Греко-турецкая война

Clearly, the loans and debts owed to the Great Powers were taking quite a toll on the struggling country.  The economic fragility of Greece was destabilized even further by the 100,000 francs compensation owed to the Ottomans (stemming from the defeat).  These setbacks and conditions warranted the need for yet another loan, and left Greece at the mercy of international financial institutions.  During this same time, Greece’s neighbors to the north (Balkan states) saw an opportunity to take advantage of Greece’s vulnerability.  They wanted to stake claim to Macedonia, and thus the “Macedonian Question” began.                   


August 15th, 1909 – The Goudi Movement: This development was set off in 1909, with the king’s power and position of authority being compromised by many fronts, including the Military League.  The Military League was a group, growing in size, dissatisfied with the government’s military leadership and strategy.  This mounting discontent was a powder keg waiting to explode….and it did amidst the events at Goudi, with the masses joining in on the League’s demands for ending the cronyism that had seeped into all levels of government. 

This period coincides with the much-needed strengthening of the middle class, which claimed the most dynamic position on the political stage; among their chief goals was to supplant the oligarchy of previous years.  Favored by the economic circumstances of the time, the bourgeoisie wanted to increase and spur economic activity through political representation.  The politician they were seeking was Eleftherios Venizelos.  This Cretan citizen expressed Greece’s need for adopting the political and economic standards of Western Europe and the West if they were to have hopes of entering the modern world.               

The substance and platform of Venizelos’ political views and positions are supported by pursuing what’s called “The Great Idea”, which says Greece has the right to, and should, seek to extend its borders.  The tenets of “Venizelism” enter center stage; modernizing Greece, at all levels, and the realization of his expansionist plans.  This risky policy attracted fringe, fanatical supporters, but also awakened the ire of Venizelos’ detractors and foes alike.   The supporters of the anti-Venizelism campaign fought against its ideals and plans, resulting in intense social mayhem.  Greece found itself split into two different camps.  Venizelos and his underlings swept the subsequent elections and directly impacted revisions that were made to the constitution of 1864.  The amended charter reflected the social climate of the day and addressed some of the changes needed to bring the Hellenic state into the modern world.      

With the First World War (The Great War) as a backdrop, and the new scene modeled after the Balkan conquests, the dispute between the two camps (the anti-Venizelism movement was still active despite heavy losses at the polls) took the form of a National Schism, with Prime Minister Venizelos leading his side, and the king’s successor, Constantine I representing the opposing camps.  The result of this feud was a geographical and political separation of the country, with the Venizelos supporters controlling the newly acquired lands, and the king retaining Old Greece.  The ensuing years were marred by continuing skirmishes and infighting among the two sides of Greece.