Throughout 1895 – 96 Armenians in the Ottoman Empire suffered a wave of violence commonly known as the Hamidian massacres . While Van largely avoided the massacres in 1895 , the Ottomans sent a military expedition in June 1896 . The Armenians of Van were initially able to defend themselves , but upon agreeing to disarm in exchange for safety , massacres continued , ending in the deaths of over 20,000 Armenians
Hamidian massacres
Hamidian massacres
Defense of Van (1915)