The activities of Hilâl-i Ahmer Society in Aydın and it's surroundings (1912-1939)

In the last century of the Ottoman Empire, as a result of the successive defeats in war in Tripoli, Balkanic Wars and World War I, most of its lands were lost and Anatolia came to the brink of being occupied. Following the decisions of Mondros Armistice Treaty, Anatolia was divided into occupation zones by the Entente Powers and the annexation of Western Anatolia by the Greeks was also agreed. The occupation of the Greeks was not limited to Izmir, but in a very short time, they started expanding their occupation towards the interior Anatolia. Cities such as Aydın, Manisa, Çanakkale, Bursa, Bursa, Afyon, Eskişehir and Kütahya were occupied, and during the occupations, the Greek Army and its local collaborators tortured and tormented the Muslim Turkish residents of the region. Those who managed to escape entered into Italian occupation areas, while those who could not escape were taken refuge in hospitals and Hilâl-i Ahmer branches, which had international immunity. In the face of the occupations in Western Anatolia, the Hilâl-i Ahmer Society immediately formed Aid Committees and started to heal the wounds of the people. On one hand, it took care of the people's food, clothing, shelter and health problems, and on the other hand treated the wounded and sick soldiers of the Kuvay-ı Milliye and the regular army who took part in the national resistance. Due to the bloody and barbaric nature of the occupations in Aydın, Hilâl-i Ahmer branch in Aydın had a great deal of work to accomplish. In the face of such a situation, the members of Hilâl-i Ahmer Society were dispersed throughout the occupied areas, both saving lives and providing the basic needs of the people such as food and shelter. In this study, the establishment and the activities of Aydın Hilâl-i Ahmer Society are discussed based on archival documents and largely on secondary sources.