Talaat Pasha, a key figure in the Ottoman government during World War I, was the architect behind the systemic extermination of the Armenian population, known as the Armenian genocide. After the war, he fled to Germany to evade justice. Soghomon Tehlirian, a young Armenian survivor whose family had been killed during the genocide, tracked him down in Berlin. On March 15, Tehlirian confronted Talaat and shot him in the head, an act that would reverberate through history. Tehlirian was later arrested but utilized his trial to highlight the atrocities committed against Armenians, garnering public sympathy for his cause.

The trial of Tehlirian became an international event, drawing attention to the widespread atrocities committed during the genocide. His defense painted him not merely as a murderer but as a symbolic figure representing the suffering of countless Armenians. The boldness of Tehlirian’s act underscored the deep scars left by the genocide, and his responsibility as a representative of those wronged. The courtroom scenes revealed the ongoing struggle within the Armenian community for justice and recognition of the genocide.

Talaat Pasha's assassination symbolized a quest for justice that transcended individual acts; it was emblematic of the broader demand for acknowledgment of the Armenian genocide. Following his death, discussions surrounding the atrocities committed during World War I gained momentum, leading to a gradual recognition of the events among historians and governments worldwide. Tehlirian’s act also inspired others in the Armenian Diaspora and brought attention to the ongoing issues surrounding genocide recognition and the importance of historical memory.