İzmir (Smyrna) Fire in British Press

Abstract

It is known that the Greek forces, which were scattered and retreating after the Great Offensive, used the tactic of setting fire to the villages and towns they passed through. During this period, the Greek forces did not only engage in acts of property damage, but also committed various brutal actions, including mass killings, torture, rape, and abductions. The Greek occupation army, which was pushed westward towards İzmir from the interior of Anatolia, and the collaborating Anatolian Greeks who aided and abetted their atrocities, left Anatolia through various means. However, four days after İzmir was captured by the Turkish forces, a major fire broke out in the city on September 13, which lasted for several days and destroyed İzmir's historical, cultural, and architectural richness. Following the developments that emerged after the Great Turkish Offensive, the British press, which closely monitored these events from the perspective of British interests, also published news and assessments about the İzmir Fire. This study examines the reports and articles published in the British press to reveal how the British public was informed about the incident. For example, The Yorkshire Post detailed the destruction caused during the Greek withdrawal, reporting that the Greek army set fire to towns and villages, leaving much of Western Anatolia in ruins. In contrast, The Sunday Pictorial and The Western Morning News suggested that the fire in Izmir was most likely carried out by the Greeks and Armenians, aligning with the destructive tactics used by Greek forces during their retreat.