September 14th has been established in Greece since 1998 as a day of national memory of the Genocide of the Greeks of Asia Minor and Eastern Thrace, while the Genocide of the Greeks took place in parallel with genocides at the expense of other Christian populations of the Ottoman Empire.
On the occasion of today’s memory day, RES-EIA publishes Experiences, stories and testimonies of the 2nd and 3rd generation of refugees, as recorded and rescued, by the Corfu Reading Society in its important research work, “from Ionia to Ionian: Refugees in Corfu after the Asia Minor Disaster”.
As part of the research program, a total of 62 new oral testimonies were collected, with the “metamates” of the offspring of refugees living in Corfu today, but also in other places where refugees who had initially passed through the island. ”
The descendants of the refugees remember what they lived with their own, the songs the stories that were told, the smells of the East in the kitchen and their culture, the principles and values they received from them and are today for them, a valuable heritage.
They nostalgic for their loved ones, their parents, their grandparents, remember what they lived with, what they distributed to the family in refugee houses, their narratives of the lost homelands, who in most often replaced fairy tales, the new life in the new homeland.
Dozens of testimonies reveal unknown aspects of events and at the same time trace the historical trauma of uprooting to this day.
“We as fairy tales had the stories of the Asia Minor disaster. It might have been a little black our soul, on the other hand, of course, it was probably a need for them … they wanted to say it … “. They are the words of Mrs Katerina Kyriazopoulou – Orphanidou, a 3rd generation of refugees from the Tigelzik, Brafia, Amaseia of Asia Minor.
“What I remember, my own testimony – that my grandfather died in ’84 and up to a week before he went and advertised on the Red Cross to look for what his brother, Gemini,” her, for the brother who lost in the uprooting.
Ioannis-Yagos Kalaitzoglou, a 2nd generation descendant from Megalochori of Eye and Cylindra Seleucia, testifies: “I will always remember my childhood, love, solidarity, care between refugee families, and their relations.”
For Erifili Chitiris, a 3rd generation descendant from Tsanakkale Asia Minor and Constantinople, Grandma’s cuisine was unique. “The mantle my grandmother made is a leaf pie, minced meat and a little rice, which was twisted on New Year’s Eve … They made it and I continue to make it … all the spices, the mastic, cinnamon and cloves smell …”
Corfu, although as an island, had limited opportunities, since December 1922 has become a place of reception and temporary care of the refugees of the Asia Minor Disaster. In the 1923 census, 10,006 refugees are recorded on the island. Of course, in archives of the Prefecture of Corfu, which were also preserved the local press, there is talk of group arrivals of refugees and in the coming months, following the signing of the contract for the exchange of Greek and Turkish populations.
For the temporary housing of refugees found in Corfu, public and private buildings were accelerated while efforts were made to transport refugees to some countryside. Sure, The bulk of refugees settled in the old fortress, which had places that could accommodate such a large number of people.
Ioannis-Yagos Kalaitzoglou, who supported this research work from the first moment and shared shortly before leaving his memories, saved the dramatic experience of his mother, who was in the old fortress during the 19th bombing of Corfu.
“Grandma’s room in the old fortress was looking at the port where Italian ships were bombarded with Corfu. It was August 31, 1923. The Italian fleet bombed the fortress. As soon as Grandma listened to shells next to them, she climbed a stool to light the lamb of Our Lady. My mother was holding the stool. One of the ships of the ships passed the open window, and cut the grandmother’s head in front of the eyes of my manula. Today, in a Kenotafio at the 1st Cemetery of Corfu we have the refugees killed in that unjust massacre. “
The limited capabilities of permanent rehabilitation on the island were the main reason for relocating refugees to other parts of Greece. As Mr. Poulisis comments, only a small number of them was permanently settled in Corfu, where many descendants live to this day. According to the 1928 census, there were 2,227 refugees in Corfu, while in a list of the Center for Asia Minor Studies of 1957, relating to the residents of the island’s refugee settlements, 870 are recorded. The small number of refugees who eventually settled on the island appears to have contributed to their rapid integration and assimilation.
It is worth noting that through this research program, many descendants of refugees, people with common memories, experiences and experiences have developed and developed relationships.
Source: Skai
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