The Turkish War of Independance

The Turkish War of Independence (1919–1923), also known as the National Liberation War (Kurtuluş Savaşı), was a monumental struggle that led to the establishment of the modern Republic of Turkey. It was a fight not only for territorial integrity but also for national sovereignty, culminating in the abolition of the Ottoman Empire and the creation of a new, secular, and modern Turkish state under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

This conflict emerged from the ashes of World War I, when the Ottoman Empire, an ally of the Central Powers, was defeated. The terms of the post-war peace, especially the Treaty of Sèvres (1920), effectively partitioned the empire and handed over significant parts of Anatolia and Istanbul to foreign powers. Against the backdrop of foreign occupation and internal division, the Turkish War of Independence was fought by a united front of Turkish nationalists and revolutionary leaders determined to preserve the homeland and restore the independence of their people.

Background: The Collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the Aftermath of World War I

The end of World War I marked the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, which had been in decline for over a century. Following the war, the empire was forced to sign the Armistice of Mudros on October 30, 1918, which ended hostilities with the Allies and led to the occupation of strategic Ottoman territories by foreign forces. Istanbul, the empire's capital, was occupied by British, French, and Italian troops. Izmir, a major port city on the Aegean coast, was seized by the Greeks. The Treaty of Sèvres, signed in August 1920, aimed to formalize the partition of the empire, creating zones of influence for the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Greece, and effectively dismembering Ottoman territory.

In this chaotic context, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk emerged as the leader of the Turkish national movement. He rejected the terms of the treaty and the imperialist forces' control over Turkish lands, calling for a national resistance movement. Atatürk, a prominent military officer in the Ottoman army, had already proven his skill in leading troops during World War I, particularly in the Gallipoli Campaign (1915-1916), where Ottoman forces successfully repelled the Allied invasion. With the Ottoman Sultan and the Ottoman government seen as collaborators with foreign powers, Atatürk and his allies began to organize the Turkish resistance.

The Birth of the National Movement and the Congress of Sivas

The Turkish resistance movement was born out of the Nationalist Movement (Kuvâ-yi Milliye), a grassroots organization that sought to protect Turkey’s territorial integrity. The movement gained momentum after the Greek occupation of Izmir in May 1919, which enraged the Turkish population and spurred calls for action.

On May 19, 1919, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk arrived in Samsun, a city on the northern coast of Turkey, to begin his efforts to organize the national resistance against the occupying forces. This date is considered the beginning of the Turkish War of Independence. From Samsun, Atatürk moved inland to Amasya, where he and his colleagues issued the Amasya Circular on June 22, 1919. This document declared the Turkish people's determination to resist foreign occupation and called for the convening of a national congress to establish a new Turkish government.

The Sivas Congress, held in Sivas in September 1919, was the next critical step in the formation of the national resistance. Here, Atatürk gained widespread support from local leaders and organizations. The congress affirmed the goals of national sovereignty and independence, and it set the stage for the creation of the Grand National Assembly (Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi, or TBMM) in Ankara. This was the institutional foundation of the new Turkish state.

The Establishment of the Grand National Assembly and the Struggle Against the Greeks

On April 23, 1920, the Grand National Assembly was officially opened in Ankara, signaling the birth of the Republic of Turkey's government in exile. Atatürk became its first president, and the assembly began to pass laws and organize the defense of Turkish territory. The Ankara government did not recognize the legitimacy of the Sultan’s regime in Istanbul or the Allied occupation.

The first military challenges for the nationalists came from the Greek army, which had been given territory in western Anatolia as part of the post-war settlement. The Greek forces began their offensive in 1919, advancing from Izmir into the interior of Anatolia. Their goal was to establish a Greater Greece and subjugate the Turkish population.

The Battle of Sakarya (August 23–September 13, 1921) was one of the defining moments in the Greek-Turkish war. Atatürk’s forces, under his direct command, confronted the Greek Army near the Sakarya River, roughly halfway between Ankara and Istanbul. This battle was a critical turning point. After a grueling and bloody campaign, the Turkish forces succeeded in halting the Greek advance. The victory at Sakarya shifted the momentum of the war in favor of the Turkish nationalists.

The Great Offensive (Büyük Taarruz) and the Liberation of İzmir

With the Greek offensive thwarted, Atatürk and his generals devised a final plan to drive the Greeks out of Anatolia entirely. This culminated in the Great Offensive (Büyük Taarruz), launched on August 26, 1922. The Turkish army, now well-coordinated and motivated by national unity, struck the Greek forces decisively. The offensive resulted in a crushing defeat for the Greek Army and the liberation of Ankara's neighboring regions.

The offensive culminated in the Great Battle of Dumlupınar, fought between August 30 and September 9, 1922, which resulted in the total rout of the Greek forces. Following this victory, Izmir, which had been under Greek occupation since 1919, was liberated on September 9, 1922. This was a key symbolic moment in the struggle for Turkish independence and is remembered as a major victory for the Turkish nationalist movement.

The Treaty of Lausanne and the Birth of the Republic

After the defeat of the Greeks and the retreat of Allied forces from Anatolia, negotiations began in earnest for a peace settlement. The Treaty of Sèvres, which had aimed to carve up the Ottoman Empire, was now abandoned in favor of a new agreement. The Treaty of Lausanne, signed on July 24, 1923, recognized the borders of modern Turkey and ensured its sovereignty.

The Treaty of Lausanne established Turkey’s borders with Greece, Bulgaria, Syria, and Iraq, and it recognized Ankara as the new capital of the Turkish state. It also marked the end of foreign occupation and the formal international recognition of Turkey's independence.

On October 29, 1923, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk proclaimed the founding of the Republic of Turkey. This was the culmination of the Turkish War of Independence and the beginning of a new era. Atatürk’s vision of a modern, secular, and democratic nation-state would begin to take shape in the years to come.

Key Places in the Turkish War of Independence:

1. Samsun: Where Atatürk landed on May 19, 1919, marking the start of the national resistance movement.

2. Amasya: Where the Amasya Circular was issued, outlining the national movement’s goals.

3. Sivas: Location of the Sivas Congress in September 1919, which unified various nationalist groups under Atatürk’s leadership.

4. Ankara: The heart of the resistance, where the Grand National Assembly was founded and where Atatürk led the creation of the new Turkish state.

5. Sakarya River: Site of the Battle of Sakarya (1921), where the Greek offensive was halted.

6. Dumlupınar: Location of the Great Battle of Dumlupınar (1922), the final Turkish victory over the Greeks.

7. Izmir: The city that was liberated on September 9, 1922, symbolizing the end of Greek occupation.

8. Lausanne: Where the Treaty of Lausanne was signed in 1923, recognizing Turkey's sovereignty and borders.

Conclusion

The Turkish War of Independence was a defining moment in the history of the Turkish people. It was a struggle against foreign occupation, imperialism, and the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire. The war forged a new identity for the Turkish nation, uniting its people around the ideals of independence, sovereignty, and modernity. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s leadership was instrumental in shaping the outcome of the war, and his vision for a secular, democratic, and modern Turkey continues to guide the nation to this day.

From Samsun to Izmir, from the battlefields of Sakarya and Dumlupınar to the diplomatic negotiations in Lausanne, the Turkish War of Independence was fought on many fronts, both military and political. The victory in this war laid the foundations for the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, marking the end of centuries of Ottoman rule and the dawn of a new era for the Turkish people.

Written by Rüzgar Kaçmaz
Edited by Rüzgar Kaçmaz
We respectfully remember Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of Turkey, and his friends.

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