Istanbul Greek Community During the National Struggle

The aim of our article is to examine the Greek community of Istanbul during the Turkish National Struggle. For this reason we utilized in majority the documents of Greek Literature and History Archive and the Benaki Museum, the press and memoirs belonging to this period. Also the copyright works related with our subject have been studied. The signing of the Armistice of Mudros and the presence of the Allies in Istanbul excited the Greek Community. The Greek Community of Istanbul was governed by the Venizelist in other words fans of Megali Idea during the Turkish National Struggle. Main part of these people were members of Istanbul Organization which was active in the period of 1908-1914. In this period the students and scouts were used in forefront at various demonstrations of the Istanbul Greek Community. The purpose of these demonstrations was to show the dynamism of the Istanbul Greek Community to the Allies and ultimately to gain Istanbul to Greece. During this period the relations of The Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarchate with the Ottoman State passed the worst period of the history and came to a standstill. The loss of the November, 1920 elections by Venizelos and his party and the defeat of the Greek Army against the Turk is harmy starting from January, 1921 drived to panic the Istanbul Greek Community. Because the Istanbul Greek Community was not trusting to the new Greek Government and think that the return of the King Constantine to Athens will face the reaction of the Allies. A great effort was made by the Greek community and the Venizelist Greek officers in Istanbul for Venizelos to come to power again and for the financial and moral support of the Greek army. But after the Catastrophe of Greece in Anatolia the leaders of the Greek Community were not able to stay in Istanbul.

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