Shall This Nation Die?

Shall This Nation Die? was written by an Assyro-Chaldean priest from Urfa (Edessa) and was published in 1921. The book contains an account of the author's experiences during the Genocide committed against the Assyrians, Armenians, and Greeks by the Turks begining in 1915. The book provides other first hand accounts that the author collected from Assyrians. Particular coverage is given to the massacres in Sairt, Diarbekir, Kharput and Urmia/Salamas. Of special note is the use of the term "Assyro-Chaldean" throughout. Given the recent controversy over the name issue among Assyrians, it is remarkable to understand that over eighty years ago, there was no question but that we were one people and terms such as Assyrian, Chaldean, Syrian, and Assyro-Chaldean were quite often used together. The Assyrians of that time stressed unity both in the face of the attempted destruction of their nation and in their attempts to achieve a national home.