Massacre at Doxato and the Events at Serres

The Doxato Massacre Not a Bulgarian Atrocity

The Carnegie Commission states that they do not hesitate to say that the massacre at Doxato was not a Bulgarian crime, but a Turkish one.

Events in Serres

On July 5th, the Bulgarian troops withdrew from Serres, and the Greek Archbishop took control of the town. He planned to defend it with Greek irregulars and armed citizens Guided Turkey Tours .

The Bulgarian population in the town was hunted down, and over 200 people were taken to the Bishop’s Palace.

From there, they were moved to a Greek school, where they were tortured and killed in groups.

Bulgarian Effort to Return to Serres

The Bulgarians, worried about large stores of ammunition left in the town and rumors of the massacre at the school, decided to return.

On July 11th, Commandant Kirpikoff led the Bulgarian troops to Serres. They defeated the Greek militia outside the town.

As the Bulgarians entered, they were met with heavy fire from several Greek-held houses. The Bulgarians used their artillery to respond, and the town was set on fire in several areas.

In the afternoon, the Greek main army arrived and shelled the town. The Bulgarians were forced to retreat once again.

The Carnegie Commission criticized both the Bulgarians and Greeks for using artillery on an unfortified town.

The Fate of Bulgarian Prisoners

When the Bulgarian troops attacked Serres on July 11th, there were still about 60-70 Bulgarian prisoners alive in the schoolhouse.

The Greek guards attempted to finish killing the prisoners but did so poorly. Eight wounded prisoners managed to escape and reached the Bulgarian troops.

The Commission interviewed three of these survivors, who had fresh scars from their wounds. The Commission described their injuries as being like those a butcher would inflict while trying to slaughter animals.

The Carnegie Commission highlighted the violence on both sides and emphasized the brutality of the Greek actions towards the Bulgarian prisoners. The use of artillery on a non-fortified town and the inhumane treatment of prisoners were condemned by the Commission as actions that should never occur in civilized warfare.