Johannes Lepsius was born in Potsdam, in Germany, in 1858. An evangelical pastor, following the first massacres in Turkey (three hundred thousand victims), in 1895 he set up the Deutsche Orient Mission the aim of which was to run orphanages for Armenian children who had survived the massacres.

In 1896 he published "Armenians and Europe", his first documented report on the atrocities committed by the sultan Abdul Hamid II, an ally of Wilhelm II. In aid of the Armenian victims of persecution he set up the Lepsius Foundation, with various branches in Anatolia. From 1912 to 1914 he took part in diplomatic moves and conferences on the Armenian question in Constantinople, Paris, London and Bern.

At the beginning of the Armenian genocide of 1915 he had a dramatic interview with Enver Pasha, minister of War, during which he tried in vain to prevent the systematic deportation of the Armenian people.

Report: Eric Friedler
Barbara Siebert
Camera: Hans E. Vennegeerts
Editing: Zsusa Ronai

ARD - German Television titled: GENOCIDE - THE ARMENIAN QUESTION AND OUR SPINELESS POLITICIANS
DATE: 3 September 2001

PRESENTER:

Our next report is about an unassuming house in Potsdam. Almost overnight, it has become a subject of political controversy. The theologian Johannes Lepsius lived in this house in the beginning of the previous century; a prominent humanist, he was instrumental in documenting the persecution of Armenians by the Turks. And that is where the problem lies. Before, Potsdam’s mayor and Brandenburg’s Chief Minister fought with great energy for the restoration of this building, yet today, they are silent. Because for Turkey, a NATO partner and a EU membership candidate, the work of Johannes Lepsius is a thorn in the side.

The remembrance of the Turkish Genocide of the Armenians. Erich Fiedler and Barbara Siebert reporting.

REPORT:
Potsdam. This unassuming house has become the subject of diplomatic complications. The General Superintendent of the Evangelical Church in Brandenburg explains why. He says Johannes Lepsius, one of the greatest humanists of his time, lived in this house up to 1926. He had saved the lives of thousands of Armenian orphans. His legacy would have been finally
presented to the public here. But this is exactly what provoked the Republic of Turkey. Violent reactions followed.

Hans-Ulrich Schulz, General Superintendent of the Evangelical Church, Berlin-Brandenburg: „We are utterly shocked by the fact that Turkey, this great nation, has such a problem with this small house of Lepsius, and makes an affair of state out of it.“

In the Ottoman Empire, today’s Turkey, he lived through the massive annihilation of Armenian men, women and children. What happened back then has been researched in detail by historians.

Dr. Hans-Lukas Kieser, ZÝrich University: „The Young Turkish state annihilated one million people, Armenians, through deliberate measures, including direct massacres and mass murder in concentration camps“.

Lepsius tried to awaken the world, in vain. So he documented the carnage in all its details, collected eyewitness accounts, founded orphanages for Armenian children. Today there is a word for what Lepsius’ legacy describes: Genocide.

Prof. Martin Tamcke, GÆttingen University: „If I understand Genocide to be the planned persecution of a people, without the possibility of an active defence, then what happened in Turkey, or rather, the Ottoman Empire back then was a Genocide“.

A prickly subject for the Republic of Turkey, its position is clear. The Turkish ambassador:

Question: „Was there ever a Genocide or a massacre of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire in the years 1915/16?“

Osman KorutÝrk, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey: »No.«

Question: „Could you please repeat that? It never happened?“

Osman KorutÝrk, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey: »No, no.«

It is with this attitude that the planned restoration of the Lepsius house collided. Professor Hermann Goltz has appraised Lepsius’ legacy scientifically. He had hoped that the Lepsius House would act as a place of enlightenment and as a foundation for dialogue between Armenians and Turks. Instead, the Turkish ambassador invited him and told him:

Prof. Hermann Goltz, Halle Wittenberg University: „...that such a remembrance of the Armenian Genocide is a threat to Turkey, in that it may lead to demands for compensation, and that, finally, our initiative, however ridiculous it may sound, that our initiative would contribute to the dissolution of Turkey.“

Question: „Then are those who talk of the Armenian Genocide lying in your opinion?“

Osman KorutÝrk, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey: „Either they lie on purpose, or they have been misled by the Armenian diaspora’s incessant propaganda.“

April 2001. A resolution is passed in the French parliament. The Armenian Genocide is recognised as a historical fact. A similar resolution could be brought before the German Bundestag. A proposal is to be submitted. Yet, the parliamentary leadership of the Social Democrats advises its members not to vote in favour. This is an issue for historians, inappropriate for a
parliament. The professor in International Law:

Prof. Otto Luchterhand, Hamburg University: „The main reason why politicians in the Federal Republic desist from such a resolution is, put very simply, political opportunism“

The Christian Democrats are against a resolution as well. It would put undue pressure on NATO, economic interests and the relationship to the 2.5 million Turks in Germany.

Karl Lamers, MdB / Foreign Affairs Spokesman for the CDU: “The underlying reason is the fact that Turkey and also, unfortunately, the majority of Turks living here have a very, one has to put it this way, nationalistic attitude, grounded in a mixture of inferiority and superiority complexes. Insecurity and a feeling of superiority combine, as is often the case, in a
very negative way, and positions harden. That cannot be the purpose of such an initiative.“

Back to Potsdam. The restraint shown by the Federal Government towards Turkey affects the local level as well. The Lepsius House, recognised by UNESCO as a world heritage site, is crumbling. Yet, a renovation had seemed certain, the Land had promised subsidies.

Hans-Ulrich Schulz, General Superintendent Evangelical Church, Berlin-Brandenburg: „There was certainly political support for this in Potsdam and the Land of Brandenburg, we felt quite supported in this matter. There were statements by the Culture Minister of Brandenburg, there were public events, where support was clearly expressed.“

1998. The spiritual leader of the Armenians, the Catholicos, visits Potsdam. One of the subjects of his talks with Chief Minister Stolpe is the Lepsius House. A centre for the remembrance of the Genocide is to be built here, according to the Culture Minister. The Mayor of Potsdam, Matthias Platzeck even makes it a priority. He compares Lepsius to Oskar Schindler, and calls the restoration „Potsdam’s objective“. Today Matthias Platzeck remains silent regarding the Lepsius House; he declines an interview. According to our investigations, he received massive threats, among others >From official Turkish circles. Nothing could be guaranteed; the restoration of the Lepsius House would have dire consequences.

Prof. Hermann Goltz, Halle Wittenberg University:

„I also know for certain that the mayor of Potsdam was subjected to very considerable pressure. They went so far as to threaten mass demonstrations by Turkish citizens in Berlin, they even mentioned numbers: 200,000 Turks would lay siege to Potsdam, against this initiative of ours, the restoration of Lepsius House.“

Brandenburg Chancellery. There were interventions here as well, the Turkish paper „Hurriyet“ proudly mentions Chief Minister Stolpe guaranteed Turkish officials that there would be no misuse of the Lepsius House. Whatever he meant by that, today one thing is clear: there will be no subsidies for this once so politically desirable project.

Osman KorutÝrk, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey:

„It is our opinion that if there is to be an archive in the Lepsius House, it should not be abused for the wrong purposes. We know, that certain circles in the Armenian diaspora forge documents. To distort the truth.“

Officials in the Foreign Ministry also felt obliged to intervene. Unofficially, they made their position clear to the initiators of this project.

Hans-Ulrich Schulz, General Superintendent of the Evangelical Church,
Berlin-Brandenburg:

„It became quite evident during this conversation that the Foreign Ministry has no interest in seeing this matter pursued now, and, consequently, in restoring the Lepsius house to its old, new purpose.“

Professor Goltz leads us to a secret location. He has hidden the originals of Johannes Lepsius’ documents here. He is afraid that Turkish extremists might destroy the papers; there have already been threats. The records will probably stay here for a long time. His bitter conclusion:

Prof. Hermann Goltz, Halle Wittenberg University: „Because of massive political pressure by the Turkish embassy at the highest political level in Germany, in the Foreign Ministry but also on the local and the Land level, the Chief Minister of Brandenburg, the mayor of Potsdam, the restoration project of Lepsius house has been stopped.“

And so, everything stays the same in Potsdam. Lepsius’ legacy remains hidden from the public at large, as his home, a UNESCO heritage site, disintegrates. Turkish diplomacy has obviously fulfilled its mission in Brandenburg.

PRESENTER:
A disgraceful game is being played here. Politicians, who so much like to demand more civic courage, should display it themselves, especially against a friendly government like Turkey’s. To simply look away and hush up the truth has never helped a friendship.