crimean Turks was in vain.

Sadly, when the train arrived in Turkey, the situation of the Crimean Turks was not much different from that of Struma. When the death train arrived near Kars, the people on the train realized that it was impossible to escape from death.

Instead of ‘save us’ wagons from wagons “Don’t give us to the Russians, shoot for them, friendly bullets don’t hurt.‘ such heartbreaking words rose. The Turkish soldiers, who were in charge of protecting the train, were greatly affected by this situation, but they “Drive nails into the wagons, make them strong so they don’t come out” order had come.

Crimean Turks chose the path of suicide for the second time

While nails were being hammered into the wagons to prevent the Crimean Turks from coming out, about 2,000 Crimean Turks, who did not want to surrender to the Russians, broke the wagons and committed suicide by jumping into the Serder Abad Kızıl Çakçak dam lake. The remaining 2 thousand Crimean Turks were put on wagons reinforced with nails and continued their journey.

As soon as the train left the Turkish border, it was dropped from the train. About 2,000 Crimean Turks were shot on the border between Soviet Russia and Turkey. was executed.

The veil of secrecy left behind by the Blue Regiment

No official document has ever been released in Turkey about this event. What for leading the Blue Regiment for the Nazis. nor the necessary explanations as to why the Crimean Turks refused their asylum request.

• Austria had a monument built in the name of the Crimean Turks in the village of Irschen in the Oberdrauburg Region, in memory of the massacre it witnessed.

Crimean Turks in the world of culture and art

By Zülfü Livaneli serenade Although Struma is at the center of the story in his book; The main character Maya’s grandmother is a Crimean Turk, and according to the story, her grandfather, who is a soldier, rescued her from the train.

In 2014, the story of the Crimean Turks was featured in the movie “Crimean”, starring Murat Yıldırım, Selma Ergeç and Baki Davrak.

She won the Eurovison 61st Song Contest held in 2016 with her song Jamala (Cemile) 1944, a Crimean Turk participating in the name of Ukraine. While the song describes the suffering of the Crimean Turks during the Stalin Era, the fact that the refrain is in Turkish also drew attention. Russia reacted to this situation quite a lot at that time.

Editor comment…

Monument erected in memory of Crimean Turks

As the Republic of Turkey, we have not yet officially commemorated the Blue Crescent Disaster, just as Struma Disaster It should be reminded that we do not include this event in our textbooks, just like we did. One day, the Blue Regiment and Struma will be included in the period TV series of our glorious history; We hope these tragedies do not happen again.

What about you before Blue RegimentHave you heard this story of What do you think about the Struma Disaster and the Blue Regiment Disaster? You can specify in the comments.