After the expulsions of the Greek Orthodox Christians from Asia Minor, the Christians became the majority of the population. It was during research for her book Hidden in Plain Sight, that she learned about the huge population shift in Thessaloniki during the 1920s. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology and a Master’s Degree in Social Work. Karen Batshaw lives in Washington, DC and Williamsburg, VA. Batshaw’s presentation will include information from her research including scholarly works, eye witness accounts, and personal interviews with the descendants of those who fled the burning of Smyrna.

Twenty years later, the refugees who fled to Eastern Macedonia in Greece were forced to suffer under the Bulgarian occupation during WWII, which was more brutal than the Nazi occupation of Greece. Greece was forced to absorb over one and a half million refugees. All the Muslims in Greece were to be transferred to Turkey and all the Greek Orthodox in Asia Minor were sent to Greece. The next year, the Treaty of Lausanne was signed by Greece and Turkey agreeing to an exchange of populations.

Through the efforts of Asa Jennings, an American missionary, some of the refugees were saved. However, the Great Powers did not want to offend Attaturk and offered no help to the thousands who were fleeing the Turkish massacre.

The Christians erroneously thought they would be protected from the Turkish cavalry. In the harbor were over twenty war ships, belonging to the Great Powers: Britain, Italy, France, and the United States. With this mind, she analyzes the events of September 1922, when the Turkish army descended upon the city and burned down the area that belonged to the Christians. Karen Batshaw’s presentation will discuss the Burning of Smyrna, which once was a beautiful prosperous cosmopolitan city where Greek Orthodox Christians, Muslims, Armenians and Jews lived together in harmony. Non-Members: $15, NHM Members: $10, Students: $5 Listen as Karen Batshaw presents her research on the Burning of Smyrna through scholarly works, eye witness accounts, and personal interviews.

Hidden In Plain Sight by Karen Batshaw