Armenian Genocide List of Names of Men on Card Real Photo Postcard

The attire of the armed men, featuring traditional hats resembling papakhas and prominent bandoliers filled with ammunition, strongly suggests their origin from the Caucasus or the wider Ottoman Empire region during the late 19th or early 20th century. This period was marked by significant geopolitical shifts, the decline of empires, and the rise of nationalist movements, leading to the proliferation of local armed groups. These groups often formed for self-defense, political insurgency, or to assert regional autonomy.

Such formations were a common feature across the Ottoman and Russian borderlands, where central state control was often tenuous. They participated in various conflicts, from inter-ethnic clashes to revolts against imperial rule, and played a significant role in shaping the volatile political landscape that preceded the Balkan Wars and World War I. Their weaponry, including various rifle types, reflects the era's widespread access to military arms.