The Great Fire of Smyrna
Mustapha Kemal’s army entered Smyrna on September 9th, 1922. By September 22nd, Smyrna was unrecognizable. The Great Fire — lit by Turkish forces — swept through the city and burned the Greek and Armenian quarters to the ground, marking the end of a Greek presence in Asia Minor that dates back to Homer. Giles Milton, a historian and the author of Paradise Lost: Smyrna 1922, joins us to discuss the city of Smyrna, the events that lead to the this catastrophe, and the heroic individuals who risked everything to save hundreds of thousands of refugees caught between the sea, the flames, and the Turkish forces.
You can purchase the book here: Paradise Lost: Smyrna 1922
