Turkish-Greek Population Exchange Marks 102 Years Since Agreement
The population exchange agreement between Türkiye and Greece, signed on January 30, 1923, has reached its 102nd anniversary.
According to Doç. Dr. Sabri Can Sannav, Director of the Balkan Research Institute at Trakya University, the population exchange led to the forced displacement of thousands of Muslim Turks, who had been living in Greece for centuries.
In an interview with Anadolu Agency (AA), Sannav explained that the issue of population exchange first emerged after the Balkan Wars. He noted that significant migration waves occurred after the 1877-1878 Russo-Turkish War, with many Muslims fleeing to Turkey. Following the Balkan Wars, a considerable Turkish population settled in regions such as Thrace and Anatolia, often due to forced circumstances, leading to immense suffering. Sannav pointed out that the signing of the population exchange agreement in 1923 made these migration movements official.
Sannav also recalled that the majority of Greeks living in Anatolia moved to Greece after the Greek defeat in the Turkish War of Independence. Similarly, many Greeks from Eastern Thrace left their homes following the signing of the Mudanya Armistice on October 11, 1922. However, these movements, largely driven by the demands of the Greek army and the voluntary actions of the Greeks, cannot be considered forced migrations. In contrast, the situation of the Muslim Turks in Greece was very different. Sannav stated that approximately 500 years of living in newly annexed territories had led to serious difficulties for the Muslim Turkish population, who were forced to migrate through the population exchange.
The challenging relations between the Greek and Muslim Turkish populations during the Balkan Wars and Turkish War of Independence also made cohabitation increasingly difficult, according to Sannav.
Mass Migration to Thrace and Western Anatolia
Following the signing of the agreement, thousands of Turks left Greece for Turkey. Sannav highlighted that these settlers were distributed across different regions in Turkey. While there are varying figures on the number of settlers, Sannav referenced the statements of Turkey’s Interior Minister Şükrü Kaya, who reported that between 1923 and 1933, 379,000 settlers arrived from Greece, representing 99,000 households. The majority of these migrants settled in Thrace and Western Anatolia, with Edirne being one of the most affected areas due to its proximity to the border.
During the Balkan Wars and the War of Independence, Edirne suffered significant losses in its Muslim population. As a result, the population exchange helped fill this gap. Approximately 40,000 settlers were placed in the area, constituting around 33% of the population.
Contribution to Agriculture and Livestock Farming
Sannav emphasized that the Greek settlers, primarily from rural areas, greatly contributed to the development of agriculture and livestock in the regions where they settled. Although many faced challenges adapting to urban life, they quickly integrated into their new surroundings and helped revitalize the agricultural and livestock sectors.
In Edirne, for instance, each family was allocated an average of 28.5 decares of land, where they engaged in agricultural activities, stimulating the local economy and enhancing the region's agricultural output.
Exclusions from the Population Exchange
Sannav also noted that some regions were excluded from the population exchange agreement, including Greeks living in Gökçeada, Bozcaada, and Istanbul, as well as Turks in Western Thrace.
The population exchange between Turkey and Greece remains a significant historical event with long-lasting impacts on the demographic and cultural landscapes of both countries.
