Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922) - Revision history

Irlandos: /* Greek Expansion */

2010-03-22T12:09:04Z

Greek Expansion

Irlandos: /* Greek Expansion */

2010-03-17T12:46:55Z

Greek Expansion

Irlandos: /* Greek Landings & Consolidation */

2010-03-17T12:44:21Z

Greek Landings & Consolidation

Angellight 888: cat.

2009-03-07T17:58:23Z

cat.

Irlandos at 11:03, April 24, 2007

2007-04-24T11:03:43Z

Lazarus at 15:33, June 22, 2006

2006-06-22T15:33:53Z

Irlandos: /* Political Background */

2006-06-22T12:15:05Z

Political Background

Irlandos: /* Also see */

2006-06-22T12:13:20Z

Also see

Irlandos: /* Resolution */

2006-06-22T12:12:49Z

Resolution

Irlandos: /* The Stalemate and the Turkish Strategic Offensive */

2006-06-22T12:06:21Z

The Stalemate and the Turkish Strategic Offensive

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 ==Greek Expansion==
-In October 1920, the Greek army advanced further east into Anatolia, with the encouragement of Lloyd George who intended to increase the pressure on the Turkish and Ottoman governments to sign the Treaty of Sevrès. This advance begun under the Liberal government of [[Eleftherios Venizelos]], but soon after the offensive began Venizelos fell from power and was replaced by [[Dimitrios Gounaris]], who appointed inexperienced monarchist officers to senior commands. [[King Constantine I]] assumed personal command of the army at [[Smyrna]] (İzmir). The strategic objective of these operations was to defeat the Turkish Nationalists and force Kemal into peace negotiations. The advancing Greeks met little resistance, as the Turks managed to retreat orderly and avoid encirclement.
+In October 1920, the Greek army advanced further east into Anatolia, with the encouragement of Lloyd George who intended to increase the pressure on the Turkish and Ottoman governments to sign the [[Treaty of Sevres]]. This advance begun under the [[Liberal Party|Liberal]] government of [[Eleftherios Venizelos]], but soon after the offensive began Venizelos fell from power and was replaced by [[Dimitrios Gounaris]], who appointed inexperienced monarchist officers to senior commands. [[King Constantine I]] nominally assumed personal command of the army at [[Smyrna]] (İzmir). The strategic objective of these operations was to defeat the Turkish Nationalists and force Kemal into peace negotiations. The advancing Greeks met little resistance, as the Turks managed to retreat orderly and avoid encirclement.
-The Greek advance was haulted for the first time at the [[First Battle of Inonu]] on [[January 11]], [[1921]] and the Allied states proposed to amend the [[Treaty of Sevres]] at a conference in London where both the Revolutionary and Ottoman governments were represented.
+The Greek advance was haulted for the first time at the [[First Battle of Inonu]] on [[January 11]], [[1921]] and the Allied states proposed to amend the [[Treaty of Sevres]] at a conference in London where both the Revolutionary and Sultan's governments were represented.
 Although some agreements were reached with Italy, France and Britain, the decisions were not agreed by the Greek government, who believed that they still retained the strategic advantage and could negotiate from a stronger point. The Greeks initiated another attack on [[March 27]] ([[Second Battle of Inonu]]), to be resisted fiercely and finally defeated by the Kemalist troops on [[March 30]]. The British favoured a Greek territorial expansion but refused to offer any military assistance in order to avoid provoking the French. The Turkish forces however received significant assistance from the Soviet Union.
-In June 1921, a reinforced Greek army advanced afresh to the River Sakarya (Sangarios in Greek), less than 100 km (62 miles) west of Ankara. Meanwhile, the new Turkish government at Ankara appointed Mustafa Kemal as the commander in chief. The advance of the Greek Army faced fierce resistance which culminated in the 21-day [[Battle of the Sakarya]] (or Sangarios in Greek) ([[August 23]] – [[September 13]], [[1921]]). The ferocity of the battle exhausted both sides to such an extent that they were both contemplating a withdrawal, but the Greeks were the first to withdraw to their previous lines.
+In June [[1921]], a reinforced Greek army advanced afresh to the River Sakarya (Sangarios in Greek), less than 100 km (62 miles) west of Ankara. Meanwhile, the new Turkish government at Ankara appointed Mustafa Kemal as the commander in chief. The advance of the Greek Army faced fierce resistance which culminated in the 21-day [[Battle of the Sakarya]] (or Sangarios in Greek) ([[August 23]] – [[September 13]], [[1921]]). The ferocity of the battle exhausted both sides to such an extent that they were both contemplating a withdrawal, but the Greeks were the first to withdraw to their previous lines.
 That was the furthest in Anatolia the Greeks had advanced, and within few weeks they withdrew orderly back to the lines they held in June, intending at least to protect the Smyrna area.

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 In October 1920, the Greek army advanced further east into Anatolia, with the encouragement of Lloyd George who intended to increase the pressure on the Turkish and Ottoman governments to sign the Treaty of Sevrès. This advance begun under the Liberal government of [[Eleftherios Venizelos]], but soon after the offensive began Venizelos fell from power and was replaced by [[Dimitrios Gounaris]], who appointed inexperienced monarchist officers to senior commands. [[King Constantine I]] assumed personal command of the army at [[Smyrna]] (İzmir). The strategic objective of these operations was to defeat the Turkish Nationalists and force Kemal into peace negotiations. The advancing Greeks met little resistance, as the Turks managed to retreat orderly and avoid encirclement.
-The Greek advance was haulted for the first time at the [[First Battle of Inonu]] on [[January 11]], [[1921]] and the Allied states proposed to amend the Treaty of Sevres at a conference in London where both the Revolutionary and Ottoman governments were represented.
+The Greek advance was haulted for the first time at the [[First Battle of Inonu]] on [[January 11]], [[1921]] and the Allied states proposed to amend the [[Treaty of Sevres]] at a conference in London where both the Revolutionary and Ottoman governments were represented.
-Although some agreements were reached with Italy, France and Britain, the decisions were not agreed by the Greek government, who believed that they still retained the strategic advantage and could negotiate from a stronger point. The Greeks initiated another attack on [[March 27]] ([[Second Battle of Inonu]]), to be resisted fiercely and finally defeated by the Kemalist troops on March 30. The British favoured a Greek territorial expansion but refused to offer any military assistance in order to avoid provoking the French. The Turkish forces however received significant assistance from the Soviet Union.
+Although some agreements were reached with Italy, France and Britain, the decisions were not agreed by the Greek government, who believed that they still retained the strategic advantage and could negotiate from a stronger point. The Greeks initiated another attack on [[March 27]] ([[Second Battle of Inonu]]), to be resisted fiercely and finally defeated by the Kemalist troops on [[March 30]]. The British favoured a Greek territorial expansion but refused to offer any military assistance in order to avoid provoking the French. The Turkish forces however received significant assistance from the Soviet Union.
 In June 1921, a reinforced Greek army advanced afresh to the River Sakarya (Sangarios in Greek), less than 100 km (62 miles) west of Ankara. Meanwhile, the new Turkish government at Ankara appointed Mustafa Kemal as the commander in chief. The advance of the Greek Army faced fierce resistance which culminated in the 21-day [[Battle of the Sakarya]] (or Sangarios in Greek) ([[August 23]] – [[September 13]], [[1921]]). The ferocity of the battle exhausted both sides to such an extent that they were both contemplating a withdrawal, but the Greeks were the first to withdraw to their previous lines.

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 ==Greek Landings & Consolidation==
-In May 1919, Greek troops landed at [[Smyrna]] (İzmir) and occupied the city and the surroundings under cover of French, British and American ships.  The Greeks of Smyrna, who formed the majority of the city's population, and other Christians greeted the Greek troops as liberators. By contrast, the Turkish population saw this as an invading force, as they resented the Greeks and presumably preferred to be under Turkish rule.
+On [[May 15]] (May 2 OS), [[1919]], Greek troops landed at [[Smyrna]] (İzmir) and occupied the city and the surroundings under cover of French, British and American ships.  The Greeks of Smyrna, who formed the majority of the city's population, and other Christians greeted the Greek troops as liberators. By contrast, the Turkish population saw this as an invading force, as they resented the Greeks and presumably preferred to be under Turkish rule.
-The resistance started immediately, mainly by small groups of irregular Turkish troops in the suburbs and the Greeks sustained many losses. In the summer of 1920, the Greek army launched a series of successful offensives. The overal strategic objective of these operations was to provide strategic depth to the defence of Smyrna. To that end, the Greek zone of occupation was extended over all of Western and most of North Western Asia Minor up to and including the city of [[Kios]]. Greeks already occupied [[Eastern Thrace]].
+The resistance started immediately, mainly by small groups of irregular Turkish troops in the suburbs and the Greeks sustained many losses. In the summer of [[1920]], the Greek army launched a series of successful offensives. The overal strategic objective of these operations was to provide strategic depth to the defence of Smyrna. To that end, the Greek zone of occupation was extended over all of Western and most of North Western Asia Minor up to and including the city of [[Kios]]. Greeks had already occupied [[Eastern Thrace]], minus the Callipolis peninsula, up to Catalca.
 ==Greek Expansion==

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:58, March 7, 2009
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	[[Category:Wars of Greece]]		[[Category:Wars of Greece]]
		+	[[Category:History of Anatolia]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:03, April 24, 2007
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−	~~[[Category:History of Greece]]~~	+
	[[Category:Wars of Greece]]		[[Category:Wars of Greece]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:33, June 22, 2006
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		+	[[Image:MegaliHellas.jpg\|thumb\|350px\|Map of ''Megali Hellas'' - Great Greece -- featuring [[Eleftherios Venizelos]], a proponent of [[Megali Idea]]]]
	The '''Greco-Turkish War of 1919-1922''', also called the '''[[Asia Minor Expedition]]''', and in Turkey considered a part of the '''Turkish War of Independence''', was a war between [[Greece]] and Turkey fought in the wake of [[World War I]].		The '''Greco-Turkish War of 1919-1922''', also called the '''[[Asia Minor Expedition]]''', and in Turkey considered a part of the '''Turkish War of Independence''', was a war between [[Greece]] and Turkey fought in the wake of [[World War I]].

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 ==Political Background==
-This political context of this conflict is linked  to secret agreements on sharing of the Ottoman Empire at the end of [[WWI]]. Military history begins with the [[Armistice of Moudros]]. The war arose because the western Allies, particularly British Prime Minister David Lloyd George, had promised Greece territorial gains at the expense of the Ottoman Empire if Greece entered the war on the Allied side. These included [[Eastern Thrace]], the islands of [[Imvros]] and [[Tenedos]], and parts of western [[Anatolia]] around the city of [[Smyrna]] (İzmir)
+This political context of this conflict is linked  to secret agreements on sharing of the Ottoman Empire at the end of [[WWI]]. Military history begins with the [[Armistice of Moudros]]. The war arose because the western Allies, particularly British Prime Minister David Lloyd George, had promised Greece territorial gains at the expense of the Ottoman Empire if Greece entered the war on the Allied side. These included [[Eastern Thrace]], the islands of [[Imvros]] and [[Tenedos]] and parts of western [[Anatolia]] around the city of [[Smyrna]] (İzmir) where ethnic Greeks formed the majority of the population.
 In return for the contribution of the Greek army in the war effort, the [[1920]] [[Treaty of Sevres]], which ended the [[World War I|First World War]] in [[Asia Minor]] and in parallel determined the future of  the Ottoman Empire, assigned eastern Thrace and the millet of Smyrna to Greece.
 Around that time Mustafa Kemal, the leader of a group of Turkish revolutionaries, was forming in NE [[Anatolia]], the Turkish National Movement. The revolutionaries repudiated the Treaty of Sèvres and prepared for defense of what they believed was their national land given up by the weak Ottoman government to the enemy.
 ==Overview of Military Operations==

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 ==Also see==
 *[[Asia Minor]]
-*[[The Burning of Smyrna#Smyrna|The Burning of Smyrna]]
+*[[Smyrna#The Burning of Smyrna|The Burning of Smyrna]]
 [[Category:History of Greece]]
 [[Category:Wars of Greece]]

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 ==Resolution==
 The [[Armistice of Mudanya]] was concluded on [[October 11]], [[1922]], with the Allies retaining control of east Thrace and the Bosporus, but the Greeks evacuating these areas. The agreement came into force starting October 15, one day after the Greek side agreed to sign it. The [[Armistice of Mudanya]] was followed by the [[Treaty of Lausanne]], under which a significant provision was the exchange of populations which ended Greek presence on the west coast of Asia Minor after 3,000 years.
 [[Category:History of Greece]]
 [[Category:Wars of Greece]]

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 It has been suggested that the Greek retreat involved a scorched earth policy, which left large tracts of land and property ruined or destroyed. The adherents of this view claim that the burning of crops left the remaining inhabitants of [[Smyrna]] close to starvation. However, the validity of this interpretation is questionable considering the haste of the Greek retreat (which was concluded in fewer than 2 weeks), and the lack of any documented evidence of Greek orders to destroy property during the retreat. In any case, most historians today agree that the fire in the city expanded from the burning of Greek and Armenian Quarters of [[Smyrna]] by the Turkish Army.
-With the possibility of social disorder once the [[Turkish Army]] occupied Smyrna, Kemal was quick to issue a proclamation, sentencing any Turkish soldier to death who harmed non-combatants. Few days before the Turkish invasion of the city, Kemal's messengers gave out leaflets with this order written in [[Greek language|Greek]]. However, the order was never enforced by the Turkish Army, which set the Christian Quarters of Smyrna on fire and shot civilians on sight.
+With the possibility of social disorder once the Turkish Army occupied Smyrna, Kemal was quick to issue a proclamation, sentencing any Turkish soldier to death who harmed non-combatants. Few days before the Turkish invasion of the city, Kemal's messengers gave out leaflets with this order written in [[Greek language|Greek]]. However, the order was never enforced by the Turkish Army, which set the Christian Quarters of Smyrna on fire and shot civilians on sight.
 [[Image:Turkey-Greece-Bulgaria_on_Treaty_of_Lausanne.png|200px|thumb|Borders of [[Treaty of Lausanne|Lausanne]]]]