102 years ago, Turkish forces initiated the Great Offensive, also known as the Battle of Dumlupınar, in a decisive effort to end the Greek occupation of Western Anatolia. The defeat in World War I had marked the decline of the Ottoman Empire, which had already been on the brink of collapse. The once expansive empire, which had ruled over three continents, was reduced to Anatolia and a small portion of the Middle East. Furthermore, The Ottoman Empire signed the Armistice of Mundros shortly after the defeat, which officially ended the Ottoman Empire's involvement in World War I and paved the path for the Allies powers to occupy ottoman territories.
The Armistice was followed by the signing of the Sevres Peace Treaty, which resulted in the demobilization of the Ottoman army and the partition of the remaining Ottoman territories by the Allies. According to Sevres, remaining territories in the Middle East were placed under the control of British and French mandates, and large areas in western Anatolia were to be given to Greece. Furthermore, plans were made for the establishment of Armenian and Kurdish states in eastern Anatolia, while the Dardanelles and Bosphorus straits were designated for international control. Allied forces subsequently occupied the territories assigned to them under the Treaty of Sèvres, extending their control across Anatolia. The Ottoman government, believing that accepting a mandate from powers like France or Britain was the best option for survival, did not resist the occupation. The government's decision sparked widespread frustration among the Turkish public, leading Turkish patriots to organize resistance efforts across the nation in response to the invasion.
In these challenging times, a man named Mustafa Kemal, who would later be known as Atatürk, emerged as a beacon of hope for the Turkish people, leading the resistance movement. He was an Ottoman military officer who had served in several fronts all across the nation and was beloved by the public especially for his role in the successful defense at the Battle of Gallipoli, during WWI which contributed greatly to the victory. He was appointed as the inspector of the 9th army and sent to Samsun by the government to supervise and report on the conflicts between the Greek and the Turkish people in Samsun. Instead of implementing the duty he was given, he applied his own plan, establishing an organized national movement against the occupying forces. In June 1919, shortly after his arrival to Samsun, he issued the Amasya Circular where he declared the next steps that would be taken against the occupation. The Ottoman government issued a warrant for his arrest, however, Mustafa Kemal gained massive support from the public along with many other military officers. He assembled congresses and established a new Turkish parliament in Ankara against the Ottoman government. Under Mustafa Kemal’s leadership, the scattered resistance across the nation was unified and a new armed force called Kuva-yi Milliye (National Forces) was mobilized, officially launching the Turkish War of Independence.
On the Eastern Front, Armenian forces, and on the Southern Front, Italian, British, and French forces, were quickly defeated. Most of the territories in these regions were reclaimed, but the struggle for control over Western Anatolia continued. Greek forces, supported by several European powers, particularly Britain, received significant ammunition and military aid, which Turkish forces lacked. After a series of battles during the Greco-Turkish War, the Greek army advanced to within eighty kilometers of Ankara, the stronghold of the newly established Turkish government. The Greeks launched the Battle of Sakarya in 1921 in order to deal a final blow to the Turks and terminate the Turkish resistance once and for all, while the Turks fought to defend their last remaining lands with a final hope. The battle lasted 22 days and resulted in victory for the Turkish forces under the direct command of Mustafa Kemal. The Greeks had been pushed back, yet the war was not over.
After a prolonged period of defense, the Turkish army went on the offensive. The morale of the Greek troops was low, as many had been engaged in combat for several years despite earlier promises of a quick victory. Additionally, political dissent within the Greek government further contributed to the challenges faced by the troops. The parliament pressured Mustafa Kemal to launch the offensive promptly, while he insisted on waiting for a year to plan the offensive due to the army’s lack of military supplies. During this one year gap without battle, the Turkish public were mobilized to provide supply to the military and a detailed offensive plan was drawn up since it was the last chance for Turks to save their homeland. On August 26, 1922, the Turkish offensive began at dawn with heavy artillery fire, catching the Greek forces by surprise and inflicting significant casualties. The Turkish troops then advanced on the Greek lines, initiating the fierce Battle of Dumlupınar. Turkish cavalry severed Greek telegraph and railway lines, disrupting communications with the Greek headquarters in Smyrna during the clashes. After several days of intense combat, Turkish forces gained the upper hand, breaking through the Greek lines and forcing them to retreat. On August 30, the battle culminated in a decisive victory for the Turkish army. The Turks pursued the remaining Greek forces westward until the Greek army fully withdrew from Anatolia.
The success of the Great Offensive not only ended the occupation, securing the nation's sovereignty and independence, but also paved the path for the establishment of the modern Republic of Türkiye. The Armistice of Mudanya, which officially declared Turkish victory, was signed between the new Turkish government and the Allied powers, and was followed by Lausanne Peace Treaty where Türkiye's present borders were finalized. Moreover, the Ottoman Sultanate was abolished and the modern Republic of Türkiye was established under Mustafa Kemal’s leadership. Mustafa Kemal was elected as the first president of the Republic of Turkey and was later bestowed by the public with the surname "Atatürk," meaning "Father of the Turks," in recognition of his leadership. Atatürk implemented many modernization reforms to align Türkiye with the Western world while maintaining the roots of Turkish culture. His reforms included granting women the right to vote, secularizing the government, encouraging modern dress, and adopting the Latin alphabet. Following the new development reforms in various fields, the nation soon rose from its ashes as a modern country with historical and cultural heritage. Today, 30th of August is celebrated as Victory Day (Zafer Bayramı), a national holiday in Türkiye that commemorates the victory of the Great Offensive as the Turkish nation remembers the sacrifices and contributions of Atatürk and his comrades securing Türkiye's independence.