The History Podcast: Half-Life Episode 5 - The Road Through the Mountains

Release Date: May 14, 2025
Host: Joe Dunthorne, BBC Radio 4
Production: Eleanor McDowell

Introduction: Journey Begins

In the fifth episode of the "Half-Life" series, titled "The Road Through the Mountains," host Joe Dunthorne delves deeper into his German-Jewish family's harrowing escape from Nazi Germany in 1936. Accompanied by his radio producer Elena, Dunthorne embarks on a journey through the Munzur Mountains in eastern Turkey, uncovering unsettling historical truths that challenge his family's legacy.

Exploring the Munzur Mountains

Setting the Scene (00:01 - 06:24):
Joe begins by recounting a drive through the steep valleys of the Munzur Mountains, holding a letter from his great-grandfather dated April 1937. This letter records an attempt to assist the Turkish government in acquiring German capital chemical weapons. As they navigate the rugged terrain, the presence of military checkpoints and police barracks underscores the region's tense history. Dunthorne reflects on the town's name change from Dersim to Tunjele in 1935, a policy aimed at asserting state control—a change still resonating 90 years later.

Notable Quote:
"It's been 90 years since the government changed the town's name, just one of the policies intended to bring the region under close state control." – Joe Dunthorne [03:15]

Unveiling Hidden Histories

The Silent Museum (06:24 - 09:28):
Upon arriving at their hotel, Dunthorne and his team visit a local museum that spans the region's history from the Paleolithic era to the present. However, despite expecting some mention of the 1937-1938 massacres, the museum remains silent on these events. The building itself—a former 1937 German-style army barracks—serves as an inadvertent testament to the atrocities that occurred there.

Notable Quote:
"In the final room we sat and watched a promotional tourist video, drone shots zooming over beautiful hills and winding rivers. 'Tundele,' was the voiceover said, 'the perfect place to relax and let go.'" – Joe Dunthorne [05:50]

Encounters with History

Meeting Metin and Discovering the Massacre Site (06:24 - 15:07):
Dunthorne teams up with local guide Metin and interpreter Karem to traverse the valley, encountering military watchtowers that dot the mountain peaks. Metin, a former Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) member with a prominent AK47 tattoo, shares his personal connection to the land and its history of conflict. They visit Halvori Cliffs, known locally as the "Rocks of 38," a grim reminder of the 1938 massacres where thousands of Dersim civilians were brutally killed.

Notable Quotes:
"They killed and massacred them all. And Metin says it was not just for once, several days, several times." – Metin [07:41]
"There's another place of massacre. We can go there if you like." – Metin [10:20]

The Dark Legacy of Chemical Warfare

Revelations and Historical Evidence (15:07 - 18:29):
Dunthorne uncovers the unsettling use of chemical weapons by the Turkish government during the massacres. Despite official denials, a 1986 interview with an elderly politician admitted to using poison gas. Further research reveals a 1937 document wherein the Turkish government secretly purchased 20 tons of German tear and mustard gas, later utilizing American planes to attack inaccessible cave refuges.

Notable Quote:
"The state had always denied using chemical weapons. But in 1986, an aging Turkish politician let something slip in an interview." – Joe Dunthorne [15:07]

Confronting the Past with Ali Akbar Kaya

Interview with a Human Rights Advocate (18:29 - 24:32):
The narrative progresses as Dunthorne and his team meet Ali Akbar Kaya, the former president of a local human rights association dedicated to documenting the Dersim massacres. Ali, a 61-year-old activist, emphasizes that the events constitute genocide, a term now embraced by the third generation born after the massacres. Despite facing persecution and imprisonment for his advocacy, Ali continues to translate survivors' testimonies, highlighting the emotional toll of this work.

Notable Quotes:
"He says this was definitely genocide." – Ali Akbar Kaya [19:30]
"I always feel like it's a graveyard. The whole place, actually the whole surrounding is a graveyard." – Metin [10:20]
"He has to do this. This is his responsibility for the next generation." – Ali Akbar Kaya [23:38]

Personal Reflections and Emotional Toll

Processing Historical Trauma (24:32 - End):
Dunthorne reflects on the emotional and psychological impact of uncovering his family's possible involvement in the massacres. After sharing his great-grandfather's letter with Ali, he experiences a profound sense of disconnection and distress, symbolizing the inherited trauma that plagues descendants of historical atrocities. The episode concludes with an eerie sense of detachment as Dunthorne grapples with the weight of his discoveries.

Notable Quote:
"It's just very. I could hardly just feel a bit like I can't even really. I feel like I can't even, like. Yeah, it was a lot." – Joe Dunthorne [25:02]

Conclusion: A Legacy of Silence and Truth

"The Road Through the Mountains" serves as a poignant exploration of suppressed histories and the enduring scars of genocide. Through Dunthorne's journey, listeners gain a nuanced understanding of the Dersim massacres, the geopolitical dynamics of the 1930s Turkish state, and the personal ramifications of uncovering family legacies intertwined with violence and oppression. The episode underscores the importance of remembering and acknowledging historical truths to honor the victims and heal collective wounds.

Credits:
Half-Life was written and presented by Joe Dunthorne, produced by Eleanor McDowell, and mixed by Mike Woolley. Music was composed by Jeremy Walmsley, with story consultation by Sarah Geiss and executive production by Alan Hall. This episode is a Falling Tree Production for BBC Radio 4 and The History Podcast.