Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922): Every Day

The Greco-Turkish War of 1919–1922, was fought between Greece and the Turkish National Movement during the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire after World War I between May 1919 and October 1922.

The Greek campaign was launched primarily because the western Allies, particularly British Prime Minister David Lloyd George, had promised Greece territorial gains at the expense of the Ottoman Empire, recently defeated in World War I. The armed conflict started when the Greek forces landed in Smyrna (now Izmir), on 15 May 1919.

In this video you can see the change of front lines of the war every day.

Music:
Audiomachine - Legions of Doom [GRV Extended RMX | Redux]
Position Music - Desolation (Tom Player)

[averagetoad]

Italy doing what they do best switching sides when they lose

[resalder]

The Turks fought only with irregular units (Kuva-yi Milliye) in the years 1919 and 1920. The Turks established their regular army towards the end of 1920. The First Battle of İnönü was the first battle where regular army units fought against the Greek army.

[riko_sandokan]

2:37 "...after having been bitten by a pet monkey."

[galacticpenguintv]

Brilliant video! I like the music a lot.

[pjishomo]

Even with all the help and the fact that Greece only came in at 1917, while the Turks was already fighting since 1914 and very depleted with every superpower taking pieces of their land. And still you have idiots saying that Turks had every advantage and all the help and it were the Greeks who were suposedly depleted from 1 year fighting. Like wtf are you smoking ????

[MCMLXXXVICCXII]

It was not just an ordinary fight between Greeks and Turks.
Coalition forces such as UK and France, tried to enforce Turks to sign treaty of Serves after first world war. Some of members of army and government resisted conditions and wanted some changes. When they see it won't happen they decide to make it on the field. First of all, coalition forces gave promises to the Italians, that's part of why they changed side at the WW1. After the war, Greeks seemed a better option for them and they gave this mission to Greeks.
Greek forces began to invade Turkish lands, with this way they may be able to enforce Ankara government to sign treaty of serves. Ankara government built up an army, resisted and hold the invasion before it reached Ankara. 1st mission accomplished.
After Sakarya battle, coalition forces approached with almost same offer which is denied/not accepted by the Ankara government. After this event, 2nd phase of the war put in motion, mainly Greek army got annihilated, Ankara governments forces reached Dardanelles and Bosphorus. Even the Turks got surprised by this success.
Coalition forces gave up treaty of serves, treaty of lousanne signed and the war met its end.

As a rule, wars are fought to enforce politics to the other if there is no other solution.

[ahmetalbayrak]

Just economic support? hahaha how funny! Video lie.

Turkish army:
May 1919: 35, 000 soldiers and militia.
November 1920: 86, 516 (establishment of the regular army).
August 1922: 271, 000

Losses:
37, 975 dead
31, 173 injured 22, 000 military and civilian prisoners
Total: 91, 148

Union countries:
Number of Greek Soldiers May 1919: 20, 000.
April 1920: 90, 000.
June 1921: 200, 000.
1922: 225, 000-250, 000.
France 60, 000.
Great Britain 40, 000
Kingdom of Italy:
17, 900
Democratic Republic of Armenia: 10.050 On the Southern Front, 20, 000 On the Eastern Front. Internal rebels: 60, 000
Total: 434, 000-458, 000

Losses:

Greek official figures:
19, 362 dead,
4, 878 non-war casualties,
18, 095 losses,
48, 880 injured,
10, 000 captives.
According to other sources: 120, 000-130, 000 casualties.
France: 7, 000 casualties.
Democratic Republic of Armenia: 1, 100+ dead, 3, 000+ prisoners

Total: 111.100-141.100

[anlb]

4:31 I blinked and couldn’t see the war till İzmir

[flaviusbelisarius]

Didnt the uk prime minster offer constantinople and the western coast of anotolia for greece joining the war?

[byzantinetales]

Interesting! Haven’t seen before a timeline about this war.

[savabout]

Its easy to say this in hindsight but there was a concern that sitting in Smyrna and doing nothing would allow the Turkish nations to regroup, reorganize and establish more legitimacy. The army was restless from sitting around getting attacked by hit and run tactics by irregulars. The idea was to strike Ankara quicker. However the Greek military leaders were not very competent and instability in their own government doomed the liberation before it even began. Venizelos wanted the Greek soldiers to be under British command but support of the government in England, except for Lloyd George, had turned, not wanting more war. He also expected the Ottoman government to be fighting the nationals but they had no teeth to fight with. The Italians actively worked against the Greeks fearing a stronger rival in the Mediterranean.

It interesting to think what would have happened if the war was a success. I wonder if the Turks would have joined the Axis power in WW2 in exchange for Western Anatolia and Constantinople back. Maybe they would have struck a deal with the Brits, who I bet would have had no problem betraying the Greeks, for Constantinople back. Maybe nothing would have happened but after the war there would have been another civil war or non stop terrorisms. I doubt the border would have remained the same.

[kaptanelprimopro]

4:30 Turkish army burned the city? Which demented said that? Also, there is no information about TBMM, my friend. TBMM(Turkish parliment) as if it fell from the sky

[bahadirsertcakar]

With all my respect, why would an army burn the city they captured? I wanted to draw attention to this issue because you indicated that Turkish army did it. I've heard claims about Nurettin Paşa, the Armenians or the Greeks who fled but this is a bit of a political issue, so I don't want to be a part of it. Anyway, thanks for video. From İzmir, with love.

[doraorak]

very objective video well done. you did show both greek vic. and defeats.keep up the good work my friend

[ahmetalbayrak]

Russia only provides economic support to Turkey. In addition, not only Greece but also Armenia, Italy, France and England tried to invade the Ottoman Empire. Typical Greek video.

[lainfamia]

I am from Spain and I have to say what courage the greek people had to attack Turkey in their mainland.
As the spaniards did in Granada in 1492 against a foreign non-european power.

Greetings to our orthodox greek brothers.

From Spain, the brothers from the other side of the mediterranean.

[chris]

Always makes me laugh when I see in other videos Russians calling Greeks orthodox brothers.
They actually are only when they can make profit of it, sad .

[fotisst]

Tou see this happened because of a national dispute which left the army with no supplies deep into turkish territory

[peterthesneakybastar]

Greece’s closest ally by far was the United Kingdom, and at the height of their friendship in 1920 the UK committed the ultimate betrayal, forever loosing all opportunity of liberating the Anatolian Greeks and the great Roman cities they resided in. Like many other countries, Greece had to learn the hard way to never trust the crown…

[egealpay]

4:29 There is a big problem in the information. TURKS NEVER BURNED İZMİR! GREEKS KNEW THAT TURKS HAD WON THE WAR BECOUSE OF THESE GREEKS BURNED İZMİR WHİLE LEAVİNG İZMİR!