Smyrna 1922: The Destruction of a City

This is a wonderfully researched book on one of the darkest periods in Armenian-Greek-Turkish history. The Armenian genocide/holocaust is touched upon throughout the book, but the added dimension of the deceit and barbarianism of Ataturk and his forces is front and center. Deceit is not, however, only Ataturk's, the English, French and Italians show their lack of humanity by focusing on simple greed and territorial expansion, and, of course, oil rights! The Americans in the Wilson administration were so heel-bent on impartiality, they allowed the massacre of hundreds of thousands of Greeks and Armenians in Smyrna and the accompanying "deportations" - a euphemism for forced marches and summary executions. But the barbarous acts of rape, molestation, maiming and tortures speak to the avow2ed ethnic cleansing that Ataturk and his government wanted - removal of the Armenians and Greeks by any and all means. Professor Dobkin presents first hand accounts of many of the atrocities, yet does so in a fascinating and readable way. One should read this book and start to understand why Turkey should not be part of the EU or be supported by the US. It is unclear if this mentality has really changed - the Turkish government denies the Armenian holocaust and the Greek and Armenian ethnic cleansing to this very day!

This book is absolutely a horrifying account of the atrocities committed by the Turks against the Christian Armenian people of Smyrna, Turkey. What. Is equally appalling is the American policy of neutrality and covering up the news of what occurred at Smyrna! American ships stood idly by while thousands of Christians were drown or incinerated as Smyrna burned. It is a horrifying account of the massacre of innocent people who were murdered by the Turks desire for ethnic cleansing. The author's research is amazingly detailed and clearly substiated. Ms Dobkin has written an account of Smyrna which should be required reading for any individual who seeks the truth about the massacre of the Armenian Christians in Turkey. The Turks still deny the truth of this event.

A moving account of the Greek-Turkish war of 1919-22 that ended with the expulsion of the Greek and Armenian populations of Asia Minor. The book documents that the Greek-Turkish war of 1919-22 was not really a war between the Greeks and the Turks but a conflict between the British (using the Greeks as proxies) on one hand and the French and Italians on the other (using the Turks as proxies). The prize was the oil of what is now Iraq. (That country did not exist then; its area was still part of the Ottoman empire.) The author does an excellent job in documenting the role of the outsiders in stirring up trouble amongst the local populations. The competition between the Western European powers resulted in enormous suffering not only amongst the Greeks and Armenians but also amongst the Turks themselves.

This reviewer who states that "the Greeks and Armenians began an aggression" certainly makes a sweeping statement which is unsupported by fact: There was NOT any aggression, certainly on the part of the Armenians, who were a pacifistic nation and did not even have any military forces! I predict that the reason this book lacks an account of Armenian aggression is because there is nothing to support that position (I can't speak to Greek history). When one continues to see and hear accounts of atrocities which have in common the hatred which prompts them, eventually one must conclude that these atrocities were in fact real. To think that Armenians were aggressive only proves the reviewer's lack of knowledge about Armenian culture.

Those interested in history of the near east would find it excellent. it deals with much brutality with sensitively and with restraint to let the facts shine through despite the best efforts of the Great Powers to hide their odious and inhumane behaviour.

This book was a gift for our little one. It shows photographs of animals with their names written beneath. There are corresponding audio buttons that verbalize the names of each animal for the reader. The reason I gave this book one star is because it uses a photograph of a chimpanzee but the text and audio say "monkey". A chimpanzee and a monkey are completely different animals. I'm not sure how the editors missed that - but I don't see the benefit of teaching children the wrong names for animals.

My son needed this book for school and with the price and quick delivery Amazon comes through again.

Many Turks continue to deny that Greeks and Armenians were murdered in cold blood, but at age 13, my father and his family almost did not survive the holocaust of 1922. Some Turks may say that it was the Greeks who burned Smyrna, but that simply is not true according to eye witnesses. Read Smyrna 1922 to find out the truth.

Very well researched and brilliantly written it is also a perfect companion to Giles Milton's Paradise lost. I had knowledge,of cause,of the Armenian genocide,but only the merest of information on Smyrna. This book does not take sides but show not only the self-interest and bungling of foreign affairs but also the path of past events that ultimately and inevitably lead to the destruction of this the finest of all Eastern cities.It is a fascinating book and I highly recommend it.

Very well researched book. Very informative. Puts the record straight. History textbooks in Turkey used to blame the Greeks and Armenians for starting the fire in Smyrna! More recently, enlightened Turks have acknowledged the truth. I am not sure if the Turkey will ever acknowledge the excesses committed at the time. However, this book is a reliable record for those interested in that dark period.

Perfect condition

A very good book for the specific period.

An excellent book and a good value item!