The repatriation of Ottoman prisoners of war from Siberia via the steamship Ümit (1921–1922)

This study explores one of the most tragic and under-researched episodes of the First World War: the seven-year epic repatriation of Ottoman prisoners of war, stretching from the frozen camps of Siberia to Vladivostok, and eventually to Asinara Island in the Mediterranean via the Japanese vessel Heimei Maru. The article analyses more than a mere military evacuation; it examines the complex diplomatic ‘chess game’ involving Britain, Japan, Greece and Italy, alongside the humanitarian interventions of the League of Nations and the Red Crescent. Drawing on previously untapped documents from the ATASE, Ottoman, and Red Crescent archives, it brings to light striking details – from vermin-infested ships and cases of insanity to the mystery of the ‘Unknown Soldier’ and diplomatic blockades. By demonstrating that captivity was not only physical confinement but a struggle for survival in the shadow of global politics, this work aims to fill a significant void in the existing literature.