Final answer:
During World War I, the Ottoman Empire conducted a genocide against the Armenian population due to perceived collaboration with Russia, ethnic prejudice, and the wartime environment. Approximately 1.5 million Armenians were exterminated through forced marches and mass killings.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Ottoman Empire was able to commit a genocide against the Armenian people during World War I due to a convergence of factors, including war-time chaos, internal prejudice, and a desire to homogenize the population. Armenians, being a Christian minority, were suspiciously viewed as potential collaborators with the Christian-majority Russians, leading to targeted repression and mass executions. This was exacerbated by the Ottoman military's accusations against Armenians following a failed Russian invasion, prompting the government to order the elimination of the Armenian population. The genocide resulted in horrendous forced marches through deserts and mass killings, with an estimated 1.5 million Armenians losing their lives.