Zakaria H. Kloian

Born 1900 - Village of Darman, Vilayet of Erzerum, Turkey


I was born in the Village of Darman, Vilayet (province) of Erzerum, Turkey. I am a naturalized citizen of the United States of America, naturalization certificate having been issued to me by order of the District Court of the United States in the City of Detroit, Michigan.


My birthplace, the village of Darman in the Vilayet of Erzerum, Turkey, was situated very close to the village of Asdghapert, also in the Vilayet of Erzerum, Turkey and for that reason I visited that village at frequent intervals.


On or about the 15th day of May, 1915, all the inhabitants of the village of Darman, including myself, were forcibly ejected from our homes upon orders issued by the Turkish gendarmerie; that after being thus driven from our homes we were compelled to travel on foot towards a destination unknown to us, whereupon a few days after our departure, we were attacked by armed mobs who, with the aid of the gendarmes guarding us, massacred hundreds of us causing those of us who were able to do so to flee for our lives.

I was one of those who fled and saved my life; I afterwards proceeded to join another band of people who were driven out of the village of Asdghapert, the neighboring village with whom I had intended to take refuge, having first had information as to their whereabouts; and when I did find the remnants of the people I was seeking I learned from them that they too were massacred like the people of the village of Darman.



An Affidavit
Subscribed and Sworn before Notary Public
Wayne County, Detroit, Michigan
August 24, 1943

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