The return of the deported Armenians

After the cease-fire, the Armenians who survived the genocide returned to Kessab. At first, some native Kessabtsi Armenian-American legionary volunteers, who escaped their troops after the French Authorities had entered Cilicia at the end of 1918, came back to their homeland. Up until 1920, the other Kessabtsi legionaries continued to return to Kessab in the same way. Meanwhile, the majority of the genocide survivors managed to return to Kessab.

The return of the legionary Armenians to Kessab plaid an essential role in changing the fate of their fellow citizens in the town who had, in turn, returned after surviving the genocide. This event saved the natives in the future from facing new horrors and dreads since the whole region of Antioch remained without any official authorities till the beginnings of 1922.

The establishment of a national union representing almost all the denominations of the Armenians in the area was first what the returnee had done after their return.  This union consisted of 6 representative members.  This establishment was soon followed by the foundation of some military, police force, judicial, economical and educational committees. But the most essential, and at the same time the most complicated issue was the matter of providing protection to the area under the present political circumstances. A group of about 40 men volunteered to circle around in order to provide security to the area. Ovsia Saghdejian (Karaday) and Misak Giragosian (Misakoy) were the most famous members of this group.

The eastern and the northern areas of the region were considered the most unsecured areas because they were constantly vulnerable to attacks from neighboring Turkish villages. The voluntary group of 40 men succeeded to fail many attempts of bandits to invade the region at that time. Additionally, the newly established national police commanders in correlation with the farm protectors participated in securing the native life in the region.

In brief, the national union supported the work of reconstructing and rising again during that period of time.

In 1924, the various denominations in the area started acting independently. Consequently, the national union lost its power.

In 1921, some interior problems occurred in Kessab which unfortunately led to a domestic war. But in 1922, peace was established after the entrance of the French troops into Kessab.