The Night Jerusalem's Armenian Quarter Burned: World War I's Forgotten Siege

In the winter of 1914, as World War I erupted across Europe, Jerusalem found itself under an Ottoman blockade that would starve its multi-faith population for three brutal years. This episode follows the forgotten siege of Jerusalem through the eyes of the Armenian community in the Armenian Quarter, where refugees from the 1915 genocide sought shelter only to face famine and disease. We explore the role of the German military mission under Otto von Falkenhayn, the Ottoman Fourth Army under Djemal Pasha, and the desperate efforts of American consul Otis Glazebrook to distribute food through the American Colony soup kitchens. We also uncover the story of the 'Sejera' — a Jewish agricultural colony that became a hub for the NILI spy ring, whose members were caught and executed by the Ottomans just outside Jaffa Gate. This episode sheds light on a lesser-known chapter of Jerusalem's history, when modern warfare and imperial collapse transformed the ancient city forever.

#Jerusalem #WorldWarI #ArmenianQuarter #OttomanEmpire #DjemalPasha #ArmenianGenocide #Famine #SiegeOfJerusalem #AmericanColony #NILI #Sejera #OtisGlazebrook #Falkenhayn #FourthArmy #JaffaGate #MustafaKemal #MiddleEastHistory #FexingoHistory

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