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Iran's Forgotten Catastrophe: The Great Famine Of WWI

Jayda Herman

The annals of history are replete with tales of war and suffering, yet some of the most profound human tragedies remain shrouded in obscurity. Among these is the devastating famine in Iran during World War I, a calamity that claimed millions of lives but has largely been overlooked by mainstream historical narratives. Despite Iran's declared neutrality, the nation became a tragic battleground for competing imperial powers, whose presence and policies directly contributed to one of the 20th century's worst genocides.

This article delves into the depths of this forgotten disaster, exploring its multifaceted causes, the harrowing scale of its impact, and the reasons behind its prolonged concealment. By piecing together the fragmented historical records and recent scholarly efforts, we aim to shed light on a pivotal, yet painful, chapter of Iranian history, emphasizing the urgent need for its recognition and thorough investigation.

The Unseen Calamity: Unveiling the Iranian Famine

The "Iranian Holocaust" is a term increasingly used to describe the immense suffering and death that gripped Iran during World War I. It was, by many accounts, the biggest calamity of World War I and one of the worst genocides of the 20th century. Yet, for nearly a century, it remained concealed, a dark chapter largely omitted from global historical narratives. The sheer scale of human loss is staggering, with estimates of the death toll varying widely between 2 to 10 million people. This range itself speaks volumes about the lack of comprehensive study and recognition this event has received. The famine in Iran was not merely a consequence of natural disasters; its causes are deeply rooted in both environmental factors and, crucially, foreign military intervention, particularly by British forces.

A Nation's Neutrality Ignored

Despite declaring neutrality at the outbreak of World War I, Iran found itself tragically caught in the crosshairs of global conflict. The territory of Iran was occupied by the forces of the British, Russian, and Ottoman empires. This occupation, far from being benign, directly contributed to the deepening crisis and the subsequent famine. The concept of neutrality, a cornerstone of international law, was brutally disregarded, turning Iran into a strategic battleground for powers vying for regional dominance. This flagrant violation of sovereignty laid the groundwork for an unprecedented humanitarian disaster, as the occupying forces prioritized their military objectives over the survival of the Iranian populace.

The Roots of Ruin: Natural Disasters and Foreign Intervention

The great famine in Iran was a complex catastrophe, born from a confluence of devastating factors. While successive seasonal droughts led to poor harvests, creating a precarious food situation, it was the arrival of foreign armies that truly tipped the scales towards widespread starvation. The requisitioning of foodstuffs by foreign armies during World War I, coupled with their disruptive presence, exacerbated an already fragile agricultural system. This interaction between natural hardship and military occupation created a perfect storm for the famine in Iran to take hold with brutal efficiency.

The Crippling Grip of Occupation

The impact of foreign occupation extended far beyond mere requisitioning. The occupying forces, particularly the British, commandeered Iran's vital road and rail systems. This seizure of infrastructure, critical for the movement of goods and people, in turn crippled food distribution networks across the country. Food, even when available in certain regions, could not reach the areas most in need. This deliberate or indirect obstruction of internal logistics by foreign armies was a heavy blow to the economics and agriculture of Iran. Together with the successive droughts, this marked the most extreme famine of the century in Iran, transforming a period of scarcity into an unimaginable humanitarian crisis. The foreign military presence not only consumed local resources but also dismantled the very mechanisms that could have mitigated the effects of the droughts, sealing the fate of millions.

The Scale of Suffering: Estimating the Death Toll

The precise number of lives lost during the famine in Iran remains a contentious and tragic subject, largely due to the lack of comprehensive historical documentation and the deliberate suppression of information. While estimates of the death toll vary widely between 2 to 10 million people, even the lowest figure represents an immense loss of life. Some historical accounts suggest that by the end of the famine, almost half of the population of Iran had died. This horrific statistic underscores the catastrophic nature of the event, placing it among the deadliest demographic disasters in modern history. The famine affected almost the whole country, making it the best documented famine in Iranian history in terms of its widespread impact. However, some cities, such as Shahrud, Kerman, and Birjand, managed to avoid the worst of the catastrophe, likely due to a combination of geographical factors, local governance, and perhaps less direct impact from foreign occupation.

The sheer scale of the death toll highlights the severity of the crisis and the profound suffering endured by the Iranian people. It also raises critical questions about the responsibility of the occupying powers and the international community's failure to acknowledge or intervene effectively. The absence of precise figures is not merely an academic void; it is a testament to the erasure of a monumental tragedy from collective memory, denying millions of victims the recognition they deserve.

A Century of Silence: Why the Famine Remained Hidden

The fact that the Iranian famine remained concealed for nearly a century is a testament to a complex interplay of geopolitical interests, historical neglect, and the power dynamics of post-war narratives. While there have been many books and articles about the First World War and its adverse effects on Iran, the specific topic of the famine remains understudied. So far, few historians have researched the famine, making it an understudied subject of modern history. This lack of scholarly attention has contributed significantly to its obscurity, preventing a thorough and public reckoning with the events that transpired.

The Scarce Academic Discourse

The academic world has been notably quiet on the subject of the famine in Iran during World War I. Very few academic sources discuss this specific famine in detail. For example, a 1968 demographic study by Julian Bharier in the journal *Population Studies* alludes to the war imposing additional hardships on Iranians, observing that 1946 is the first year after World War II when Iran began to find its feet again after the Allied occupation. However, even this significant study does not explicitly mention a famine or a large number of deaths attributed to it. This highlights a broader trend: while the general difficulties faced by Iran during the war were acknowledged, the specific, catastrophic famine was largely omitted or downplayed in scholarly works for decades. Recent studies about the famine, while a welcome development, have not yet completely analyzed its different aspects and causes, indicating that much work remains to be done to fully understand this historical wound.

Eyewitness Accounts and Enduring Evidence

Despite the prevailing silence, the truth of the famine has persisted through various channels. Eyewitness accounts, though often suppressed or dismissed, paint a harrowing picture of widespread starvation, disease, and death. These personal testimonies, passed down through generations, form an invaluable, albeit often informal, historical record. More recently, dedicated scholars have begun to unearth and analyze more concrete evidence. A significant contribution to this understanding comes from works like Mohammad Gholi Majd's comprehensive account of Iran's greatest calamity. His work is of enduring value, providing substantial evidence and analysis that makes it very uncomfortable to digest or ignore the reality of the famine. The second edition of his book, in particular, presents compelling data that challenges previous narratives and forces a re-evaluation of this period. This renewed scholarly interest is crucial for moving the famine in Iran from the realm of forgotten history into the light of rigorous academic inquiry.

The existence of such detailed accounts and analyses demonstrates that the absence of widespread knowledge was not due to a lack of evidence, but rather a lack of willingness to investigate and acknowledge. The documents of those events are still classified in some countries, further complicating efforts for full transparency. This classification suggests a deliberate effort to control the narrative, preventing a thorough investigation and prosecution of what many consider a crime against humanity, a crime that over the years has never given the injured a chance to be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted.

The Geopolitical Chessboard: Iran's Vulnerability

To fully grasp the magnitude of the famine in Iran, it is essential to understand the geopolitical context of the time. Iran, despite its strategic importance, was a nation struggling to maintain its sovereignty in the face of encroaching imperial powers. At the time, Iran had largely lost its political independence due to certain colonial contracts, such as those signed in 1907 and 1915. These agreements effectively carved up spheres of influence within Iran between the British and Russian empires, severely limiting Iran's ability to govern itself and protect its own interests.

Colonial Contracts and Economic Collapse

With the start of World War I, a large group of foreign troops occupied Iran, not as liberators but as extensions of their imperial ambitions. This occupation, facilitated by the pre-existing colonial contracts, was a heavy blow to the economics and agriculture of Iran. The country's resources were diverted, its infrastructure exploited, and its people subjected to the whims of foreign armies. The successive droughts, already a natural challenge, became catastrophic when combined with the systematic disruption caused by the occupation. The inability of the Iranian government, weakened by colonial agreements, to effectively respond to the crisis meant that the population was left largely to fend for itself against starvation and disease. This confluence of geopolitical vulnerability, economic exploitation, and environmental hardship created the conditions for the most extreme famine of the century in Iran, illustrating how the fires of World War I engulfed neutral countries such as Iran the most and had irreparable consequences.

Lessons from the Past: A Call for Recognition

The great famine in Iran serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of war, particularly when it spills over into neutral territories and is compounded by external interference. The profound loss of life and the long-term impact on Iranian society underscore the importance of acknowledging this historical tragedy. The ongoing lack of comprehensive investigation and prosecution for what transpired is a grave injustice. For too long, this crime has been denied a thorough examination, leaving the injured without a chance for justice or even full historical recognition. The continued classification of relevant documents in some countries further obstructs the path to truth and reconciliation.

Recognizing the Iranian famine is not merely an act of historical correction; it is a crucial step towards understanding the complex dynamics of global conflicts and their often-hidden tolls. It highlights the vulnerability of nations caught between powerful empires and the ethical responsibilities of occupying forces. By bringing this history to light, we can ensure that the lessons learned from this immense suffering are not forgotten, fostering a greater commitment to peace, sovereignty, and humanitarian principles in international relations.

Reclaiming History: The Path Forward

The journey to fully understand and acknowledge the famine in Iran is ongoing. Recent scholarship, such as the new chapter with a detailed military and political history of Iran in World War I included in the second edition of Majd's book, is vital in this endeavor. These works provide a comprehensive account that challenges established narratives and demands attention. The persistent efforts of historians, researchers, and advocates are slowly but surely bringing this hidden calamity to the forefront of historical discourse.

For the victims and their descendants, this recognition is long overdue. It is a fundamental human right to have one's suffering acknowledged and documented. As global citizens, it is our collective responsibility to ensure that such immense tragedies are not relegated to the footnotes of history but are instead given the prominence they deserve. By supporting further research, encouraging open access to historical documents, and promoting public awareness, we can help reclaim this vital piece of history. Let us ensure that the memory of those who perished in the great famine in Iran is honored, and that their story serves as a powerful testament to the devastating human cost of geopolitical ambition and neglect.

What are your thoughts on this forgotten chapter of history? Share your insights and perspectives in the comments below. If you found this article informative, please consider sharing it to help raise awareness about the Iranian famine of World War I.

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