The immigration journey of a family from Gümülcine
Ahmet Yusufoğlu's immigration story shines a light on the many painful chapters of history. It offers valuable lessons, highlighting a journey that, like many others, was shaped by hardship and resilience.
Two weeks ago, a panel titled "Migration from Western Thrace to Türkiye" was held at the Balkan Research Institute of Trakya University. The event explored the stories of tens of thousands of Western Thracian Turks who were forced to migrate to Türkiye to start life anew. The migration experience of these people was recently compiled into a book by Dr. Nilüfer Erdem. Her book covers a period from 1967 to 1995, during which Greek citizenship laws, specifically Articles 19 and 20, were in effect. Erdem’s research delves into a thirty-year span, offering a poignant reflection on this era.
The migration from Western Thrace to Türkiye is a tragic tale of human suffering, driven by a multitude of factors. It can be traced back to the years of the Greek Civil War, a period marked by profound instability. During World War II, the fascist Italian regime, followed by German and Bulgarian occupations, created a landscape of devastation that forced many Western Thracians to flee to Türkiye. Ahmet Yusufoğlu from Gümülcine was one such individual. At 35 years old, he joined countless others in the battlefront, fighting for Greece in the Italian-Greek war. After the war, Greece fell into further turmoil, enduring a three-year civil war that exacerbated the suffering of its people.
By 1950, following the end of the civil war and the supposed restoration of peace, the Greek government took steps to expand its territorial influence, particularly over Cyprus. This period also saw a temporary improvement in Greek-Turkish relations. In 1952, the opening of the Celal Bayar High School in Gümülcine was hailed as a symbol of this rapprochement. However, this positive shift was short-lived, as it was revealed that Greece’s ambitions in Cyprus were behind these seemingly progressive gestures toward the Turkish minority.
In 1955, the situation soured when tensions escalated over the "Enosis" movement in Cyprus, aiming to annex the island to Greece. This led to a series of tragic events, notably the pogroms against the Greek minority in Istanbul on September 6-7. These events triggered a wave of fear among the Turkish population in Western Thrace. One of the witnesses to this dark chapter was Ahmet Yusufoğlu, whose family had lived peacefully alongside their Greek neighbors for generations. As conditions worsened, Yusufoğlu decided to leave for Türkiye, encouraged by the warnings of his Greek neighbors. His grandson, Professor Vedat Çalışkan, recounts this experience in vivid detail.
Professor Çalışkan recalls his grandfather’s stories:
“My grandfather, Ahmet Yusufoğlu, was born in Gümülcine. His mother was known as Fatma, ‘Koca Fatma’ in the family. My great-grandfather, Yusuf, died as a martyr in Gallipoli. The family moved from Filibe to Gümülcine, where my grandfather, along with his brothers Rasim and Mehmet, grew up. During the political turmoil of the 1950s, the family’s life in Gümülcine changed drastically. Neighbors, who were once friends, now warned them of the increasing violence. They told us, ‘Be careful; there are meetings at the church where people are being called to arm themselves.’ It became evident that the situation was growing more dangerous. Eventually, they made the decision to flee. A few days after the events of September 6-7 in Istanbul, they left for Türkiye.”
In the days following the pogrom, the Yusufoğlu family sought refuge in Istanbul, staying in pensions in Sirkeci. Life was difficult, and the family soon ran out of money. It was then that they received word that relatives had settled in Bursa, prompting the family to head there as well. Despite the hardship, they managed to establish a new life in their adopted homeland.
Years later, Professor Çalışkan, along with his wife Dr. Sevda Çalışkan, visited Gümülcine in 2016. With the help of local residents, they found the street where his ancestors had lived. The emotions of this trip were overwhelming, as Çalışkan stood before the home of his forefathers, now occupied by strangers, yet still echoing with memories of the past.
Ahmet Yusufoğlu, who fought in the Albanian front during the Italian-Greek war and nearly gave his life for Greece, could never fulfill his dream of making Gümülcine the homeland for his children and grandchildren. Despite this, he cherished the memories of his home, constantly recounting the stories of his beloved Gümülcine to his descendants until his death.
Reflecting on his visit to Gümülcine, Professor Çalışkan spoke with deep emotion about how his family’s former neighbors welcomed him. With a lump in his throat and tears in his eyes, he realized how much the past had left its mark on both the place and the people.
It can be said that in Western Thrace, where Turks once lived, the only positive thing that can be praised is the human decency of those Greek neighbors who risked their lives to protect the Turkish community. It serves as a reminder that, in the face of hatred and division, it was the compassion of ordinary people that prevented a greater tragedy.
Ahmet Yusufoğlu's migration story is filled with valuable lessons. It highlights the reasons behind the forced migration of nearly 60,000 Turkish citizens from Western Thrace, a tragedy rooted in political and ethnic tensions. In the context of international relations, the rhetoric of equality and justice espoused by the Greek government must be questioned. What truly matters for any state is adherence to the rule of law, not the fleeting ideologies that seek to divide communities.
