Greek Genocide

Greek Genocide

On May 19, 1919, Greek communities in the Pontus region of the Ottoman Empire faced intensified military operations during the final phase of systematic persecution that began during World War I. Greek populations in Anatolia, including Pontus, Smyrna, and eastern Thrace, had previously experienced deportations, labor conscription, and targeted violence under Ottoman administration.

Between 1914 and 1923, Greek civilians were subjected to forced marches, executions, property confiscations, and population expulsions. Many were sent to interior regions under harsh conditions, resulting in high mortality due to starvation, disease, and exposure. Armed irregular units and state forces carried out operations against villages and urban communities.

Estimates indicate that approximately 300,000 to 900,000 Greeks died during the period. The events coincided with the Greco-Turkish War and concluded with the 1923 population exchange between Greece and Turkey, which formalized the displacement of surviving Greek communities from Anatolia.