The claim that there were 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 Serbs in Greece around 1900 and none by the 1950s, and that this constitutes genocide or forced change of citizenship, is not supported by historical data from authoritative sources. Similarly, the comparison to the situation of Turks in Bulgaria in the 1990s, while involving forced migration, does not directly parallel the alleged Serbian case in Greece due to significant differences in historical context and demographic realities.

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Historical Demographics of Serbs in Greece

Historical records and demographic studies of Greece around 1900 do not indicate a Serbian population of 1 to 2 million. The Kingdom of Greece, established in 1832, gradually expanded its territory throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. The regions that would eventually become part of modern Greece, particularly Macedonia, did have diverse ethnic populations, including Slavophone groups. However, identifying these groups solely as "Serbs" is an oversimplification and often a reflection of nationalist claims rather than objective demographic reality.

At the turn of the 20th century, the region of Macedonia, then under Ottoman rule, was a complex mosaic of ethnic and religious groups, including Greeks, Bulgarians, Turks, Albanians, Vlachs, and various Slavophone populations. The national affiliation of these Slavophone groups was a subject of intense dispute between Serbia, Bulgaria, and Greece, each claiming them as their own based on linguistic, religious, and historical arguments.[1]

Following the Balkan Wars (1912-1913) and World War I, Greece acquired significant territories, including large parts of Macedonia. The Treaty of Bucharest (1913) and subsequent agreements largely defined Greece's modern borders. The population exchanges between Greece and Bulgaria (Treaty of Neuilly-sur-Seine, 1919) and Greece and Turkey (Treaty of Lausanne, 1923) significantly altered the demographic landscape of Greece. These exchanges primarily involved the compulsory relocation of ethnic and religious minorities, particularly Muslims from Greece to Turkey, and Orthodox Christians from Turkey to Greece, and smaller-scale exchanges between Greece and Bulgaria.[2]

While there were Slavophone populations in Greek Macedonia, their numbers were far from the millions claimed. The Greek state, in its nation-building process, often promoted a singular Greek national identity. Slavophone populations were sometimes encouraged or pressured to adopt Greek national consciousness, and their language was often referred to as "Slavomacedonian" or simply "local dialect" rather than explicitly "Serbian" or "Bulgarian" by the Greek authorities.[3]

There is no evidence of a "genocide" of Serbs in Greece or a forced change of citizenship on the scale of 1-2 million people disappearing between 1900 and the 1950s. The demographic shifts that occurred were primarily due to:

1. Territorial changes and border realignments: The acquisition of new territories with diverse populations.
2. Population exchanges: Formal agreements leading to the relocation of hundreds of thousands of people based on religious affiliation.
3. Assimilation and national integration policies: The Greek state's efforts to integrate diverse populations into a unified national identity, which sometimes involved linguistic and cultural pressures.
4. Emigration: Economic and political factors led some individuals and families to emigrate from Greece.

The number of individuals identifying as Serbs in Greece has historically been small. According to the 1928 Greek census, for example, the number of people who declared a "Slavic" mother tongue was around 80,000, and this group was not exclusively Serbian.[4] Later censuses did not typically categorize citizens by ethnicity in the same way, focusing more on citizenship and religion.

Situation of Turks in Bulgaria (1980s-1990s)

The situation of Turks in Bulgaria in the late 1980s and early 1990s is a distinct historical event with different characteristics. During the communist regime in Bulgaria, particularly under Todor Zhivkov, there was a state-sponsored assimilation campaign against the Turkish minority, known as the "Revival Process" (Възродителен процес). This campaign, which intensified in the mid-1980s, involved:

1. Forced name changes: Ethnic Turks were compelled to adopt Bulgarian names.[5]
2. Prohibition of Turkish language and customs: The use of Turkish in public, traditional Turkish clothing, and Islamic practices were suppressed.[6]
3. Mass expulsion/emigration: In 1989, under severe pressure, hundreds of thousands of ethnic Turks were forced to leave Bulgaria and seek refuge in Turkey. This event is often referred to as the "Great Excursion." While not officially a "genocide," it constituted a severe violation of human rights and forced displacement on a massive scale.[7]

The number of Turks affected was significant, with estimates of over 300,000 people leaving Bulgaria in 1989 alone. Many later returned after the fall of communism and the restoration of their rights. This event is well-documented by international organizations and historical scholarship.[8]

Conclusion

The claim regarding 1-2 million Serbs in Greece around 1900 and their disappearance by the 1950s is unsubstantiated by historical evidence. While there were Slavophone populations in Greek Macedonia, their numbers were significantly smaller, and their national affiliation was complex and contested. The demographic changes in Greece during the first half of the 20th century were primarily driven by territorial expansion, population exchanges, and assimilation policies, not a genocide of Serbs.

The situation of Turks in Bulgaria in the late 1980s involved a clear case of state-sponsored assimilation and forced migration, which is a well-documented historical event. However, it differs significantly from the alleged Serbian case in Greece in terms of scale, nature of events, and historical context.