Assassination of Talaat Pasha in 1921 in Berlin: a case study of judicial practices in the Weimar Republic

The assassination of Talaat Pasha, the former Minister of Interior and the Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire and the trial of his assassin, Soghomon Tehlirian (Salomon Teilirian in the court record), in 1921 in Berlin constitute the topic of this study. This paper will examine in detail the files created by the German police, the state prosecutor, and the Ministry of Justice in order to determine, as much as possible, the reason for Tehlirian’s acquittal. What set him free: his mental state or politics? The trial took place on 2-3 June 1921, two and a half months after the assassination. While the defense counsel was trying to extend the process in order to collect additional evidence, the prosecuting authorities, together with the German Foreign Office, tried to hasten the proceedings and have a short trial and a quick verdict. Why? The assassination served to remind Germany, and the world, of the horrific events that had taken place in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. It was during this time that the ethnic Armenian population in the Ottoman Empire was driven out of their homes to perish on their forced march into the Syrian Desert. The Ottoman Empire had been Germany’s ally during that war, and German military officials were stationed in every province of the empire. These officials witnessed the massacres and reported the events to their superiors as the horrors were unfolding. Though the Allied governments at the time accused Germany of taking part in the atrocities, no attempts were made by the German government to exert any influence on its ally. The assassination renewed those accusations. Many major newspapers worldwide began to report on the Armenian massacres again and on the fact that not only had Germany failed to prevent its ally from committing those acts, but also sheltered the perpetrators. To counter the adverse publicity surrounding the case, Weimar officials resorted to every kind of stratagy to hasten the proceedings and the trial and rid themselves of that “troublesome foreigner” (“lästigen Ausländer”) Tehlirian. By reducing the political significance of the case and emphasizing its criminal aspect, they managed to obtain an acquittal and summarily deport the defendant before a proper appeal could be filed.