THE REASONS FOR OCCUPATION OF IZMIR ACCORDING TO GREEK CLAIMS

Abstract

The occupation of İzmir has an important place in Turkish history. It initiated the Turkish War of Independence and evoked the spirit of national struggle. What are the reasons and theses the Greeks put forth for their invasion of the city of İzmir and thereon Western Anatolia? On what grounds did they consider themselves right? There are two reasons for the invasion of Izmir and the Western Anatolian Region, which they call Asia Minor, within the framework of Megali Idea (Great Idea)-the historical goal of the Greeks. First, these lands have been their homeland for over 3000 years. They are are mainly Greek land and under Turkish occupation. Secondly, there are more than two million Greek Cypriots here and these people who live under persecution must be rescued immediately. The Greek intellectuals who grew up with the ideas and thoughts of Megali Idea in time succeeded to create an effective movement with the support given by Britain, Russia and France, which aim to disintegrate the Ottoman Empire. The exaggerated and unsubstantiated reasons that Greece claimed were processed by Greek Prime Minister Elefterios Venizelos in open and clandestine negotiations during the First World War and a public opinion was created. The Ottoman Empire, which entered the First World War with Germany, Austria, Hungary and Bulgaria, was definitely defeated on October 29, 1918 together with its allies after bloody conflicts continued for as long as four years on the various fronts of the three continents. In the end, they had to sign the Mondros Armistice Agreement on October 30, 1918. At the Paris Peace Conference of the victorious states after the Mondros Armistice Agreement, a decision was made in favor of Greece on 5 May 1919 and the occupation of İzmir was realized.