In the coastal town of Phocaea, located in the Aegean region of modern-day Turkey, a horrific episode unfolded as irregular Turkish forces targeted the local Greek population amidst the backdrop of rising nationalism and tensions within the Ottoman Empire. The violence erupted on December 6, 1914, when these irregulars initiated an operation aimed at expelling thousands of Greeks from their homes, simultaneously perpetrating acts of mass murder that claimed the lives of an estimated 50 to 100 individuals. This brutal assault was emblematic of a broader campaign of ethnic cleansing that sought to eliminate Greek presence in Ottoman territories, exacerbating the longstanding hostilities between the Turks and Greeks.The events in Phocaea occurred during a period of significant instability for the Ottoman Empire, which was struggling with its multi-ethnic composition and the various nationalistic movements gaining momentum. The Greek populations, particularly on the coast, had been under increasing scrutiny, as Turkish nationalist sentiments began to rise in response to perceived encroachments from foreign powers. The massacre in Phocaea not only incited fear among local Greeks but also served as a grim reminder of the violent extremes to which nationalist fervor could lead. This particular incident was part of a larger pattern of violence that marked the region in the years leading up to World War I, reflecting the deep-seated tensions that would ultimately contribute to the disintegration of the Ottoman state and the emergence of the modern Turkish republic.