Soghomon Tehlirian
Armenian revolutionary who killed Talaat Pasha in Berlin.
Soghomon Tehlirian was an Armenian revolutionary and soldier who assassinated Talaat Pasha, the former Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire, in Berlin on March 15, 1921. The killing was part of Operation Nemesis, a revenge plan by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation against Ottoman officials responsible for the Armenian genocide. Tehlirian was tried for murder in a German court and acquitted, and he is considered a national hero by Armenians.
- Born
- April 2, 1896, in Bagarich, Erzurum vilayet, Ottoman Empire
- Died
- May 23, 1960, of a cerebral hemorrhage
- Field
- Revolutionary, soldier
- Nationality
- Armenian
- Known for
- Assassination of Talaat Pasha
Lore & Background
Soghomon Tehlirian was born on April 2, 1896, in the village of Bagarich in the Erzurum vilayet of the Ottoman Empire, and raised in Erzincan. He studied at the Protestant elementary school in Erzinjan and later at the Getronagan Lyceum of Constantinople, then went to Serbia to study engineering. In June 1914 he was in Valjevo, Serbia, and in the fall of that year he made his way to Russia to join a volunteer unit on the Caucasus Front against the Turks. According to one account, in June 1915 the Ottoman local police ordered the deportation of all Armenians in Erzinjan, and Tehlirian lost 85 family members to the Armenian genocide; however, his son later stated in 2016 that Tehlirian's mother and older brother died in the genocide, that he had no sister, and that his father was fighting in Russia while his other two brothers were in Serbia.
Reader's Guide
Tehlirian's assassination of Talaat Pasha and subsequent acquittal had lasting significance. The trial examined not only Tehlirian's actions but also his conviction that Talaat was the main author of the Armenian deportation and mass killings. The defense focused on the influence of the genocide on Tehlirian's mental state, and the jury acquitted him after slightly over an hour of deliberation. The trial influenced Polish-Jewish lawyer Raphael Lemkin, who later reflected on it. Tehlirian is considered a national hero by Armenians, and his grave monument in Fresno, California, features an eagle slaying a snake, symbolizing the arm of justice of the Armenian people extending their wrath onto Talaat Pasha.
Did You Know?
- Tehlirian killed Harutiun Mkrtichian, a former Ottoman police agent and informer, whose role in the Armenian deportations is often exaggerated or misattributed.
- During his trial, Tehlirian claimed he saw his mother in a dream who scorned him for not taking revenge.
- After the assassination, Tehlirian lived under the name Saro Melikian and worked as a postal clerk in San Francisco.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Soghomon Tehlirian?
Born on April 2, 1896, in the Erzurum region of the Ottoman Empire, he was an Armenian revolutionary and soldier who became internationally known for a single act of political assassination in 1921. He is widely regarded within the Armenian community as a national hero for his role in seeking justice for the Armenian genocide.
What exactly did Soghomon Tehlirian do?
On March 15, 1921, he shot and killed Talaat Pasha, the former Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire, inside a Berlin restaurant. The killing was carried out as part of Operation Nemesis, a coordinated revenge effort organized by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation against Ottoman officials held responsible for the genocide.
What happened to Tehlirian after he killed Talaat Pasha?
He was arrested, charged with murder, and tried before a German court. The jury ultimately acquitted him, accepting that the extreme trauma of the genocide had rendered him unable to form criminal intent at the moment of the act.
Why is Soghomon Tehlirian remembered as a hero rather than a common murderer?
Armenians view his act as a long-delayed reckoning against one of the principal architects of a genocide that killed hundreds of thousands of their people. His acquittal by a Western court reinforced the perception that his deed was an act of moral justice rather than ordinary criminal violence.
How did Soghomon Tehlirian's life end?
After his release following the trial, he lived quietly as a private citizen for several decades. He died on May 23, 1960, from a cerebral hemorrhage, at the age of 64.
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