Editor investigates archives to reveal fate of Armenian prisoners at Nazi concentration camps

YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS. A magazine editor has been investigating the archives of the lists of prisoners in Nazi concentration camps during WWII, in an effort to help the families of the Armenians who died in the notorious camps run by the SS find a sense of closure by revealing the truth. 

Tens of thousands of Soviet soldiers were taken captive and held at Nazi concentration camps during World War II. Back home, they were classified as missing in action. In 2012, Austria opened its archives, and the lists of the prisoners who were buried in mass graves in the camps are being released.

Robert Avjyan, the Deputy Editor of the Development Strategy and National Security magazine, told Armenpress that he has been investigating since 2012 the fate of Soviet Armenians who were held captive at the concentration camps.

Avjyan received a grant from Eurasia Foundation with a project entitled Homage to Memory, in an effort to help the families of those designated as missing find out what actually happened to them.

He said that 85,000 people were held captive by the Nazis in the notorious Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria. 30,000 of them were Soviet citizens. In the Ebensee concentration camp, the subcamp of Mauthausen, 2000 Soviet prisoners, including 12 from Armenia, were held captive, according to Avjyan.

The camp has now been transformed into a history museum. The administration of the history museum contacted Avjyan’s magazine to print the lists of the prisoners of the camp.

Avjyan visited Austria in 2012, met with Dr. Wolfgang Quatember, the museum director, as well as a former prisoner who was held captive at the camp when he was 14.

“I have many lists now in my possession. For many years I have been dealing with clarification of the lists, and especially the data concerning the Armenians,” he said.

The names of the 12 Armenians, who were classified as missing in action by the Soviet Union, but who actually died at Ebensee, is presented below, alongside the registration number from the archives.

1.       Virabyan Hambardzum (registration number 83507, date of birth unavailable, date of death 28. 04. 1945)

2.       Sharajyan Nikolay (registration number 113604, 10․04․1902-30․05․1945)

3.       Abelyan Sadur (registration number 50937, 10․07․1908-25․04․1945)

4.       Terteryan Vardges (registration number 38151, 17․12․1917-18․12․1944)

5.       Nikotchyan Petros (registration number 108345, 05․01․1910-19․01․1945)

6.       Haykazyan Vardan (registration number 50743, 15․09․1918-06․04․1945)

7.       Ghazaryan Satik (registration number 100586, 03․11․1908-24․04․1945)

8.       Vardumyan Chayro (registration number 51178, 01․05․1906-05․03․1945)

9.       Hambardzumyan Sahak (registration number 50943, 05․06․1909-22․04․1945)

10.   Avetisyan Makar (registration number 113579, date of birth unavailable, date of death 01․06․1945)

11.   Galstyan Nshan (registration number 41170, 09․04․1900-20․04․1944)

12.   Hovsepyan Mushegh (registration number 51089, 26․10․1908-07․05․1945)

Robert Avjyan called on families of the victims to contact him at avrobert@yandex.ru, or by telephone +7977 439 43 74, or visit his Moscow office at 18/2, Khavskaya Street.