ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Knowledgia How did Atatürk Save Turkey? – Turkish War of Independence Part 2
The Turkish War of Independence was a pivotal moment in history, where the Turkish revolutionaries found themselves in a complex struggle against both external and internal forces. They faced opposition from their Greek neighbors and the Ottoman government in Istanbul. Despite these challenges, their victory promised ultimate freedom for Turkey.
During this period, the Ottoman government in Istanbul sought help from a Circassian hero named Anore, who was a fierce opponent of Mustafa Kemal and the nationalist movement. Anore viewed Kemal’s forces as a threat that needed to be subdued. Initially, he joined forces with the British to combat the nationalists. However, the British soon realized the immense effort required to suppress the growing revolution and began to rely more on their Greek allies.
By 1919, Turkey was effectively divided between two authorities: the Ottoman government in Istanbul and the nationalist government in Ankara. Western powers feared that if the nationalists were not stopped, they would overthrow the Ottoman regime. This concern led countries like Britain to support the Istanbul government, even if it meant collaborating with the Greeks.
In the summer of 1919, Greek troops landed in Smyrna, clashing with local Turks as they sought to expand their occupation. By the fall of 1920, the Greeks pushed deeper into Anatolia, hoping to force the Turks to accept the Treaty of Sèvres, which aimed to partition the Ottoman Empire. This treaty only fueled the nationalists’ resolve to fight for their cause.
The conflict intensified on January 9, 1921, with the first battle of İnönü, where Turkish forces successfully halted the Greek advance. This victory contributed to the ratification of the Turkish constitution of 1921. Despite discussions among the Allies in the Conference of London, the Ankara government refused to negotiate with the Istanbul government or accept the Treaty of Sèvres.
In March, the Greeks launched the Second Battle of İnönü but were again defeated by Turkish defenders. The nationalists had secured deals with Italy, France, and the Soviet Union, strengthening their position. As the Greeks resisted changes to the Treaty of Sèvres, they moved toward the Sakarya River, leading to a direct confrontation with Kemal’s forces.
The Battle of Sakarya, lasting three weeks, resulted in another Greek retreat. This marked their last attempt to directly assault the Ankara government. With the Allies unwilling to provide further support and the Soviets backing the Turks, Greece’s resolve weakened. The Western nations proposed another version of the Treaty of Sèvres, but it was rejected by the Grand National Assembly.
Despite the stalemate, the Turks did not immediately launch their own offensive. Agreements with key Western nations left only the Istanbul government and the Greeks to confront. The Greeks, now on the defensive around Smyrna, had yet to call off the war. Mustafa Kemal, now commander-in-chief, prepared his forces for a decisive offensive.
The offensive began with the Battle of Dumlupınar on August 26, 1922. Over four days, Kemal’s forces overwhelmed the Greek defense, leading to a disorganized retreat toward İzmir. The nationalists pursued their opponents vigorously, and Greece’s holdings in Turkey quickly fell.
As the British watched their Greek allies evacuate, they debated military intervention. However, public sentiment in Britain strongly opposed entering another foreign conflict. Meanwhile, Mustafa Kemal agreed to negotiations at Mudanya, resulting in the Armistice of Mudanya on October 11, 1922. This agreement required Greek troop withdrawal from Eastern Thrace and imposed temporary restrictions on Turkish forces.
The Turkish War of Independence and the subsequent Greco-Turkish War concluded with the Treaty of Lausanne on July 24, 1923, in Switzerland. This treaty established the Republic of Turkey as the successor to the Ottoman Empire, following eight months of negotiations. It defined Turkey’s new borders and addressed regional trade and other issues, ensuring the birth of a sovereign Turkish state.
On October 29, 1923, Mustafa Kemal officially declared the foundation of the Republic of Turkey and became its first elected president. In 1934, the Turkish Parliament honored him with the name Atatürk, meaning “Father of the Turks.” His transformation from a military leader of the Ottoman Empire to a revolutionary hero who fought for his people’s freedom and independence solidified his legacy as a pivotal figure in Turkish history.
Create an interactive timeline of the Turkish War of Independence. Use digital tools to map out key events, battles, and treaties. Include multimedia elements like images, videos, and primary source documents. This will help you visualize the sequence of events and understand the complexity of the conflict.
Engage in a debate about the strategic decisions made by Mustafa Kemal and the nationalist forces. Divide into groups to argue for or against specific actions, such as the refusal to negotiate the Treaty of Sèvres. This will enhance your critical thinking and understanding of the political dynamics of the time.
Participate in a role-playing activity where you assume the roles of key figures from the Turkish War of Independence, such as Mustafa Kemal, Anore, or representatives of the Western powers. Prepare speeches and engage in negotiations to experience the challenges faced by these leaders.
Conduct research on the legacy of Atatürk and present your findings to the class. Focus on his impact on modern Turkey, including reforms and cultural changes. This will deepen your appreciation for his role in shaping the nation.
Watch a documentary film about the Turkish War of Independence and participate in a guided discussion. Analyze the film’s portrayal of events and compare it with historical accounts. This activity will help you critically assess different perspectives on the war.
The Turkish revolutionaries found themselves at odds with their Greek neighbors and their own countrymen in Istanbul. They were tasked with fighting a war and a rebellion simultaneously, but if they won, it would mean ultimate freedom. The Ottoman government in Istanbul looked to a Circassian hero to help them; this man was known as Anore, and he was a staunch opponent of Mustafa Kemal and the rebellion. According to Anore, Kemal’s men were seen as threats that needed to be subdued. He thus joined the Sultan in the fight against the nationalists, initially alongside the British. However, the dynamic changed when the British began to realize the effort it would take to truly quell the growing revolution. War-weary and hesitant to upset their population back home, the British began to look to their Greek allies for support.
By now, it was clear that Turkey was home to two competing authorities: one in Istanbul and the other in Ankara. The Western powers believed that if left unchecked, the rebels would overthrow the Ottoman government in a matter of time, which was problematic for them, given that a significant part of the conflict stemmed from the nationalists’ intolerance of Ottoman supervision. The Sultan and his officials could be managed, but Kemal and his men could not. Thus, there was a motive for nations like Britain to assist the Istanbul government, even if that meant collaborating with the Greeks.
By the summer of 1919, Greek troops had landed in Smyrna, leading to clashes with local Turks. The Greeks aimed to expand their zone of occupation despite violent nationalist resistance. As the season turned to fall in 1920, they pushed further into Anatolia, seeking to pressure the Turks into signing the failed Treaty of Sèvres, which aimed to partition the Ottoman Empire. This agreement only inflamed the nationalists, who still believed they had a cause worth fighting for.
The conflict escalated on January 9, 1921, with the first battle of İnönü, where the Turks managed to halt the Greek advance and force them to retreat. The success of Kemal’s forces in this clash is believed to have contributed to the ratification of the Turkish constitution of 1921. The Conference of London hosted discussions among the Allies regarding the situation in Turkey, but the Ankara government rejected negotiations with the Istanbul government and the Treaty of Sèvres as a basis for discussions.
In March, the Second Battle of İnönü was launched by the Greeks, who were again bested by the Turkish defenders. Deals had been made between the nationalists and the Italians, French, and Soviet Union. When the Greeks resisted adaptations to the Treaty of Sèvres proposed by the Allies, they found themselves heading toward the Sakarya River, forcing a direct confrontation with Kemal’s forces.
The Battle of Sakarya lasted for three weeks, resulting in another Greek withdrawal. As fall approached, this would be their last attempt to assault the Ankara government directly, and their focus shifted to protecting the territories they had already captured, such as Smyrna. With the Allies unwilling to provide manpower and the Soviets backing the Turks, Greece was losing its will to continue the fight. The Western nations proposed another modified version of the Treaty of Sèvres, but this was rejected by the Grand National Assembly.
The ongoing stalemate raised the question of why the Turks did not initiate their own offensive. Agreements had been made with important Western nations, leaving only the Istanbul government and the Greeks to confront. The Greeks, taking a defensive stance around Smyrna, had yet to call off the war. Mustafa Kemal, now commander-in-chief, prepared his revolutionary forces for a decisive offensive.
The kickoff came at the Battle of Dumlupınar on August 26, 1922. It was a four-day clash between Kemal’s forces and the Greeks, who were already tired and demoralized. The Turkish attack quickly overwhelmed the Greek defense, leading to a disorganized retreat toward İzmir. The nationalists pursued their fleeing opponents with renewed vigor, and in the following weeks, Greece’s holdings in Turkey fell rapidly.
As the British watched their Greek allies evacuate, they began to question whether military intervention was necessary. However, back home, public sentiment strongly opposed entering another foreign conflict. Meanwhile, the government under David Lloyd George sought to put an end to the nationalist fighters. Mustafa Kemal agreed to enter negotiations at Mudanya, which culminated in the Armistice of Mudanya on October 11, 1922. This agreement required the Greeks to withdraw their troops from Eastern Thrace and imposed temporary restrictions on Turkish forces.
The ultimate conclusion of the Turkish War of Independence and the subsequent Greco-Turkish War came on July 24, 1923, in Lausanne, Switzerland. The Treaty of Lausanne confirmed the establishment of a Turkish state as the successor to the Ottoman Empire. It took a year for the agreement to take effect, following eight months of negotiations that resulted in 143 articles addressing Turkey’s new borders, regional trade, and more. The agreement ensured the birth of the Republic of Turkey, replacing the defunct Ottoman Empire.
On October 29, 1923, Mustafa Kemal officially declared the foundation of the Republic of Turkey and became its first elected president. In 1934, the new Turkish Parliament bestowed upon him the name Atatürk. The great revolutionary and Turkish leader was now regarded as the father of the Turks for his role in establishing a fully independent and sovereign state. He had transformed from a military figure of the Ottoman Empire to a renowned hero who fought for the freedom of his people and country, ultimately leading to victory.
Turkish – Relating to Turkey, its people, or its language. – The Turkish Empire, also known as the Ottoman Empire, played a significant role in European and Middle Eastern history for several centuries.
Independence – The state of being free from outside control or not subject to another’s authority. – The American colonies declared their independence from British rule in 1776, leading to the Revolutionary War.
Revolutionaries – Individuals who advocate or participate in a revolution, often to overthrow a government or social order in favor of a new system. – The revolutionaries of the French Revolution sought to dismantle the monarchy and establish a republic based on the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity.
Government – The governing body of a nation, state, or community. – The government of ancient Rome evolved from a monarchy to a republic and finally to an imperial system.
Nationalists – People who advocate for the political independence of a particular nation or people, often emphasizing national identity and unity. – Nationalists in the 19th century played a crucial role in the unification of Italy and Germany.
Treaty – A formally concluded and ratified agreement between countries. – The Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919, officially ended World War I and imposed heavy reparations on Germany.
Battles – Large-scale, armed conflicts between organized armed forces. – The Battle of Hastings in 1066 was a pivotal moment in English history, leading to Norman control of England.
Authority – The power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience. – The authority of the Roman Catholic Church was challenged during the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century.
Legacy – Something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor from the past. – The legacy of the ancient Greeks includes foundational contributions to philosophy, democracy, and the arts.
Sovereignty – Supreme power or authority, especially regarding a state’s control over its own territory and independence from external control. – The concept of sovereignty was central to the Peace of Westphalia, which ended the Thirty Years’ War in 1648 and laid the groundwork for the modern state system.
