Ernst Jakob Christoffel in Malatia: “The Father of the Blind” as a Witness of the Armenian Genocide (April 1916 – February 1919)

Abstract

In January 1909, Ernst Jakob Christoffel and his sister Hedwig settled in Malatia, where he founded a care facility named Bethesda for blind individuals and those with visual impairments. By the eve of WWI, Bethesda housed more than 80 residents, the majority of them Armenians. Christoffel’s two-year absence beginning in the spring of 1914 proved catastrophic, as during the Armenian Genocide nearly three-quarters of his Armenian wards were either deported or killed. His return in April 1916 marked a crucial turning point – he not only saved the last group of his wards from deportation but also transformed his institution into one of the rare sites of refuge amid the continuing violence.
This article examines Christoffel’s activities in Malatia between April 1916 and February 1919, situating him as a significant yet understudied German witness to the final stages of the Armenian Genocide. It investigates how Christoffel managed to protect his remaining Armenian wards after such a prolonged absence, the dynamics of his interactions with local Ottoman authorities, the strategies he employed to navigate constant threats to both his wards and himself, and the extent to which German diplomatic or missionary networks supported his efforts. Finally, it considers how Christoffel’s testimonies enrich our understanding of German humanitarian involvement and witnessing during the genocide.