Smyrna (Izmir)

Up until September 1922, Smyrna was a cosmopolitan city of the Ottoman Empire (today's Turkey) made up of a majority Greek population, as well as Armenians, Jews and the Levantines.

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Greek Genocide Resource Center

an old photo of people walking down the street

Ottoman Empire

European Countries

The City

Rue Franque (Frank Street), Smyrna.

The city of Smyrna was made up of five districts or neighourhoods, namely the Greek, Armenian, Jewish, Turkish and the Frankish districts. Rue Franque or Frank Street was a 5-8 metre wide street located in the Frankish district which ran across one quarter of the entire city. It was on this street where all the grand mansions were located as well as merchants from European countries such as Dutch, Scotch, Austrian, Spanish and Portuguese.

an old black and white photo of people walking down the street

History Of Photography

black and white photograph of people standing in front of a store

Greek store, Smyrna (Izmir)

A Greek store in #Smyrna, date unknown. Front signage reads: "At the Good Market. Philippos N. Rombopoulos. Corsets - Petticoats - Overcoats" (Au Bon Marché. Φιλιππου Ν. Ρομποπουλου. Κορσεδες, Μεσοφορια, Επανωφορια). Signage at side reads: "Items, Fashion, Garnishing, Lace, Embroidery, Materials, Handcrafts etc" (Ειδη, Νεωτερισμου, Γαρνιτουραι, Δαντελλαι, Κεντηματα, Υλικα, Εργοχειρων Κ.τ.λ.)

an old photo of two men standing in front of a store

BİR RUM ECZANESİ VE PERSONELİ.

an old photo of a soccer team from the early 1900's

The Apollo (Απόλλων) Smyrna Football Club. c.1922

The Apollo (Απόλλων) Smyrna Football Club was formed in 1910 in Smyrna. The club was formed out of the Apollo Smyrna Gymnastics Club which had its origins in Smyrna in 1891. The club's colours were blue and white. Following the Smyrna Holocaust in Sep 1922, the club transferred to Athens where it currently exists under the name Gymnastics Club Apollo Smyrna (Γ.Σ. Απόλλων Σμύρνης).

The final phase of the Greek Genocide took place at Smyrna in September 1922 when Kemalist forces entered the city and took part in an orgy of looting, rape and massacre that targeted the city's Christian population, primarily Greeks and Armenians. They then burnt the city to the ground. Advanced Drawing, Ottoman

Advanced Drawing

Ottoman

Smyrna Holocaust September 1922

The final phase of the Greek Genocide took place at Smyrna in September 1922 when Kemalist forces entered the city and took part in an orgy of looting, rape and massacre that targeted the city's Christian population, primarily Greeks and Armenians. They then burnt the city to the ground.

an old photo of the inside of a building that has been demolished and is being used as a museum

The church of Saint John the Forerunner (Αγίου Ιωάννη Προδρόμου), Smyrna 1922.

Inside the church of Saint John the Forerunner (Gr: Αγίου Ιωάννη Προδρόμου), #Smyrna, likely after the fire of September 1922. The church was later demolished.

As the city of Smyrna was burning, Kemal witnessed the scene and while pointing at the fire, declared that it was "..a sign that Turkey is purged of the traitors, the Christians, and of the foreigners, and that Turkey is for the Turks."
He also said: "Let it burn, let it crash down." The Traitors, Let It Burn, Penguin Books, A Sign, The Fire

The Smyrna Holocaust: September 1922.

As the city of Smyrna was burning, Kemal witnessed the scene and while pointing at the fire, declared that it was "..a sign that Turkey is purged of the traitors, the Christians, and of the foreigners, and that Turkey is for the Turks." He also said: "Let it burn, let it crash down."

Within hours of the Turkish occupation of Smyrna, the looting and violence had begun. Lieutenant Commander Harrison Knauss of the USS Simpson witnessed the violence firsthand late in the afternoon. As he passed the Greek and Armenian neighbourhoods, there were bodies lying about, shot in the face or back, at close range. The victims were young and old, mostly men but there were also bodies of old women on the street. Knauss witnessed three killings himself. Old Women, The Face, The Neighbourhood

Old Women

The Face

The Neighbourhood

The Smyrna Holocaust: September 1922.

9 Sep 1922: Within hours of the Turkish occupation of Smyrna, the looting and violence had begun. Lieutenant Commander Harrison Knauss of the USS Simpson witnessed the violence firsthand late in the afternoon. As he passed the Greek and Armenian neighbourhoods, there were bodies lying about, shot in the face or back, at close range. The victims were young and old, mostly men but there were also bodies of old women on the street. Knauss witnessed three killings himself.

Chrysostomos was born in Triglia (Zeytinbağı) in AsiaMinor & became the Metropolitan of Smyrna in 1910. He worked ceaselessly to defend the rights of Smyrna's Christian Greek population and brought attention to their persecution during the First World War. As a result, he became a hate figure for Turkish nationalists.
On the 10th Sep 1922, a day after Kemalist Turkish forces occupied Smyrna, Chrysostomos was handed over to a mob who subsequently tortured and murdered him. Photo Image

Photo Image

Greek Genocide Resource Center

Metropolitan Chrysostomos Kalafatis of Smyrna (1867-1922) was the Metropolitan of #Smyrna from 1910-1914 and 1919-1922. He is the most prominent figure to be martyred at Smyrna when the city was taken by Turkish forces in September 1922.

On the morning of Wednesday 13 September 1922, fires were reported in the Armenian quarter of Smyrna. According to the testimony of American observers, the fire was started by Turkish regulars to conceal the massacres they had committed since their entry into the city four days prior.
The fire ultimately destroyed the entire Greek and Armenian quarters of the city; the Muslim and Jewish quarters were spared. Some reports at the time estimated a death toll as high as 120,000.

Greek Genocide Resource Center

In September 1922, Kemalist troops entered the city of Smyrna and took part in an orgy of rape, pillage and massacre primarily targeting the city's Christian population. They then burnt the city to the ground.

The Saint

17th Century

Notre Dame

Greek Genocide Resource Center

The Saint Photini Cathedral (Gr: Άγια Φωτεινή) was built in the 17th century and was the Metropolitan Church of Smyrna.

MALTESE SURVIVORS OF SMYRNA

The social divisions of Smyrna into sectors (or quarters) in 1922.

an old black and white photo of people walking down the street with buildings in the background

Cities & Towns Collectible Topographical Postcards for sale | eBay

TURKEY GREECE SMYRNE SMYRNA RUE FASSOULA | eBay

Smyrna (Izmir)

Up until September 1922, Smyrna was a cosmopolitan city of the Ottoman Empire (today's Turkey) made up of a majority Greek population, as well as Armenians, Jews and the Levantines.

46 Pins

· Last updated 2mo

Curated by

Greek Genocide Resource Center

Ottoman Empire

European Countries

The City

Rue Franque (Frank Street), Smyrna.

History Of Photography

Greek store, Smyrna (Izmir)

BİR RUM ECZANESİ VE PERSONELİ.

The Apollo (Απόλλων) Smyrna Football Club. c.1922

Advanced Drawing

Ottoman

Smyrna Holocaust September 1922

The church of Saint John the Forerunner (Αγίου Ιωάννη Προδρόμου), Smyrna 1922.

Inside the church of Saint John the Forerunner (Gr: Αγίου Ιωάννη Προδρόμου), #Smyrna, likely after the fire of September 1922. The church was later demolished.

The Smyrna Holocaust: September 1922.

Old Women

The Face

The Neighbourhood

The Smyrna Holocaust: September 1922.

Photo Image

Greek Genocide Resource Center