WWI & Asia Minor: War, Schism and Catastrophe
From the National Schism to the Asia Minor Catastrophe of 1922, these years brought war, division and the uprooting of more than a million Greeks. Explore the events that reshaped Greece.
Key Events of WWI & the Asia Minor Campaign
The Story of WWI & the Asia Minor Campaign
The years from 1914 to 1936 were among the most dramatic in modern Greek history. World War I divided the country in the National Schism, as Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos wanted to join the Allies while King Constantine favored neutrality. Greece split into rival governments before finally entering the war in 1917 and fighting on the Macedonian Front. After victory, Greek forces landed at Smyrna in 1919 and advanced deep into Anatolia, hoping to unite the Greeks of Asia Minor with Greece. The campaign ended in the Asia Minor Catastrophe of 1922, the destruction of Smyrna and the uprooting of Greek communities that had lived there for some 3,000 years. The Treaty of Lausanne and a population exchange brought more than a million refugees to Greece, transforming the country. During the same years, Pontic Greeks suffered deportations and massacres. The interwar period that followed brought coups, a short-lived republic, the return of the monarchy and finally the Metaxas dictatorship in 1936.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Greece divided during World War I?
Prime Minister Venizelos wanted to join the Allies, while King Constantine preferred neutrality. Their clash, the National Schism, split Greece into two rival governments.
How did the Greek presence in Asia Minor end?
The Asia Minor Catastrophe was the defeat of the Greek army in Anatolia in 1922, followed by the destruction of Smyrna and the flight of the Greek population of Asia Minor.
How many people were moved between Greece and Turkey in the 1920s?
Agreed in 1923, the exchange forced around 1.2 million Orthodox Christians to leave Turkey for Greece and around 400,000 Muslims to leave Greece for Turkey.
How did the refugees change Greece?
The refugees transformed Greece, founding new neighborhoods such as Nea Smyrni and Nea Ionia, boosting industry and culture, and bringing traditions such as rebetiko music.
What happened in Greece between the wars?
The interwar years brought coups, the Second Hellenic Republic from 1924, economic crisis, the restoration of the monarchy in 1935 and the Metaxas dictatorship from 1936.
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