21 January-13 February 1920: The Maraş Affair—Turkish Nationalists attacked French colonial forces throughout Cilicia, leading to a three-week siege of Maraş; on the verge of the Turks agreeing to a ceasefire, the French withdrew, leading to the Turkish massacre of twelve thousand-plus Armenian civilians; five thousand Armenians fled alongside the French, but only fifteen hundred reached safety.
Lest we forget.
Commentary: The French commander who ordered the inexplicable & disastrous retreat, Robert Normand—who originated the order but lied, claiming to be acting on orders from above—later played a significant rôle in the construction of the infamous Maginot Line.
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