The contribution of Nzhdeh to Armenianship is invaluable, and it is impossible to find a word that would more accurately describe his role in the life of this nation than the word “prophet”.
Garegin Nzhdeh is a prophet of the Armenian people. He has been gifted to his nation at the most difficult times by heaven. He ensured the existence of Armenia within its present-day borders. (Nzhdeh, by the way, means “wanderer”, which accurately corresponds to his ascetic life philosophy infecting everyone around him with a desire for spiritual growth).
Garegin Nzhdeh was born into the family of a priest in 1886 in the village of Kuznut. In 1902, he entered the law faculty of St. Petersburg University but dropped out two years later in order to enroll in the Dmitri Nikolov officer school in Sofia (Bulgaria, 1906).
Upon graduation from the officer school, Nzhdeh contacted the men of Murad Sebastatsi and entered the association of tough guys, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) ARF.
Nzhdeh was a supporter of the Persian revolution. He was arrested and interrogated in four prisons (Julfa prison, Nakhichevan prison, Novocherkassk prison, and Petersburg prison). In March 1912, he was released from prison and moved to Bulgaria.
In May 1918, Nzhdeh covered the retreat of the Armenian troops from the Kars region, leading the battle at Aladj. At the same time, he managed to evacuate Professor Marr’s archaeological materials from Ani.
On May 26-28, 1918, Nzhdeh commanded the battle of Karakilisa (Vanadzor), stopping the superior forces of the Turkish army. For his deeds in the battle, he was awarded the Order of Courage.
After the formation of the First Republic of Armenia, Nzhdeh became engaged in the formation and training of the Armenian National Army.
Observing contradictions, the lack of a single political vector in the country, and the lack of consolidation of forces, Nzhdeh left for Zangezur to protect Armenia’s backbone from the attacks of the Bolsheviks, the Turks, and other scum.
In early December 1919, Nzhdeh took the Gekhvadzor gorge, “destroying the resistance of 32 Tatar villages”, as he would say himself. This became a “disaster” for the neighboring regions – Nzhdeh soon launched an offensive and occupied Azerbaijani villages, carrying out ethnic cleansings.
On August 10, 1920, an agreement was concluded between Soviet Russia and the Republic of Armenia, according to which the disputed areas were occupied by the Red Army. Fearing that Zangezur might then come under the control of Soviet Azerbaijan, Nzhdeh did not recognize this agreement and refused to leave Zangezur (unlike Dro, who was the commander in Zangezur).
On November 21, two brigades of the 11th Red Army supported by several Turkish battalions (only 1,200 Turks) were defeated by the units of Nzhdeh, and Zangezur was completely liberated.
On April 27, 1921, Zangezur was proclaimed the Republic of Mountainous Armenia, with Nzhdeh heading it as prime minister, military minister, and foreign minister.
This was the end of his deeds in his homeland because for many reasons (the fall of the First Republic, military failures, consolidation of the “Reds” in this direction, and so on), the Reds occupied the region, but thanks to Nzhdeh, Armenia became a Soviet republic in boundaries that included Zangezur and Nagorno-Karabakh.
Nzhdeh has always been distinguished by foresight, strategic thinking, and nihilism, which allowed him not to become distracted by the politically incorrect decisions of the Armenian government.
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“What is life, if not a meaningless and ruthless game of two forces. Forces, one of which produces and builds, and the other ruins and destroys.”
“An Armenian should be mute rather than an alien-speaker.” (Accurate words about Philip Ekozyants and other subhumans)
“Here is my last word: I would like to close my eyes in a fiery battle, on the wings of victory under the warlike cry of my soldiers. However, wherever and no matter how I die, may my ancestors of Syunik scatter a handful of my ashes in the heart of Mount Khustup.
Wherever and no matter how I die, believe, my precious people, that during an external danger, my restless soul will come to the aid of my native land and invisibly become the leader of its army.”
“Be strong, stronger, and always strong. Nations, in the end, become masters of not what they get but of what they deserve, of what they can provide with their own efforts.”
“Patriotism and philanthropy go hand in hand. Only a nationalist can love humanity.”
“There is no greater evil, a more destructive element for a nation, especially for such a small nation like ours, than blind party passion. We must love our homeland regardless of its political regime, also regardless of our political convictions.”
“Courage, we need courage, such that we have the need to temper it.”
“In the struggle, that side loses whose leading elements despair first.”
“In our battles, I saw the best Armenian – put up with death, a warrior who rushed at the enemy with a determination to win at any price. I also recognized the worst Armenian who committed a cowardly crime.
The former is ready to die for the sake of immortality and the continuation of the life of his people and the honor of his weapon; the latter would live at any cost so that the glory of the enemy takes over.”
“Religion, duties, power, and courage – this is what Tseghakron means. This is a collaboration between a true intellectual and a warrior in the name of the nation and the Fatherland. Two things should occupy the thought of an Armenian and his heart – Armenia and self-defense.”
“Never be unarmed. Let the neighbors put their swords in the scabbards first.”
Garegin Nzhdeh
