The presentation of the book “Death in the desert: Armenian Genocide”, written by the renowned scientist, was held at YSU Institute for Armenian Studies.

The author said that he was very pleased with the fact that YSU Publishing House gave a pretty quick response to the proposal on the publication of the Armenian version of the book. The author also expressed special thanks to the Institute for Armenian Studies for close cooperation.

Deputy Director of the IAS Mher Hovhannisyan welcomed the guest and noted that the translation of the book is already in process and it will be published at YSU Publishing House by the end of the year.

The life and activities of Rolf Hosfeld were presented by the IAS researcher, lecturer at the Faculty of History Ashot Hayruni.

“The German version of the book was published in February of this year and it received a very good response from the public and the media. I should also mention that this year almost all the German media show an extraordinary and unprecedented interest towards the Armenian Genocide and Armenian issues in general,” - said Rolf Hosfeld and expressed hope that the Armenian version of his book will be available at the Frankfurt International Book Fair.

The Armenologist also stressed that the resolution condemning the Armenian Genocide, will be discussed in Germany in coming days. He says its final version is not so satisfactory, but it is a major step taken by the former ally of the Ottoman Turkey - Germany.

The event was also attended by the Director of YSU Publishing House Karen Grigoryan, translator of the book Evelina Makaryan, Dean of the Faculty of International Relations Gegham Petrosyan, Dean of the Faculty of Sociology Arthur Mkrtichyan, Head of the Chair of Diaspora Studies Armen Yeghiazaryan, representatives of the professorial staff, as well as students.

There have not been up now any works in the German and Austrian historiography which, along with the full presentation of the Armenian Genocide, would have the detailed description of the responsibility of Germany and Austria regarding this issue. And the monograph of Rolf Hosfeld fills this gap. His first extensive work on the Armenian Genocide – “Operation Nemesis” was published 10 years ago.

Author of the book has included the most important international researches on the Armenian Genocide. The work has ten chapters and consists of about 300 pages, 50 of which are allocated to the primary sources and literature related to this issue, the Genocide is presented in chronological sequence, here are also valuable evidences of the contemporaries and, if necessary, also comments.

The background of the Armenian Genocide and the consistency of its implementation by the Turkish are also presented in this work. The details of the Hamid and the Young Turk regimes are largely focused on, too. Five chapters are devoted to the organization “Teshkilateshi Mahsus”, the disarmament and mass slaughter of the Armenians who served in the Turkish army, the arrests and massacre of the Armenian intellectuals and the deportation and extermination of the Armenian population. The last chapter is about the escape of the rulers of the Young Turks after the war.

The book ends with the presentation of the trial of the avenger Soghomon Tehleryan, where he presents the considerations of the observer of the trial Robert Kempner. A detailed focus is also made on Raphael Lemkin, who was greatly influenced by this trial.