Public Order in Istanbul During the Armistice Period

During the Armistice period, one of the most emphasized issues in Occupied Istanbul was the issue of public order. A new era has started in Istanbul since 13 November 1918, when Istanbul was actually occupied. In an environment where the authority and prestige of the Istanbul Government were shaken, the unlawful practices of the Occupation Forces (seizing buildings, intervening in prisons, releasing non-Muslim detainees), activities of minorities, gangs in and around Istanbul, the White Russians taking refuge in Istanbul, the issue of orphans were all discussed in the city. It has made the political and socio-economic situation inextricable. The confiscation of official and private buildings and houses by the occupation authorities caused serious grievances, and Istanbulites suffered material and moral losses. After a while, the Entente authorities started to release the non-Muslim prisoners from prisons, ignoring the sovereignty and laws of the Ottoman Empire. The discomfort experienced was reflected in the correspondence until the end of the armistice period. Again, it is necessary to add to the developments the disdainful attitude of the soldiers of the Occupation Forces towards the Turks. In addition, the trials that took place in the Court of War, which was created with the demands and pressures of the Entente Powers, and the punishments given as a result, hurt the public conscience. Again, another important issue was the activities carried out under the auspices and support of the Occupation Forces by the minorities who thought that the Ottoman Empire had come to an end. These behaviors of the minorities have upset and offended the Turkish society. Especially Greek gangs committed many crimes in and around Istanbul. One of the most important problems encountered after the Armistice of Mudros was the issue of orphans. The issue of orphans, one of the most painful legacies of the First World War, is an abused issue in Occupied Istanbul. The fact that the Patriarchates, acting with the support of the occupation authorities, took the orphans known to be Muslim on the grounds that they were non-Muslim orphans was reflected in the Turkish press since 1919 and public awareness was raised. However, it is highly controversial how accurate the identification of orphans can be and whether the efforts of the Istanbul Government work in this chaos environment experienced during the years of occupation. Another problem of the capital Istanbul is the Bolshevik opponents, namely the White Russians, fleeing the Bolshevik Revolution. A mass of around 250,000 refugees, who took refuge in 3 waves, aggravated many problems, especially housing in the city. White Russians have made positive and negative contributions to the life of Istanbul. To mention as a negative development, it is clear that it has effects on the increase of prostitution and betting games. “Public order” has been one of the most emphasized concepts in official correspondence and in the evaluations among the public in occupied Istanbul. The conditions in Istanbul facilitated and accelerated the deterioration of public order. In order for the security in the city to become controllable, it will be necessary to wait for the National Struggle to be won and the Turkish soldiers to take over the city.

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