Tekirdağ During the National Struggle

Tekirdağ, which came under Ottoman rule in the 14th century, hosted different ethnic elements for centuries. In the 20th century, the Turkish-Muslim population increased with the migrations from the Balkans to the region. Tekirdağ port was an important transit center for trade and military transport. The city continued these functions during the Armistice and the National Struggle. After the Armistice of Mudros, the Italian military forces, which came to the region for the purpose of collecting the weapons in the hands of the people, were replaced by the Greek forces after a while. Greece, which wanted to annex Thrace, also took action in Tekirdağ with some demographic claims. The Greeks residing in and around Tekirdağ cooperated with the Greek forces that came to the region. They implemented a policy of arresting Turks and Muslims, killing them, usurping them, injuring them, forcing them to exile and emigration. Tekirdağ was occupied by the Greeks on July 20, 1920. There was no strong resistance against the Greeks in Tekirdağ. In this situation, the attitudes of Tekirdağ Governor Firuzan Bey and 55th Division Commander Alaaddin Bey were extremely effective. A large part of the people thought that the struggle against the Greeks was useless. The occupation of Istanbul increased this hopelessness. Due to such reasons, the Tekirdağ branch of the Thrace-Pashaeli Defense of Rights Society could not provide sufficient support from the public and the notables of the city. Under the Greek occupation administration in Tekirdağ, Turks and Muslims were subjected to various oppression and persecution. During this period, the Greek military forces and the Greek army's ammunition were transported to Anatolia through the port of Tekirdağ. Tekirdağ was the gathering place of the local Greeks and Greek soldiers who left Anatolia during the Asia Minor Catastrophe in 1922. The liberation of Tekirdağ took place on November 13, 1922 when it was taken under the administration of the Turkish Grand National Assembly.

Click to cite.

Note: You can access the citation text via the ‘Actions’ tab in Crossref.