Bir Türk Subayının Raporuna Göre Mübadelenin Yunanistan’daki Yansımaları

Reflections of The Population Exchange in Greece According to a Turkish Officer's Report

Özet

Göç, temelinde hayatta kalma ve geçim kaygısı yatan ve bir yerden bir başka yere

Abstract

Migration is a social incident which describes moving from one place to anotherwith a concern over survival and making a living. Migratory movements, which arenot voluntary and happen due to necessities, might be seen as a big drama from anoutsider perspective. However, migrations not only cause problems, but also open adoorway for some solutions. In this regard, it has a critical role in maturing societiesand stimulating new beginnings. The important thing is to be able to transform thismovement to an advantage. In this sense, the population exchange between Turkeyand Greece during the first years of establishment of Turkish Republic is veryimportant.Through the population exchange, which also constitutes the theme of our research,both Republic of Turkey and Greece have managed to benefit from this migratorymovement in the process of making of a nation state. First of all, homogenization ofthe demographic structure enabled national consciousness to be built on more solidgrounds. They put all the effort for total independence. When we analyze theprofiles of immigrants, we can confidingly comment that they consisted of peoplethat were needed by both states.This study is based on the report prepared by Ahmet Tevfik Bey who was in theteam sent for demobilisation to Greece by Turkey. The first page of the reportconsisting of 32 articles and 5 pages has the data about his duty and the followingpages involves his observations about agricultural and industrial status of Greece aswell as the data about the cities of Selanik and Athena during his duty of 2 monthsthere. As of content, it covers contributions of those who migrated from Turkey inthe economy and their employment.