The leading figures of the Pontian Greek guerrillas
Today we commemorate the Pontian Greek victims of the Greek Genocide, perpetrated by the Ottoman Turks and Kemalists.
During the genocide, up to one million Greeks were exterminated by Ottoman and Kemalist forces, 353,000 of them in Pontus alone.
However, the story of Pontian Greeks is not only one about their uproot from their homeland of nearly 3,000 years, but also their brave resistance and guerrilla warfare.
Large areas of Pontus was dominated by Efkleidis Kourtidis, particularly the villages of Sanda (Σάντα, Turkish: Dumanlı).
He fought hard to protect Greeks, and in one battle had to make the heart wrenching decision to kill seven children under his protection so the souls of another 300 Greeks could be saved.
He and the Greeks of Sanda were some of the last to go to Greece after the population exchange began in 1923 - they arrived in Greece in 1924.
His life came to a tragic end though, especially for one with a great warrior reputation - he fell out of his cart and was trampled on by his horses in 1934.
Another was Kotza Anastas (Anastasios Papadopoulos) who went down in history for his militancy - this is why they gave him the nickname "Kolokotronis of Pontus".
His end was dramatic as he was betrayed for money after Turkish authorities put a bounty on him - he was killed by a relative who wanted the reward.
https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/05/19/greek-genocide-pontian-greeks-2/
Prime Minister K. Mitsotakis wrote the following post on Greek Pontian Genocide Remembrance Day, on Friday:
This year also we commemorate the Genocide of the Greeks of Pontus and Asia Minor, who were persecuted and annihilated. While those who escaped, left their ancestral homes in order to be resurrected in the motherland. Always keeping their history and tradition alive. The fight for international recognition of the Genocide continues. Until Remembrance Day becomes Vindication Day.