19.05.2025 08:01
On May 19, 1919, our Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk arrived in Samsun aboard the Bandırma Ferry. We continue to celebrate this day, which marks the beginning of the War of Independence, with enthusiasm as Atatürk Memorial, Youth and Sports Day. Happy May 19, Atatürk Memorial, Youth and Sports Day!
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Our Great Leader Atatürk said about May 19, "It is my birthday" and dedicated it to the youth. Since 1938, May 19 has been celebrated as an official holiday.
NAME CHANGED IN 1981
With the law enacted on June 20, 1938, this holiday was named "Youth and Sports Day," and it was celebrated under this name until 1980. However, with the regulation in 1981, it was renamed 'May 19 Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day.'
OUR COUNTRY WAS UNDER OCCUPATION
After the signing of the Mondros Armistice on October 30, 1918, the Greeks occupied İzmir, the French occupied Adana, and the Italians occupied Antalya and Konya. British soldiers landed in Urfa, Maraş, Antep, Merzifon, and Samsun, and the British Navy anchored off Istanbul on November 13, 1918.
GREAT LEADER MUSTAFA KEMAL ATATÜRK TOOK ACTION
Mustafa Kemal, who spent years on the front lines to protect the homeland, returned to Istanbul from the Command of the Lightning Armies on November 3, 1918, and took action for the salvation of the country. The Greeks in Samsun and its surroundings, with the support of the British who landed soldiers in Samsun on March 17-18, 1919, aimed to create chaos through bandit raids and open the region to the occupation of the Allied Powers, as per Article 7 of the Mondros Armistice Agreement.
Upon these developments, the Turkish people began to organize themselves to defend themselves and protect their lives and property, which caused concern for the British High Commission and the Commander of the Black Sea Army. On April 21, 1919, they issued a note to the Istanbul Government, demanding the de-escalation of tensions in the region and the prevention of so-called attacks against the Greeks.
SET SAIL FROM ISTANBUL ON THE BANDIRMA STEAMER
Mustafa Kemal, who was assigned as the 9th Army Inspector to ensure order in the region, set sail from Istanbul on the Bandırma Steamer the day after the occupation of İzmir on May 15, 1919. Mustafa Kemal and his friends took their first steps in Samsun from the Reji Pier on May 19. During World War I, all the piers in the city were bombed by the Russians, but only the Reji (Tobacco Administration) Pier, belonging to the French, remained intact. The French were producing cigarettes in a factory established in Samsun at that time. For this reason, the pier was also referred to as the "Tobacco Pier."
SAMSUN, AMASYA...
After the British expressed concern over his arrival in Samsun, Mustafa Kemal stayed in Samsun for 6 days before moving to Havza on May 25.
THE FIRST MEETING IN HAVZA PROTESTED THE OCCUPATION OF IZMIR
The first meeting was held in Havza, which was the second stop on the road to the country's liberation for Mustafa Kemal Pasha. At the meeting organized under the instructions of Mustafa Kemal Pasha, the occupation of İzmir was protested. Mustafa Kemal, whose next stop would be Amasya, carried out significant work for the National Struggle in Havza for 18 days.
After being removed from the position of 9th Army Inspector due to pressure from the British, who were aware of the activity in Havza, Mustafa Kemal bid farewell to the people of Havza as a civilian.
NATIONAL STRUGGLE SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY
The torch of liberation ignited by Gazi Mustafa Kemal and his comrades in Samsun was subsequently lit in Amasya, Erzurum, and Sivas, spreading throughout the country. The Republic of Turkey, established on October 29, 1923, celebrates its 102nd anniversary this year.
ONE-FOURTH OF THE POPULATION LOST IN THE 4-YEAR WAR
Prof. Dr. Kaya Tuncer Çağlayan, Director of the Atatürk Principles and Revolution History Research and Application Center at Ondokuz Mayıs University, told AA correspondent that Mustafa Kemal Pasha took steps for the independence and future of the Turkish nation in Anatolia. He noted that during a period when there was a search for saving the future of the Turkish nation, Mustafa Kemal Pasha showed courage, stating, "Mustafa Kemal Pasha and his friends took a noble step into our city of Samsun to initiate a great struggle. There is a picture of a country that surrendered during the National Struggle period. A great war lasted for 4 years, and during this 4-year war, we lost almost one-fourth of our population. We had martyrs, and nearly 1 million of our soldiers became martyrs and veterans."
Emphasizing that Mustafa Kemal Atatürk convinced the Turkish nation to fight by landing in Samsun, Çağlayan stated, "Mustafa Kemal Pasha primarily made the first attempts to convince the people, especially in Samsun, meaning he gauged the pulse of the people. Mustafa Kemal Pasha, who realized great revolutions, carried out these revolutions by measuring whether they would be accepted by society or not, and the readiness of our nation, and in this context, Samsun was a first application for him."
"AWAKENED THE NATION"
Çağlayan emphasized that Atatürk established the Defense of Rights Society during this process and noted that Atatürk carried out a very important and meticulous work program to ensure the public's involvement in the struggle. Prof. Dr. Kaya Tuncer Çağlayan stated that Mustafa Kemal Pasha awakened and informed the nation to start the National Struggle. Emphasizing the importance of the spirit of the National Struggle, Çağlayan recorded the following: "The most important thing to be said about the spirit of the National Struggle is the protection of our country's independence. Every Turk must be extremely vigilant regarding the independence of the Turkish nation and state. At the same time, they must be sensitive about being in solidarity for the bright future of our country. They must also be productive. Nations that do not produce and do not work are doomed to disappear. Love for Atatürk, love for comrades-in-arms, respect for our martyrs and veterans, all these are, of course, values that should be at the core of the spirit of the National Struggle."
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