The Greek army and the 1922 refugee crisis: Military intervention in the aftermath of the Asia minor catastrophe

The 1922 refugee crisis, triggered by the Greek military defeat in Asia Minor, led to one of the most significant forced population movements of the 20th century. While existing historiography primarily examines this crisis through diplomatic and humanitarian lenses, this study reframes the Greek Army’s role as an active agent in both the displacement and management of refugees. Rather than treating the military as a neutral force or a mere facilitator of state policies, this research argues that the Army’s intervention blurred the lines between humanitarian relief, strategic governance, and national security.

By analyzing military records, League of Nations reports, government decrees, newspapers, and oral testimonies, this study uncovers the Army’s role in coordinating evacuations, managing refugee settlements, and enforcing social order. It also investigates the military’s engagement with foreign aid agencies and its influence on state refugee policies. Theoretically, this research challenges conventional views of military humanitarianism by positioning the Greek Army’s actions within a broader framework of crisis governance and state-building.

This study advances historical scholarship by demonstrating that the Greek Army did not merely respond to a humanitarian emergency; it actively shaped population movements, used refugee management as a tool of social control, and laid the groundwork for later military-state interactions in Greece’s modern history. Ultimately, this research not only deepens our understanding of the 1922 crisis but also contributes to contemporary debates on the militarization of humanitarian aid and the strategic dimensions of refugee governance.