Thessaloniki marks the anniversary of its liberation on October 26, commemorating the day in 1912 when the Greek Army accepted the surrender of the Ottoman garrison during the First Balkan War.
The historic event took place on the feast day of Saint Demetrius, the city’s patron saint, making October 26 a date of particular significance for Thessaloniki and its Greek Orthodox community.
As the First Balkan War unfolded, Greece sought to expand its territory and secure key areas of Macedonia. Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos was determined that the Greek Army reach Thessaloniki before Bulgarian forces, which were also advancing towards the strategically important city.
According to historical accounts, when asked whether the Greek Army should move towards Thessaloniki, Venizelos insisted: “Θεσσαλονίκη με κάθε κόστος!” meaning “Thessaloniki, at all costs!”
Read more: Grevena Liberated by the Greek Army on 14 October 1912
The Ottoman authorities negotiated with both the Greek and Bulgarian armies as they approached the city. On October 26, 1912, Ottoman commander Tahsin Pasha surrendered Thessaloniki to the Greek Army.
Bulgarian troops arrived the following day. When Bulgarian officials sought entry, Tahsin Pasha reportedly told them: “I have only one Thessaloniki, which I have surrendered.”
The city’s incorporation into Greece was subsequently formalised through the Treaty of Bucharest in 1913, following the Second Balkan War.
Today, the anniversary remains an important milestone in Greek history, commemorating Thessaloniki’s liberation and its place within the modern Greek state.
Source: Australian Institute of Macedonian Studies (AIMS)
