General Ozanyan Andranik Torosovich was one of the famous leaders of the Armenian liberation movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is a national Armenian hero. Ozanyan was an implacable enemy of Turkish despotism.
The title of “general” Andranik Ozanyan really earned sweat and blood. He fought against the oppression of his people, wanting to see him free. Ozanyan was interested in the liberation of the nation from the Turkish yoke as a whole. He linked the fate of his people only with Russia, which will help make the Armenian people free.
A family
The biography of Ozanyan Andranik Torosovich is interesting and significant. Many events and facts of the Armenian struggle against the Turks are associated with his name. Ozanyan was born on February 25, 1865 in the small town of Shapin-Garaisar.
His mother's name was Mariam. But she died when Ozanyan was only a year and a half. He had an older married sister, Nazeli. After the death of his mother, she was raised by her father, Toros Ozanyan. He was a craftsman and earned money doing small business.
Sometimes, leaving for business, his father took Andranik with him. The future general perceived such trips as small trips. Father wanted his son to lead the business after his death.
But Toros did not succeed in becoming a successful merchant; I had to do carpentry work. He wanted to teach this craft to his son, but he did not show any inclinations for this type of activity.
Childhood
Ozanyan was more attracted to war games, weapons. He rode well, constantly organizing noisy games. He loved to play the “war”. Could smash the nose of the "enemy." But peers respected him, obeyed and loved him. Many adults, despite the pranks of Ozanyan, set him as an example to their children. Andranik Ozanyan was caring for friends, always shared what he had, did not like cowards, respected friends and was proud of their courage.
Training
In 1875, Andranik went to a local school. After 7 years, she graduated. His classmates and teachers loved him. Ozanyan was in love with history. He especially preferred the various exploits of famous commanders. The more he found out, the stronger became his hatred of the Turkish oppressors. And he decided that the goal of his life would be to fight them.
Personal life
Ozanyan got married early enough, at seventeen. But soon his beloved wife died giving birth to a child. A few weeks later, the baby died. Ozanyan was deeply worried about the loss of his family. Friends still managed to distract him from gloomy thoughts. They brought him to meetings to discuss how to break free of the Turkish yoke that prevailed over their people at that time.
Protester Ozanyan
The ardent Ozanyan’s patience was overwhelmed by the persecution of Armenians by the Constantinople police chief. He first picked up the sword and killed it. As a result, he was forced to hide. But after a while Andranik Ozanyan realized that the killing of officials did not free the Armenian people from the Turkish yoke. He began to create militia units and gradually arm them.
To do this, he traveled to many countries where there were Armenian communities. I was able to rally them, inspired by the idea of liberating the homeland from the invaders. He launched a wide activity. I got acquainted with the methods of the struggle of other peoples against invaders. As a result, he became the head of the campaign against Turkish despotism in his homeland.
Countering the Turks. Guerrilla activities
Returning to his homeland, Andranik Ozanyan and his friends gathered a small detachment that terrified Turkish officials. The authorities hunted them, wanting to execute. But Ozanyan’s detachment eluded them, as all the conspiracies against the Armenian partisans failed.
Andranik always helped the poor and defenseless, and mercilessly punished those who were too ill for someone else. Ozanyan became a storm of bei and pasha who ravaged the villages of Armenians. He preferred not to join the battle without serious reason. All his actions and battles were aimed at protecting his people.
Confrontation to the Turks
Andranik Ozanyan, whose biography is closely related to the liberation movement, eventually created a large and strong detachment of hajduk. They began to engage in open battles with the Turkish army. Once Ozanyan, being in the monastery of the Holy Apostles, took an unequal battle with superior enemy forces. In a small detachment, led by Andranik, there were only 37 fighters. Against them, the Turks threw an army of 6 thousand people. But even the heavily armed warriors could not defeat such a small number of rebellious Armenians.
Four soldiers were killed in Andranik’s squad, but the enemy’s damage was many times greater. The Armenians left the monastery only due to lack of food and ammunition. Break through the blockade of the Turks secretly and safely were able to get out. The squad did not suffer losses. Both this battle and the heroic exit from the blockade became a legend. In the imagination of the Armenian people, the detachment of Ozanyan seemed elusive and invulnerable.
The beginning of the liberation movement
The liberation movement of Andranik brought ever greater results and gained fame. Large uprisings began. One of them was headed by Andranik Ozanyan in Mountain Sasun. But the forces were unequal, and they had to retreat. But the beginning of the liberation movement has already been laid.
Victory fights
In 1912, a group of volunteers was assembled by Ozanyan and second lieutenant Garegin. Moreover, it was attended not only by Armenians, but also by other nationalities. They were able to defeat the Turks near the village of Mergamly. Andranik received the highest award from the Bulgarian government - the Golden Cross. A little later he was awarded silver crosses of the 3rd and 4th degree. The Bulgarian government Ozanyan was promoted to officer. He received the citizenship of this country and a lifelong pension.
Ozanyan with Russian troops
The Russians learned about the activities of Andranik and praised his military experience. As a result, he was entrusted with the formation of the first Armenian squad, which he himself led. Subsequently, she played an important role in the battles for the capture of Mush, Van and Bitlis. Ozanyan was awarded many medals and orders of the Russian Empire.
