The Hellenic Genocide was the systematic torture, massacre and ethnic cleansing of several millions Hellenes (Greeks) perpetrated by the Turks in Asia Minor, Constantinople (now called Istanbul by the Turks), Eastern Thrace, Imvros, Tenedos, Macedonia, Cappadocia and Pontos.
Most of the victims were massacred between 1895 (much earlier than the World War I) and 1955 (much after the World War II). The present estimate is that some 2.000.000 Greek children, men and women of all ages were killed during that period.
In the same places and often at the same time, the Turks tortured and massacred millions of Armenians and Assyrians of all ages. The fact that the three nations were victims of the same extermination policy is another proof of each of the three Genocides. It was not a "war", it was not a "revolt". It was a planned effort of extermination. It was an effort of the Turks to get rid of their former slaves, since they were not useful anymore. It was an effort to create a "Turkey for the Turks", as the Turkish leaders called it, in the lands of the Armenians, Assyrians and Greeks still under Turkish occupation. The Turks had invaded the lands of the Armenians, Assyrians and Greeks. Since they couldn't continue to use them as slaves, they decided to exterminate them. And they did it.
It was not a "religious fight" either. The persecution of the Kurds, who are Muslims like the Turks, began as soon as most of the Armenians, Assyrians and Greeks, who are all Christians, had been exterminated. The Kurds were misled into thinking that by helping the Turks to exterminated the "infidels", as the they referred to the Armenians, Assyrians and Greeks, they would have a land of their own. The Kurds did help the Turks but only to become the next victims of the plan to create a "Turkey for the Turks". The persecution of the Kurds was a natural consequence. After all, the objective of the Turkish leaders was not a "Turkey for the Muslims".
In a way, the Hellenic Genocide still didn't end, as its few survivors are persecuted right now in all territories ruled by the Turks, especially in Constantinople and Imvros. For instance, in Imvros, in 1999, a six years old Greek boy was burned alive by the Turks. The Orthodox Patriarchate, located in Constantinople, which has a similar meaning as the Vatican, is attacked often. The rights of the few survivors of the Hellenic Genocide are shamefully denied. The Treaty of Lausanne is continually disrespected. Even the frequent invasions by Turkey of the airspace and the territorial sea of Greece (which amount to hundreds every year), can be considered reflexes of its extermination policy. If for the Turkish rulers, the Greeks don't have the right to live, they don't have any rights.
This site will contain a detailed work on the Hellenic Genocide. It will analyse all aspects of that crime against humanity, with documentation from many sources, including recent ones.
Until the work is completed, please see a related work by the same author, published in 2001 (available only in English so far). It contains hundreds of accounts on the Hellenic Genocide from eyewitnesses from several nations, as well as hundreds of photographs, several maps, posters, documents and films. The work has many references to the Armenians and Assyrians. It's not possible to research any of the three Genocides using accounts of eyewitnesses without researching also the other two.
The work uses only quotes from documents that are completely and freely available on the Internet, which are linked to each quote used. Thus, there's no risk of anything being used out of its original context and the reader can easily extend their research.
Please, visit:
The Hellenic Genocide
Quotes from historical documents and related Photos.
For an introduction on the Hellenic Genocide, please see this letter addressed to the Governor and the First Lady of the State of Alabama, USA. It was written as part of a successful campaign to alert them about a misguided proclamation:
To: Governor and First Lady of Alabama
From: Roberto Lopes, São Paulo, Brazil
Date: 30.Aug.2001
Your cooperation is essential.
If you have or know someone or an organization that might have documents, photos (including photos showing the Hellenic heritage), maps, films, personal accounts, post cards or anything else directly or indirectly related to the Hellenic Genocide, please contact Roberto Lopes <>.
Please, share what you know with everyone.
Please, use an email signature, adding automatically to the end of all your email messages the address of this work or place a link to this work on your Web site. Here are examples:
Impunity is an open wound in the human soul.
Visit http://www.HellenicGenocide.org
Speak up for those who were silenced forever.
Visit http://www.HellenicGenocide.org
Please, save the image on your computer and use this HTML code to create the link:
<a href="http://www.HellenicGenocide.org"><img src="hgbutton01.gif" border="0" width="88" height="31" title="The Hellenic Genocide"></a>
Please, save the image on your computer and use this HTML code to create the link:
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"WHEREAS, it is important for future generations that we commemorate these events, so that such atrocities may never be repeated; and
WHEREAS, it is fitting that the people of New Jersey share in the remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the destruction of Smyrna, and join with the Greek-American community in recognizing the genocide of the Greek people of Pontus and Asia Minor;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JAMES E. McGREEVEY, Governor of the State of New Jersey, do hereby proclaim
SEPTEMBER 9, 2002
as
A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE DESTRUCTION OF
SMYRNA AND THE GENOCIDE AGAINST THE GREEK
PEOPLE OF PONTUS AND ASIA MINOR"
Photo: Proclamation of the Government of the State of New Jersey, USA, on the Hellenic Genocide.
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