The Greek army occupied Smyrna following the end of World War I as part of the broader territorial ambitions outlined in the Treaty of Sèvres. This occupation commenced on May 15, 1919, in the context of rapidly shifting political landscapes in Asia Minor. The occupation was met with local resistance, leading to clashes between Greek military personnel and the Turkish civilian population, creating a charged atmosphere. During this period, reports emerged of significant violence, which included the death or injury of 350 Turkish individuals, igniting further tensions in the region.

Aristides Stergiades, the Greek commander, responded to this violence by punishing the soldiers involved, demonstrating an effort to impose discipline and maintain a degree of order amidst escalating chaos. This act was significant not only in attempting to stabilize the occupation but also in attempting to present a more favorable image of the Greek military's presence in Smyrna. Nevertheless, the brutality of the clashes was emblematic of the larger ethnonationalist struggles developing in Asia Minor during this period.

The occupation of Smyrna and ensuing violence underscored the volatile nature of interethnic relations and the complexities surrounding the multiple territorial disputes that arose in the aftermath of the Ottoman Empire's dissolution. This period ultimately foreshadowed further conflict as tensions between Greek and Turkish nationalists grew, contributing to the outbreak of the Greco-Turkish War in the early 1920s, which has longstanding repercussions on both nations' identities and territorial claims.