Anadolu ve Balkan Araştırmaları Dergisi

Öz

The nationalist movement that emerged from the French Revolution of 1789 was a significant factor leading the Ottoman Empire, which had already suffered defeat in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78 (93 Harbi), to the Balkan War that erupted in 1912. Among the allied Balkan States, Montenegro declared war on the Ottoman Empire on October 7, followed by Bulgaria and Serbia on October 17, and Greece on October 18. Greece’s primary objectives in the war were to capture Thessaloniki, annex Ioannina, and expand its dominance in the Aegean Sea. Greek forces captured Thessaloniki on November 8, 1912, and after approximately five months of siege, they were able to enter Ioannina on March 6, 1913. During the ongoing land operations, taking advantage of the Ottoman Empire’s weakened naval power, Greece occupied several Aegean islands including Thasos, Samothrace, Imbros (Gökçeada), Tenedos (Bozcaada), Lemnos, Lesbos (Midilli), Chios (Sakız), and Crete. In the conflicts, Greece captured approximately 80,000 Turkish soldiers as prisoners. These prisoners, held in various regions, endured extremely difficult conditions regarding accommodation, healthcare, and nutrition. The violence and oppression inflicted by Greece on Turkish prisoners and local populations during the occupation process were frequently reported in foreign press and even in Greek newspapers. As the condition of prisoners became a topic of international media attention, the Greek Ministry of War was compelled to issue an explanation claiming that prisoners were being treated well. This study examines the Greek occupations and the conditions of captured prisoners based on articles published in the foreign press. When necessary, domestic and foreign sources have also been utilized to maintain thematic coherence.