This is the second part of the 3-part tribute of the show “Unguarded Passage,” researched, written, and presented by ERT journalist Thomas Sideris.
“My Dearest Brother George” : This radio documentary brings to light unknown written records from the period of 1919-1922, focusing particularly on events that took place on the war front during 1920 through the eyes of ordinary soldiers.
Some of the letters, included in the documentary, never reached their recipients, either because the authors decided at the last moment to keep them in their personal archives or because they were killed in battle before they could mail the letter or postcard they had written. The documentary presents the following records:
a. Excerpts from the diary of Charalambos Pliziotis titled “Memories of the Front 1920-1921, Asia Minor-Thrace.” This document is housed at the Archives of the Center for Asia Minor Studies.
b. Part of the correspondence in 112 postcards from soldier Georgios Magnis during the Asia Minor Campaign.
c. Part of the diary of soldier Georgios Kanellopoulos.
d. Excerpts from notes and letters by Artillery Corporal Giannis Koutsonikolas under the title “From Arachova to the Outskirts of Ankara.”
e. Part of the correspondence and notes of soldier Christos Karagiannis.
f. Excerpts from the notes of soldier Theodoros Kiakidis under the title “My Military Life Diary, Asia Minor Campaign, 1920-1922.”
The documentary is scientifically overseen by historian and director of the Center for Asia Minor Studies, Stavros Anestidis. Excerpts from 1920 operettas from the ERT Archive will also be played.