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LOST HOMES. 1922. BEFORE. AFTER. Through the intense political and warlike conflicts of the first decades of the 20th century, the modern Greek state expanded itself creating the Great Greece of five seas and two continents.
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LOST HOMES 1922
Through the intense political and warlike conflicts of the first decades of the 20th century, the modern Greek state expanded itself creating the Great Greece of five seas and two continents. However,after the formation of new Turkey and the developments within Greece, a new war began in Asia Minor. It ended in the defeat of Greece in 1922, known in Greek history as the Asia Minor Drama, that led to the population exchange between Greece and Turkey.
Up until its destruction Smyrna, was the most significant industrial and commercial centre of the time, where Turks, Franks, Greeks and Armenians lived peacefully together.
The “Great Trek”, which was the compulsory intermigration of Christians and Muslims across the Aegean sea, began in 1922. The trek was brought about by the great recovery of Turkey after its defeat in World War I and its triumph over the Greeks in Anatolia. This eventually developed into an exchange of racial minorities according to specific terms and under the supervision of the League of Nations. The exchange drama began with violence and the destruction of Smyrna.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND World War I is over. During the Peace Congress organised by the allied forces, Adante, five treaties were formed. The most important for the Greeks was the treaty of Sevres. According to it, the region of Smyrna is assigned to Greece; after a period of five years the residents would vote for their unification with Greece or their stay in Turkey.
Shortly before the tragedy; Greek troops disembark in Smyrna and are heartily welcomed by the Greek residents.
Greek girls welcoming king Konstantinos in Smyrna (June1921)
Kemal Ataturk whose goal was to turn over the monarchy in Istanbul, did not approve of this treaty so the aim of the Allied forces is to convince Kemal to sign the treaty; therefore the Greek army is led to Minor Asia and occupies significant areas.
Many refugees headed towards Smyrna. The quay in Smyrna was full of people who camped and slept there. The Americans formed a unit called the American Disaster Relief Committee which helped provide food for the people stranded there.
On the 8th of September 1922 the Turkish army entered the city.
Two days later a fire broke out in the Armenian region of Smyrna the fire spread and reached the quay trapping the people there between its flames and the sea. Thousands of people were killed, either burnt to death or drowned trying to swim away from the fire. Two thirds of Smyrna were burnt that night… For one week after, the survivors continued to live and die on the quay The Turkish command allowed all refugees to be removed except males from 17-45 years, and said if they didn’t leave within a week they would be deported. Many people evacuated on American ships others left via rail and left on foot but within 15 days they had gone.
From the distance, you could see the smoke suffocating Smyrna. 14th September, 1922.
Soldiers that found tragic death in Smyrna. 13/14. 11. 1922.
Eastern Thrace Loss The political circumstances in Greece change and the Greek troops defending Thrace are called back leaving the villages there defenceless. So, the villagers desert their homes and move westward. Many headed towards Greece. People were robbed, mugged, were killed or died of exhaustion during these treks. Turkish nationalists reach Istanbul, overthrow the monarchy and take over. The Greek inhabitants of the city leave the capital and create a third group of refugees. Now the remaining Christian population of Anatolia flee towards the Black sea. By February 1923 about 80.000 refugees had arrived in Greece.
Refugees in Greece ...The second act of the drama The circumstances under which these people lived are horrendous. Over 1.250.000 refugees had arrived in Greece and 800 refugee localities were formed. Poverty, illness and hunger are ever present. Typhus and smallpox were very common and led to 1.000 deaths per day.To evade the horrors of the plague-swept Greece a quarantine for incoming refugee ships was established by an American organisation In 1923 Lausanne comes up with a document to alleviate the situation, a convention concerning the Greek and Turkish populations.The treaty stated that Muslim refugees in Greece should return to Turkey while the Christian orthodox refugees should remain in Greece. This concerned only those who had emigrated any time after October 1912.
The uprooted Greeks camped out on the outskirts of Greece’s big cities. Hunger, drama malaria and heartbreak as they had been forced to leave their homes and spread among the uprooted people. They were not welcome.
Women doing sewing and knit work next to the ancient temple of Iphestus in Athens
