Figure 1.--This 1928 photograph shows the boys of an orphanage for the refugees of Asia Minor in the 1920s. The boys appear are wearing a uniform of long short trousers, kneesocks, a hat and a "bedge". In the front row is Primeminister Venizelos (left) and the head of the committee for refugees Hans Morgenthau. Notice the different ways the boys wear the brims of their hats.

Some pictures show that boys were wearing uniforms, especially in the 1920s. In the early 20th century, the wave of refugees from the Minor Asia (now Turkey) territories brought a new need for orphanages in Greece. This was not a result of the World War as fighting in Greece was limited during the War. Rather fighting occurred in Turkey. The Greeks participated in the Allied occupation of areas in Anatolia (Asia Minor). The Greeks used this opportunity to launch a campaign to seize areas along the Turkish coast with Greek ethnic populations and move on the Turkish capital. After the Allies wihdrew, the Greeks suffered military reverses and had to withdraw. Turkish reprisals on civilians resulted in a mass exodus. Later the Greek and Turkish Governments negotiated an exchange of population. A special commitee was formed for the refugees. Orphanages were set up for displaced children. The orphanages of this period seem to have special uniforms for the boys consisting of shorts, knee socks, shirt and hats (figure 1).

Created: 4:45 AM 11/11/2005
Last updated: 4:45 AM 11/11/2005