The early months of 1918 were a tumultuous time in the Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic, nowhere more so than in the strategically vital city of Baku. This period witnessed a harrowing episode known as the March Days or March Events (Azerbaijani: Mart hadisələri), a brutal wave of inter-ethnic strife and violent clashes that engulfed Baku and its surrounding areas within the Baku Governorate. Lasting from March 30 to April 2, 1918, these tragic four days led to the devastating loss of approximately 12,000 Azerbaijani and other Muslim civilian lives.

At its core, this intense period of violence was intricately linked to a fierce political power struggle. On one side stood the Bolsheviks, who garnered significant support from the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, famously known as Dashnaktsutiun. Opposing them was the Azerbaijani Musavat Party, striving for influence and control in the region. Amidst this volatile political climate, tensions escalated dramatically, fueled by rumors disseminated by Bolshevik and Dashnak forces suggesting a potential Muslim revolt. These escalating fears and the ensuing clashes ultimately paved the way for the establishment of the short-lived Baku Commune in April 1918.

When examining these events, historical sources and scholarly accounts predominantly interpret the March Days within the broader context of widespread civil war unrest that characterized the era. However, it is crucial to note that contemporary Azerbaijani sources officially categorize and refer to the March Days as a genocide (soyqırım), reflecting a profound and enduring national perspective on the scale and intent of the atrocities committed. The cycle of violence, tragically, did not end there. These harrowing events were later followed by what became known as the September Days, a subsequent period of bloodshed where approximately 10,000 ethnic Armenians were massacred by the Ottoman-backed Army of Islam and their local Azerbaijani allies upon their capture of Baku, underscoring the deep and reciprocal nature of the ethnic conflict during this volatile historical juncture.