During the Greek genocide , Venezis ' family fled from Ayvali to Lesbos to avoid persecution but returned to Asia Minor after the Greek army liberated Smyrna and its hinterland in 1919 . When the area was recaptured by the Turkish Army , Venezis was taken prisoner and enslaved in a labour battalion ( otherwise known as '' Amele Taburlari '' or '' Amele Taburu '' ) . He was 18 years old . The prisoners were marched into the interior , but few arrived at the destination , since most of them were either killed on the way , or died of the hardships they were exposed to . Of the 3000 " conscripted " into his " labour brigade " , only 23 survived
Greek genocide
Greek genocide
Number 31328