Forced migration, repatriation, exodus : the case of Ganos-Chora and Myriophyto-Peristasis Orthodox communities in Eastern Thrace
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Abstract
The object of this essay is to investigate the demographic changes in
Eastern Thrace, and in particular in the two kazas Myriophyto and Peristasis,
between 1911 and 1920. Using analytical, statistical sources—hitherto unpublished—it traces the fluctuations in the ethnological composition brought
about by successive waves of population displacements: forced migrations»
deportation, repatriation, exodus. Specifically, in the first part it discusses the problems created by interpretations of the statistics which have been examined to date by other researchers and, in view of the new sources, attempts to throw some light on the question of the size of the Greek communities in this region before the Balkan Wars, and establishes that the Greek component in these two kazas in fact constituted around 90% of the total population in 1911-12. Subsequently, it examines the emigration of a considerable number of
Greeks, in flight from the persecutions instigated by the Young Turks (1913-
1915) and the occupation of their lands by Muslim refugees, a fact which
altered the ethnological balance. It also examines the problems relating to
their repatriation, scheduled by the Greek government when Eastern Thrace
came under Greek control. It can be seen that less than half of those who
emigrated managed to return. In 1920, two years before their exodus, in accordance with the Convention for the Exchange of Populations between
Greece and Turkey, the Greek population in the two kazas had been substantially reduced to around 80% of the total population.
Eastern Thrace, and in particular in the two kazas Myriophyto and Peristasis,
between 1911 and 1920. Using analytical, statistical sources—hitherto unpublished—it traces the fluctuations in the ethnological composition brought
about by successive waves of population displacements: forced migrations»
deportation, repatriation, exodus. Specifically, in the first part it discusses the problems created by interpretations of the statistics which have been examined to date by other researchers and, in view of the new sources, attempts to throw some light on the question of the size of the Greek communities in this region before the Balkan Wars, and establishes that the Greek component in these two kazas in fact constituted around 90% of the total population in 1911-12. Subsequently, it examines the emigration of a considerable number of
Greeks, in flight from the persecutions instigated by the Young Turks (1913-
1915) and the occupation of their lands by Muslim refugees, a fact which
altered the ethnological balance. It also examines the problems relating to
their repatriation, scheduled by the Greek government when Eastern Thrace
came under Greek control. It can be seen that less than half of those who
emigrated managed to return. In 1920, two years before their exodus, in accordance with the Convention for the Exchange of Populations between
Greece and Turkey, the Greek population in the two kazas had been substantially reduced to around 80% of the total population.
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