1 Temmuz 2019 Pazartesi

TNT POW Reports: Turks in Greek Hands (1920-1923)/Part XV

//Ed. Note: This grim tale of captivity began after the
Battle of Sakarya, between Eskişehir and Ankara (late
August-early September 1921). The soldier was captured 
near Bursa and ended up on Milos Island, perhaps the 
worst of the worst of Greek POW camps.//


Our Prisoners on Milos Island

Yenice Battalion’s Sixth Detachment Commander Dikici İsmail Usta’s 
Statement:

Together with a few companions, I was taken prisoner during a clash in 
Ağaçhisar on 12 September 1921 with Kütahya Gendarmerie 
Commander Kabakcı Salih Efe, his cohort Topal Saaduddin and their 
helpers.  We were then taken to Tavşanlı village and imprisoned in a 
barbed wire-fenced area.  While our statements were being taken, 3 of 
my companions – Laz İsmail, Sayman Çavuş and Yenişehirli Hüseyin – 
were killed by blows from a barbed wire whip.  

orhaneli kütahya haritası ile ilgili görsel sonucu
This POW was captured near Orhaneli, center left, taken to 
Tavşanlı and then to Kütahya.

From there we were taken to Kütahya and after staying in a cellar full 
of water for 48 hours, we were transferred to a room soiled with blood.  
This room, which at first glance was understood the be the Moslem 
slaughterhouse, was where an artillery captain and a first lieutenant 
were killed, as were Kütahya merchant Ömer Ağazade Cemil, Hasan 
Dedezade Ahmed Hulusi, the former commander of the Simav 
Detachment and a resident of Turgutlu town, Kütahya farm owner 
Hasan and Ketencizade Bezaz Mustafa.  Subsequently, I was taken to 
Bursa and on 4 September I was boarded onto a ship at Mudanya and 
transported amid all sorts of torture to Salonica.  

thessaloniki athens map ile ilgili görsel sonucu
The writer was transported from Mudanya, near Bursa, to
Salonica (Thessaloniki), to Athens and finally to Milos Island

In fact, because of the crowding and torture on the ship, 8 poor souls 
died and their bodies were thrown into the sea.   During the time I was 
held in the Beyaz Kale (White Fortress) in Salonica I saw my co-
religionists die from hunger, thirst and torture.  Hacı Süleyman, from 
Bursa’s Arabayatağı quarter, was beaten to death with a club.  As soon 
as the Greeks learned that we had made complaints to the Allied 
representative in Salonica,  the quickly put us on a ship to Piraeus.  
Those who were shut in the holds below decks and desperate because 
of the crowding, stormed the deck.  At the front of the charge were 
Süleyman Çavuş of Kestanealanı village in İnegöl, Tevfik Çavuş of 
Hayriye village and Nuri Bey of Kirazlı village, all of whom were 
bayonetted.  Süleyman Çavuş’s body was thrown into the sea. 

milos island map ile ilgili görsel sonucu


On 1 December 1923, we were transported to Milos Island.  The 
cruelties inflicted on the prisoners was evident from their appearance.  
They were sent to forced labor from morning till evening, despite 
being broken from hunger and thirst.  Thew were made to work like 
animals and there was no respite from beatings and curses.  Fever 
and typhoid were rampant  and many Moslems died from these 
diseases.  The Greek Government saw no need to taken even the 
slightest measure in this regard.

We confirm the aforementioned’s statements.
Chief of the Commission to Verify Atrocities, Major Abidin
Member: First Lieutenant Abdullah
Member: Osman, Administrative Chief of the Police Directorate

//END of PART XV//

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