Refugees are a result of both war & treaties, but only in one case have refugee descendants embraced violence to reclaim their great-grandparents’ homes.
Below are 10 forgotten instances of catastrophic mass depopulation, where refugees chose a peaceful path despite the pain.
Below are 10 forgotten instances of catastrophic mass depopulation, where refugees chose a peaceful path despite the pain.
1. Until 1912, Turks made up 35% of the population of Selanik (Thessaloniki, Greece), having arrived in 1456. Following Greece’s annexation, 50,000 Turks, including Atatürk’s mother, fled. No Turks remain in Thessaloniki today.
2. Until 1923, Greeks made up 33% of the population of Constantinople (Istanbul). Despite arriving 1,600 years before the Turks, persecution and pogroms from 1923 through 1964 drove out 100K Greeks. There are only 2,000 Greeks left in Istanbul today.
3. Until 1947, Hindus made up 47% of the population of Karachi (Pakistan). Predating the arrival of Muslims by 1,000 years, they were forcibly moved as part of the Partition of India. Hindus make up only 2-4% of Karachi’s population today.
4. Until 1939, Germans made up 95% of the population of Danzig (Gdańsk, Poland) when it was annexed by the Nazis. Following WWII, 350K Germans were expelled from the historic Prussian city after its incorporation into Poland. There are no Germans left today.
5. Until 1939, Germans were also 95% of the population of Königsberg (Kaliningrad, Russia). After WWII, 300K Germans were expelled as the Soviets “repopulated” it. Less than 1% of Kaliningrad's population is German today.
6. Until 1941, Poles made up 63% of the population of Lwów (then Poland), where they had lived there since the 14th century. The Soviets expelled 200K Poles between 1944-46 due to shifting borders after WWII. There are fewer than 2,000 Poles in Lviv, Ukraine today.
7. Until 1941, Jews made up 30% of Baghdad’s population, having arrived there 1,000 years before the Arabs. Persecution, starting with the 1941 Farhud pogrom, led to their rapid expulsion and exodus. There are no Jews left in Baghdad.
8. Until 1947, Sikhs made up 20% of the city of Lahore, where they had lived for centuries. Following the Partition of India, nearly all of Lahore's 100,000 Sikhs fled communal violence or were forcibly displaced to India. Today, there are no Sikhs left in Lahore, Pakistan.
9. Until 1948, Jews were 30% of the population of Tripoli, Libya. They arrived in Tripoli before the Romans and Arabs more than 2,300 years ago. Persecution under Italian fascists and then Arab nationalists forced them to flee. There are no more Jews in Tripoli.
10. Until 1974, Greek Cypriots made up 80% of the population of northern Cyprus. Following Turkey’s invasion, 200K Greek Cypriots fled the violence or were expelled, while 50K Turkish Cypriots were displaced from the south. Today, Greeks make up less than 1% of northern Cyprus’ population.
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