ASYA MINOR...OVER AGAIN

 Panayotis Doukas: It was hard to bear the life, there was starvation. Neither bread, nor food. If you had animals, you would be able to drink their milk only.

Nikos Demerci: As soon as they (Nazis) came, they took all our produce from us by force; olive oil, tobacco, wine... They were only leaving 50 okes of olive oil per family.

Angeliki Voyaci: As Germans were landing on Samos, everyone was so frightened of being killed or being harmed. So, the shore was full of people who wanted to escape.

Ibrahim Gündenç: They (Greeks) had fastened the barrels together, came here as sailing on them.

Hayati Ocak: It was an apocalypse in the sea; we ran to find out what’s happening and saw that Greeks were coming.

"The List of Returning Immigrants".
At last, the war has begun.

Refik Saydam (Prime minister of that time): Citizens! Against a world war, which is unknown to us when, how and where it will finish, and within the depression it has created; our strict aim is national protection. The deficiencies can only be overcome by our constructive efforts and its high success.

"From now on, to get bread is possible by ration card".

Ahmet gönül: When the German war started, we were in more hardship. Everyone who was strong enough to fight was enlisted. There were 5-6 period of enlisted soldiers. There was almost no one in the village to work.

"Ration Card Distribution: The right of getting bread for each citizen: 750 gr. will be given to employees, half of that for none-employees".

Bayram Dikoğlu: You know the bush brooms; we would grind the seeds of those bushes in the mills to mix with flour to increase it. We would bake it in our ovens. Thus, more bread would be produced.

Ali Onay: People were obligated to give some amount of their produce to the government. There was no other way to deal with the bad situation and getting bread was conditioned to ration card. During a visit of Ismet Inonu, the people pushed young man to tell him that "Pasha, you left us suffer hunger". His answer was: "That's true, I left you hungry, but, I didn't leave you fatherless".

Yorgos Photellis: Fear and horror. There was not even a court to judge. One, who was considered guilty, was being taken to the woods.

Manolis Violatzis: During the occupation there was starvation. Any one, who opposed to Germans, was being shot. No judgment or anything, they were put to jail without hesitation, there was nothing to do.

Nikos Demerci: The famine showed up in 1941. The first reason was: The people of Samos faced the war unprepared. The second one: The winter was so hard. Due to so much snow, they couldn't even pick up weeds, only some weeds growing on the walls. Consequently, 3.000, 3.500 people starved to death.

March:
Hey Mussolini, there will be none of you left. The Greek flag is going keep on waving in Rome, forever.

Dimitros Karatzitzis: People going to Middle East through Turkey were in hard conditions. There was starvation, prosecution etc. it was impossible to live here, so they were going abroad.

Nikos Demerci: The immigration happened in three phases. First were the ones who left to fight, second left because of starvation, the last ones were, 1.500 rebels escaping together with 8.000 - 8.500 people of Samos hearing Germans are coming.

Form memory of Kostas Demerci (Nikos’s father): In May 3, 1943, the Commander Ioannis Hannis declared that 22 people from our village were about to be arrested, including myself and Georgios Karathanasis. We discussed the situation and made a decision on going to Anatolia (Turkey). Because we were aware that it would be so hard to stay in Samos. The mountains of Samos were crowded with rebels. It was hard to live in those circumstances, especially at that old age. That night I talked to my wife and said that I would take two of four kids with me, Nikos and Eftihia and go away with them. As Karamanolis told me that there were schools back there. With the tears in our eyes, I said goodbye to my wife, mother-in-law and father-in-law and proceeded in order to escape from Italians and their accomplices.

Nikos Demerci: Rebels were in touch with the Kusadasi representative Georgios Luimark of the Greek government located in Cairo (Egypt). There was counter-intelligence on the other side. Boats were going between two sides; they were transporting food, weapons and people, but only men eligible to fight. , females and kids weren't accepted.

Dimitros Karatzitzis: The rebel organization was operating in a very secret manner, they were even sending people to the other side, who by accidentally witnessed the transportation.

Spiros Pavlis: After the occupation of island Lesvos the situation changed dramatically. Everyone was thinking of what to do. The main subject among us, young people was how we could contribute to the resistance. From the very first days some young people started fleeing to Turkey.

Yorgos Photellis: We were making boats with the wood and old nails we could find. One of us was going to the woods every day to find resin to apply to the surface of the boats. Once three or five people were gathered we were sending them to the other side.

Angeliki Voyaci: My father has seen his boat sank when he has gone to the port to bring it back. There he casually fixes it with some metal sheets and brings to the shore by our home. There were too many people who wanted to escape, you don’t know who to take, who to leave. My family, 4 kids, my dad and mom, my aunt and grandmother and a few strangers whom I don't remember, were all boarded and set out.

Form memory of Kostas Demerci (Nikos’s father): We were walking without speaking because we knew there were Italians around. 30 of us were on the boat. 22 adults, my kids, Aleko's family, and his four kids... we told Zisimo that we had just fit into the boat. The boat started; there were Georgios Karathanasis, Hristos Stavrianos, Nikos Taleporos, his sister Angelinio, Mitsos Papanikitas, his sister Eleni, Stamatis Vatianos, me and others.

Nikos Demerci: When I saw the boat and guerillas, and the armed Greeks, I was so impressed. We boarded the boat. It was a beautiful and quiet night. During that night, we passed to Asia Minor by rowing, landed on cove of Kanapica, which has a watchman's cabin on the hill that is visible from here.

Dimitros Karatzitzis: When Germans occupied Greece in April 1941 and the Greek army was disbanded, many soldiers passed to Turkey across the river Meric by walking.

Dimitrios Karaminas: We received orders to get ready for a walk in April 7, 1941. With a hard walk we went through Sufli and reached the river Meric. We reached the other side by boats. There were Turkish soldiers waiting, they greeted us very nicely.

Form memory of Kostas Demerci (Nikos’s father): An hour later Didim (Mikali) was seen, it was 5 miles away from us. I and Zisimo who was a skilled sailor and two men were rowing. When we saw the Turkish watchman's cabin, our youngsters began singing a song, "Northern winds blow over the Russia's snows, drag clouds for centuries, and break the chains of captivity". And then, when they began singing the march tune "May 1", Zisimo shouted: "be quiet!" and I said to Zisimo: "is it still necessary to silence them? Ever since the dictatorship of Metaksa, we have not spoken freely". Then, he said "I am going to make you land on a small shore, around 10 o’clock. Fasten your handkerchiefs to a branch, walk towards the watchman, everything has been arranged. Tell them that you came with your own boat and let it go".

Nikos Demerci: We ate a lot of sea-urchins and a big octopus. About 10 o’clock we fastened a white handkerchief to a big stick and set out for the watchman's cabin.

Angeliki Voyaci: We arrived to Kusadasi in the morning. The small port of that times was entirely packed with big and small boats.

Dimitrios Karaminas: We left our weapons in Doğancı. A Colonel, who was very fluent in Greek, came and said "according to the international laws, when an army comes to a foreign country they need to hand over their weapons and they have to be retained in a garrison". And he added that, "we won't lock you in the garrison. Because, we appreciate your resistance and your heroic acts at Albania fronts". As we were standing in a row we turned to our left side and put down our weapons, and we hung our masks and cartridge bands over their shoulders. Our Colonel shouted "Long live Greece!” This sounded like the funeral speech of our weapons. It was a very emotional moment, it was so sad to leave our weapons in that way.
Manolis Violatzis: I was saying to Perikli "Cry boy, cry more and see what will happen". Contrary to what I said, while laughing, his answer was "how can I cry?”. Someone was saying that "we should take them together". And the other "No, we shouldn't". So, I said in Turkish "This boat is small and the weather is bad". I could spoke a few words in Turkish that I had learnt in the Prison of Ayvalik. "This boat is small, the weather is bad, and where can we go to? We'll be drowned". I said. Finally they took us with them and brought to Izmir.

Giorgos Primos: I landed on the shore of Aliaga after midnight about 1 or 2 o'clock. We hid and waited for the morning to go to the interior parts of the land. As we had been informed that we had to avoid being caught on the boat. Because, if we had been caught, they would have send us back. So we waited until Captain Mimis left. But, unfortunately, while going back, Captain Mimis and his nephew were killed in the volley fired by Germans who had captured a small ship.

Ahmet Yorulmaz: In the small bay near today's port, I saw a naked corpse of a male in the sea floating face downwards. Then another day I came across 2 maybe 3 corpses more. I was then told that those corpses were from island Lesvos.

Ahmet Gönül: The chief of the village sometimes used to call us and say that "there is a corpse on the shore, go and bury it". We used to do the job. At times there used to be corpses appearing at different places on the shore and we would go and do the same job again. Then came refugees for a while. Greeks were suffering from hunger, their situation was worse than ours. Completely hungry, they rushed into here, our coasts. Each night 3 or 5 boats would come, about 100 or 150 Greeks, boats were filled full of Greek refugees.

The Archives of The Premiership: "About the refugees coming to our coasts". "Refugees who came between May 1941 and March 1943: 22.909". "The List of Refugees".

Hakkı Akbaykal: They were landing at the port of Alacati. From there, they were walking on foot, so hungry. Ankles of girls were turned purple, all bruised. They were not able to find anything to eat, only weeds, salads that were making of weeds, trying to survive while escaping from Germans.

Bekir Sıtkı Baykal: Within a few days a large group arrived. I have no idea what happened in Cesme but in Ilica, except hotels, they were all accommodated in the empty houses.

Panayotis Doukas: People treated us well. Once we landed in Cesme everyone did their best for us., offered foods, took good care of us. They did whatever they could.

Ahmet Gönül: There were women, children and men… it was a chaos, they were coming with their families. One, who had a chance to board a boat, was coming here. They were hungry, very miserable.
Bekir Sıtkı Baykal: Some of them worked here. Because, they knew how to do the job, viniculture. They worked in various jobs. Sometimes 15-20 of them stayed in a house suitable for one family only.
Ahmet Yorulmaz: When Greeks, escaping from Germans came here, they were distributed among the houses of rich people by the mayor within the area of customs and the other coast. And a few of them, as pretending to show some reaction to the mayor's stinginess, I am not sure about that, but, they wanted the mayor to take some of them to his home. Newcomers were being distributed to the houses.

Form memory of Kostas (Nikos’s father): When we saw the army officers and soldiers, they looked as if they were waiting for us. After saying "good morning" in Turkish, they greeted us and said "sit down". We did and the officers assigned two soldiers to accompany us. We were to walk to Kusadasi. On the way, the soldiers gave us raisins, figs and hazelnuts. Some of them climbed on almond tree and picked some almonds for us. We greeted them too and set out for Kusadasi. Our accompaniments were cheerful. As our youngsters were singing the songs "Samyotisa" and "Russia’s Snows" and the march tune "May 1" the soldiers were also singing along with them in their own language. As we were walking we kept turning backwards and looked at our lovely village which was about to disappear in a short while.

Nikos Demerci: My father, with two other men went near the farmers, one of them was Yorgo Karathanasi. They greeted them in Turkish and the others did the same thing in Greek and said "Welcome Samotians". And they said” Hey kids, the soldiers are not from here, we'll describe them the shortest way to Kusadasi" and added that "we'll eat in the village", then they gave eveything to us that they have: bread, cheese, food. We, 30 individuals, each had just a mouthful of the food. It was a hot May day.

Abdulgani Kalaycı: Someone named Suleyman brought some raisins in a large plate. We were talking to each other and they were staring at raisins. But, they couldn't dare to take raisins. They were afraid of being poisoned. The man who brought the raisins took a handful of it and ate. So, they came near and began eating, all so hungry, wiped the plate off.
Dimitrios Karaminas: After walking 20-22 kilometers, we arrived in Bergama in the evening. There, some women wearing black clothes were waiting for us who had lost their husbands in the First World War. They were yelling at us. There had happened unbelievable bad things in Bergama then, so they were very furious. There was a soldier near me from Thrace who knew to speak Turkish. He said to me: "I shouldn't tell you what they are saying. It is better not to remember things happened at that time.”
Form memory of Kostas (Nikos’s father):One of them said to other one "Ali, bring that bag, at least, let’s give them some food and tobacco". They gave us tobacco and paper to roll the cigarettes. We gave them our best wishes and then said good-bye to each other. That was a very important proof for me showing that the two nations wanted to live in peace and friendship. An hour later, we reached the road. It was a very hot day, before arriving Kusadasi, we saw an olive tree on a hillside on the right side of the road. And there was a two-story house in front side, within garden. We said to each other that "whoever reached the tree first, is to sit down and have a rest". After a short while we saw a woman riding on a horseback, she got off the horse. At that moment, Eleni Papanikita, Angelioni Taleporu, Despina Aleksiu and four kids had come near us. The woman waved at the kids and called them. She opened the gate to the garden and let them go in. We said to each other that "there might be a good thing, so, let’s not do anything". About one minute later, the kids appeared holding a bucket, full of water and some other things. They got closer, there were two breads, some cheese and halva in a large paper pack.

Nikos Demerci: My father divided that food into 30. Of course, the pieces were not equal. We, children, had the smallest pieces. That woman was from Crete, she said in Cretan that "sorry, there is nothing more than these. Eat these; you'll arrive to Kusadasi soon."

Spiros Pavlis:The governor visited us; it was obvious from his appearance that he was a good man. As he guessed that we had no money, told us that "I will send you to State Farm to work there during your stay. The place that you'll be taken is a farming area, outside of the city, Balıkesir, you'll work there."
Dimitrios Karaminas:Turks treated us well, each day they gave us white bread and food. They were used to white bread and were giving good food to the army. We were waiting for the progress of the events and being informed about what was happening in Greece. The Albania fronts were still resisting. But, when we found out that Colakoglu and his staff officers were surrendered in April 20, we felt very sad. And after hearing that Athens, our capital city had not been able to resist any more, we couldn't stop crying.
Yorgos Photellis: In a short distance, a farmer was plowing with double horses and he came near us. One of us, by the help of the translator, said that "Can you let me plow?" The answer was "Yes." And he took the bridle. The horses were running as if they were flying. So the farmer got so excited and yelled at him: "Work for me, I'll pay you how much ever you want." But he said, "Unfortunately, this is impossible." After having some food we set out for Izmir.
Ahmet Gönül: There was a man named "Dina." They were under the protection of soldiers; soldiers didn't let the refugees go outside. "I” he would say, “coming secretly by hiding under the bushes." He used to come to the garden and catch the hoe, do some work. And we used to tell him: "Don't do this, we'll give you food anyways, don't tire yourself." His response used to be that "No, there is no food without work, first work, then have food." He had worked on ships and came to Turkey's coasts several times, so he spoke Turkish a little. At least, he would hoe two rows, and then sit down. We would give him food. He would eat but leave some for his father and he was used to say t "This is for my patera," that means ‘my father.’
Nikos Demerci: That evening we entered Kusadasi from a straight road, I think it is today's shopping area.
Form memory of Kostas Demerci (Nikos’s father): I wanted to go to a coffeehouse to drink some tea in the evening. Since I had stationed at Komotini-Gumulcine during my military service, I knew a few words in Turkish. I said "good evening" in Turkish as I entered the coffe shop. Men sitting around the table said "welcome, we are about to listen to the news being reported in Greek from London." They asked me about the events that were happening in Samos. "What can I say? Each war is a disaster for folks, but it is booty for occupier." We listened to the news broadcasted from London. German troops had withdrawn to Tinida. Because of not being able to capture Stalingrad City, 800.000 soldiers of Paulus were about to be surrendered. We talked to each other frankly and friendly. All of them ordered different things for me and wanted me to come to the coffeehouse, every night.

Ahmet Gönül: They were dropped off to an island instead of the mainland. At the day break, they realize that they were on an island. At the risk of being drowned, a girl and a boy had tried to reach the mainland, the girl had been successful, but the boy hadn't. The girl came and informed us. There were shepherds here, they would swim very well. The Greek girl came here with them. Finally, they took her to the police station. Hearing that Greeks were coming, policemen provided a boat. They carried them to the shore, then to the police station. We hosted them here for a week.
Fatma Bozdemir: They came while we were working in the fields. What do Greeks call bread? My stepfather knew their language a bit. We asked him what they were talking about. "They want bread." he said. So we gave them some food. Some of them seemed 15, some 20 years-old. There were not too many old people. Mostly the young were on the way, we didn't see many old people. At the police station, they gave food to the Greeks.
Hacer Kurt: They were seeking for food. Soldiers didn't let them stay here, so they were running away towards the fields. They were being turned back but escaping again. We were planting tobaccos. A beautiful girl came, about 17-18 years old. My father knew their language, "be my daughter" he said. Her answer was “if the soldiers would let me, I would."
Form memory of Kostas Demerci (Nikos’s father): One day I went to the marketplace for shopping, I said "30 lettuces, get money out.” to the grocer." As he looked at me confused, I repeated my demand three times more. He told something in Turkish but I didn't understand. Meanwhile, someone passing by, asked me in Greek "What do you want gentleman?" I answered in Greek "I want three lettuces and am asking their prices." He laughed and said that "You want 30 lettuces and money, too." When everything was clear, we laughed together. And I added "I wanted to speak your language in your country." The grocer asked where I lived. I told him that I was living with my two kids here. He gave me an onion and three lettuces while telling me that I could always come to his shop and could take whatever I wanted without payment. "You are from Samos, so you are our neighbor." he said. That touched me so much, so I wasn't able to say anything back. I was just able to tell my best wishes that came to my mind at that moment.

The Republic's Archive of Premiership: The number of Greek soldiers in Bergama and the salaries that are paid to the Greek Army's members.
Mehmet Dürüst: They came on boats. The military police gathered them and have them eat some food. After having a bit conversation they were taken to Gulbahce and delivered to military police and then to Urla's military police, then to province's. They had established a camp in Bergama, whoever comes here was being taken to the camp.
İbrahim Gündenç: Our soldiers had loaded the mules with weapons. They took all of refugees from here to the camp in Bergama.
Dimitrios Karaminas: They first put us into barracks. We had tents, so we preferred to stay outside. Because there were a lot of lice within barracks, we got the permission to go outside. We pitched the tents where two or three people could sleep in each of them.
Dimitros Karatzitzis: As I was told that they had a good situation and treatment in Bergama, there had been so good people in Bergama.
Nikos Demerci: In those days our relation with Turks was closer. For example, my father used to go to the coffeehouse and Turks didn't let him pay for anything. One day they invited us to the theatre.

Form memory of Kostas Demerci (Nikos’s father): We were invited to Makellas for the evening, I said "Let's go to the theatre." And he said "We are not so much interested, leave the kids with us and you." I did so. I went in but everywhere was full of people, I went forward through the corridor and found an empty chair and sat down. There were a seed seller and buyers nearby. One them bought some seeds and came close to me and told something. As trying to understand, I was aware that I was sitting on his chair. After standing up, "please sit down" I said. At that moment, at least, 50 men stood up and they invited me to their chairs. And they grumbled at that man in their language. My response was that "Don't get angry with him, how could he have known that I am a stranger." But they said, "You speak a foreign language and you are older than him, he must have offered his place to you, this is wrong”

Nikos Demerci: They transported us along with the others from Kuşadası to Selcuk with trucks where there was a railway station. We boarded a train and set out for Izmir. There were cars in Izmir waiting for us. We were taken to somewhere that had a big courtyard and government buildings. I suppose it was a place owned by the municipality. There was a hotel within the courtyard and we were separated into groups, two or three persons for each room. I, my father and two other children stayed together. There were clean, white sheets on beds. It had been a long time since we had slept on such clean sheets. But, when I lifted the pillow I saw many lice under it. The lice that we had brought, was mixed with those of Turks.

Form memory of Kostas Demerci (Nikos’s father): One day I took the little Niko to a quarter that was burnt in 1922. I told him that once upon a time there had been a lot of Greeks living in Izmir and they had had junior and high schools too. Even Dimitri Glinos had been educated here. But, on agreeing with UK and France, our people had made a wrong decision to send the troops to the Asia Minor; they had gone forward as far as Ankara. Finally, there had been a disaster in 1922. On that day we saw the statue of Kemal Ataturk. I had given my first lesson to my son about the peace.

Yorgos Photellis: They said that "it's time to go to Halep, you will be going tomorrow.” On the railway car that we were boarded on, was written "25 persons and 8 horses." I said "This is a Greek train!"
Nikos Demerci:After spending a week in Izmir, we boarded the train going to Halep.

Bekir Sıtkı: They had told the elders to open their empty suitable houses to the refugees. All the folk opened their empty homes to the refugees. And they stayed in those houses for three years, and then said good-bye and left.
Nikos Karavas: While passing by the villages, the people used to gather at the stations, I think there had been refugees passing by before us, so they knew there would be more. They were giving us fruits such as watermelon. And we were giving them empty tin boxes of biscuits given to us. They were so pleased, because, neither they nor we had had such useful boxes.
Form memory of Kostas Demerci (Nikos’s father): The train was uncomfortable, no water, no toilet. The railway cars were separated, each of them had been also separated in three parts. How did they think of doing such a thing? It was not even a bit suitable for a travel taking three days and nights. I don't know why and by whom they were chosen for such a trip.

Spiros Pavlis: They treated us well during our stay in Turkey and showed lots of friendship. Also, so much we tried not to bother anyone. It was clear that any provocative act would cause a lot of trouble.
Dimitrios Karaminas: Although there were stressful days in turkey, We turned back to Greece with good and positive impressions.
Nikos Demerci: We had a very good life there. Turks never insulted nor offended us.

Hacer Kurt: The refugees had so hard times. May the God not show such a war, ever again. The worst thing, the worst thing. We should prey. May the God protect us from the war and earthquake. These are the worst things, the war is so bad.
Form memory of Kostas Demerci (Nikos’s father): A day will come; all the nations of the world will live in peace. Profiteers and tyrants who cause so much hatred and disasters, without them, there will be a fair life and good friendship all around the world.

KOSTAS DEMERCİ WAS BORN IN SAMOS, PAGONDA IN 1902. ALTHOUGH HE WAS A GOOD STUDENT AT SCHOOL, BECAUSE OF LACK OF MONEY HE WAS NOT ABLE TO FINISH HIS EDUCATION. ALL IN HIS LIFE TIME HE STRUGGLED ON PROVIDING GOOD CONDITIONS FOR VILLAGERS. DUE TO HIS PROGRESSIVIST POINT OF VIEW, BEFORE THE SECOND WORLD WAR, DURING THE OCCUPATION AND CIVIL WAR, HE WAS ACTIVE AND CONSTANTLY CHASED. BETWEEN 1943 AND 1945, HE LIVED IN THE MIDDLE EAST AS A REFUGEE. HE NEVER GAVE UP THE STRUGGLE FOR THE PEACE. EVEN AT THE AGE OF 90 HE TOOK PART IN THE DEMONSTRATIONS FOR PEACE. HE DIED IN 1997 IN HIS VILLAGE. THE LESSON THAT HE GAVE HIS SON “NIKO” IN FRONT OF THE STATUE OF ATATURK IN IZMIR WAS NOT IGNORED BY HIM. NIKO HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF PEACE MOVEMENT OF SAMOS SINCE 1980 AND THE REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL PEACE COMMITTEE.