Tekirdağ after the Armistice: The Martyrdom of Police Hüseyin Efendi and Soldier Ali of Biga

The Ottoman Empire was defeated in World War I and signed the Armistice of Mondros with the Allied Powers on October 30, 1918. Subsequently, France occupied the Eastern Thrace Railway, most of which passed through the borders of Tekirdağ, in accordance with the terms of the treaty. After a while, the French handed over the protection of this line to Greece. However, this transfer caused serious security problems in Thrace. The Greeks had brought their outburst to the extreme. Greek soldiers and Greeks started patrolling in Muslim areas, beating Muslims, blocking roads in some places and usurping Muslims. The Ottoman State did not have the power to prevent these events after the armistice. Greek soldiers began to taunt Turkish soldiers and police officers, and to draw weapons. Thus, in the tavern belonging to Aleko and Hristo on Kurnalı street in Tekirdağ, a Greek soldier named Corporal Koço, a member of the Greek Red Cross, opened fire in the air and pointed a gun at the patrol Police Hüseyin Efendi but the bullet did not hit him. An investigation into the incident was initiated. While this event was still hot, an armed attack was carried out against the police officers and soldiers who were on patrol in the evening hours. After the attack, Police Hüseyin Efendi and Soldier Ali of Biga were martyred. As a result of the investigation after the incident, tavern keper Aleko and a Greek named Leonida were arrested. However, the French demanded Aleko to be handed over to them because he was a Greek citizen. This demand was rejected. Upon this, the British stepped in. Although the British demand was not accepted in the beginning, the governor of Tekirdağ handed Aleko over to the British.

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