Greece joined the Allied Powers in World War I (1914-1918) and claimed Smyrna (now İzmir) after the Ottoman Empire was dismantled.
Turkish forces seized Smyrna in 1922. Under the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne that determined the borders of modern Turkey, more than 1 million Christian Greeks were forced to leave Asia Minor. Many settled in Athens, rapidly expanding the city’s population.
During World War II (1939-1945) German forces occupied Athens and set up a collaborationist regime.
Under the brutal occupation that began in 1941, the economy of Athens was devastated, and shortages and famine led to starvation for thousands of the city’s inhabitants.
British and Greek troops liberated Athens in October 1944 without major combat. However, armed clashes broke out in the city in December 1944 between Communist-led rebels and the new British-backed Greek government. The so-called Battle of Athens killed thousands of people and ended with an armistice in early 1945.
Turkish forces seized Smyrna in 1922. Under the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne that determined the borders of modern Turkey, more than 1 million Christian Greeks were forced to leave Asia Minor. Many settled in Athens, rapidly expanding the city’s population.
During World War II (1939-1945) German forces occupied Athens and set up a collaborationist regime.
Under the brutal occupation that began in 1941, the economy of Athens was devastated, and shortages and famine led to starvation for thousands of the city’s inhabitants.
British and Greek troops liberated Athens in October 1944 without major combat. However, armed clashes broke out in the city in December 1944 between Communist-led rebels and the new British-backed Greek government. The so-called Battle of Athens killed thousands of people and ended with an armistice in early 1945.
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