In June 1914 the Greek population along the coast of Asia Minor is forced to abandon their homes and seek refuge in Greece. The French archaeologist Felix Sartiaux was carrying out excavations in the area of Ancient Phocaea, the ancient metropolis of the city of Marseille. He not only witnessed the events that took place but, at risking his own life, managed to save many Greeks and help them escape. This first persecution of the Greeks from the coast of Asia Minor in 1914 fell into oblivion. Felix Sartiaux’s eye-witness account and his constant efforts to sensitize Europe, surfaced again in 2005 following the discovery of his photographic archive by the Art historian Haris Giakoumis in Paris
