In 1914 Constantinople, the extremist faction of the Young Turks that was in control formed the Committee of Union & Progress (CUP) and adopted the slogan “Turkey for the Turks.”

Within this newly formed political party a “dictatorial triumvirate” came together, forming the brains and brawn behind the Armenian Genocide: Mehmed Talaat Pasha rose through the ranks of the Young Turk party and became the Minister of the Interior; Ismail Enver Pasha, a young soldier became Minister of Defense; and Ahmed Djemal Pasha became the Minister of the Navy. These three men formed a dangerous and deadly coalition called the “Three Pashas” that reigned and solidified their power through the purging of the Armenians until the end of World War 1 in 1918.