[metesky]

My paternal grandmother is from Smyrna. I still have relatives there.

My Aunt Lydia wrote a vanity press published book about my grandmother and her family:

SMOLDERING SMYRNA, by L. Kouroyen-Karagianis The Turkish forces move into Smyrna with death and destruction as their main objective. Thousands of people are butchered, homes and business are burned, and many thousands are left homeless. Polina's family witness the atrocities committed by the Turks. They seek refuge on board a ship to escape the conflict only to live in poverty among the already overcrowded citizens of mainland Greece. Polina's brothers who joined with the Greek army to fight the Turks, are never seen again. From her safe haven in Boston, Polina awaits for news from her family, telling her four children about the once beautiful Smyrna that she called home. Told with pathos and drama, this novel reminds the reader that the hatred which destroyed Smyrna is still alive. 172 pgs, 5.7x8.7, Cloth $ 17.95

[John H K]

The Turko-Greek war in 1922 was exceptionally brutal and ugly on all sides.

Greeks decided to take advantage of the collapse of the Ottoman Empire to take as much of Turkey as they could (much more than just the Greek Cities on the Turkish Aegean Coast.)

Got halfway across Turkey till Ataturk was able to reorganize and defeat them. Hence, that's why he's a hero.

In their retreat the Greeks did a lot of raping, burning, looting, and pillaging of Turks themselves. Turks returned the favor when they got to the Greek cities of the Turkish coast.

Nobody was really a good guy in that war.