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.