Cyprus and the First World War
Published on 12. June 2025
Book
Hardback
240 pages
978-1-350-44697-7 (ISBN)
Description
Shedding light on a forgotten aspect of Cypriot history, this book explores the involvement of Cyprus during the Great War and the impact it left on British colonial rule. It examines the political, economic, social and military aspects of the war effort.
Cyprus and the First World War reflects on how Cyprus, as a British colony not in control of its own affairs, had a very specific and uncommon experience of the First World War; decisions were made elsewhere, communities were forced into a struggle that was not their own and their future status and ownership of the island was likely to be affected by the outcome. Bringing together contributors from various disciplines, this volume considers numerous facets of Cyprus' part in and contribution to the First World War and the war's effects on the island. It also highlights the fact that, while the island saw hardly any military action, it played an important role as a rear area for recovery and training purposes, as well as a provider of supplies, while Cypriots from all communities participated in the war, in particular at the Macedonian Front, a key theatre where conflict raged for much of the war.
Cyprus and the First World War reflects on how Cyprus, as a British colony not in control of its own affairs, had a very specific and uncommon experience of the First World War; decisions were made elsewhere, communities were forced into a struggle that was not their own and their future status and ownership of the island was likely to be affected by the outcome. Bringing together contributors from various disciplines, this volume considers numerous facets of Cyprus' part in and contribution to the First World War and the war's effects on the island. It also highlights the fact that, while the island saw hardly any military action, it played an important role as a rear area for recovery and training purposes, as well as a provider of supplies, while Cypriots from all communities participated in the war, in particular at the Macedonian Front, a key theatre where conflict raged for much of the war.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
15 bw illus
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 17 mm
Weight
523 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-350-44697-7 (9781350446977)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Hubert Faustmann is Professor of History at University of Nicosia, Cyprus. He is the co-author and co-editor of several books, including When the Cemetery Becomes Political: Dealing with the Religious Heritage in Multi-Ethnic Regions (2020) and Education in a Multicultural Cyprus (2017).
Georgios Kazamias is Associate Professor of History at University of Cyprus, Cyprus.
Georgios Kazamias is Associate Professor of History at University of Cyprus, Cyprus.
Content
Editors' Introduction
Part 1 - The Wider Picture
1. Cyprus and the Great War of 1914-18 Robert Holland (Institute of Commonwealth Studies, UK)
2. Enosis Politics and the British during the First World War Anastasia Yiangou (The Orthodox Church of Cyprus, Cyprus)
3. Cyprus in the Context of Greek Territorial Claims in World War I George Th. Mavrogordatos (University of Athens, Greece)
Part 2 - Domestic Aspects
4. His Majesty's Not Always So Loyal Subjects: The World War I Dilemmas of Cyprus' Muslim Turks Altay Nevzat (Independent Scholar, Turkey)
5. A New Common Cause? Cypriot Attitudes to the Ottoman Debt Charge during and in the immediate Aftermath of WWI Diana Markides (University of Cyprus, Cyprus)
6. The Impact of World War I on the Cypriot Home Front: Political Expectations and Manifestations in the Greek-Cypriot Press Andreas Karyos, Open University of Cyprus, Cyprus)
7. The Cyprus Mule Corps in the Macedonian Front Georgios Kazamias (University of Cyprus, Cyprus)
8. Convalescent Homes, Prisoners of War and Refugee Camps in Cyprus during the Great War Antigone Heraclidou (CYENS Centre of Excellence, Cyprus)
Part 3 - Social and Economic Impact
9. Economic and Social Impact of World War I on Cyprus Kyriakos Iakovidis (Neapolis University, Cyprus)
10. The Impact of the Great War on the Cypriot Economy Maria Panagiotou (Independent Researcher, Cyprus)
Part 4 - Aftermath and Legacy
11. Cyprus and the Peace Negotiations in Paris Heinz A. Richter (University of Mannheim, Germany)
12. The Impact and Legacy of the First World War on British Colonial Rule in Cyprus Hubert Faustmann (University of Nicosia, Cyprus)
Index
Part 1 - The Wider Picture
1. Cyprus and the Great War of 1914-18 Robert Holland (Institute of Commonwealth Studies, UK)
2. Enosis Politics and the British during the First World War Anastasia Yiangou (The Orthodox Church of Cyprus, Cyprus)
3. Cyprus in the Context of Greek Territorial Claims in World War I George Th. Mavrogordatos (University of Athens, Greece)
Part 2 - Domestic Aspects
4. His Majesty's Not Always So Loyal Subjects: The World War I Dilemmas of Cyprus' Muslim Turks Altay Nevzat (Independent Scholar, Turkey)
5. A New Common Cause? Cypriot Attitudes to the Ottoman Debt Charge during and in the immediate Aftermath of WWI Diana Markides (University of Cyprus, Cyprus)
6. The Impact of World War I on the Cypriot Home Front: Political Expectations and Manifestations in the Greek-Cypriot Press Andreas Karyos, Open University of Cyprus, Cyprus)
7. The Cyprus Mule Corps in the Macedonian Front Georgios Kazamias (University of Cyprus, Cyprus)
8. Convalescent Homes, Prisoners of War and Refugee Camps in Cyprus during the Great War Antigone Heraclidou (CYENS Centre of Excellence, Cyprus)
Part 3 - Social and Economic Impact
9. Economic and Social Impact of World War I on Cyprus Kyriakos Iakovidis (Neapolis University, Cyprus)
10. The Impact of the Great War on the Cypriot Economy Maria Panagiotou (Independent Researcher, Cyprus)
Part 4 - Aftermath and Legacy
11. Cyprus and the Peace Negotiations in Paris Heinz A. Richter (University of Mannheim, Germany)
12. The Impact and Legacy of the First World War on British Colonial Rule in Cyprus Hubert Faustmann (University of Nicosia, Cyprus)
Index