10.11.2024 07:20
It has been 86 years since the eternal departure of the founder of our Republic, the Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. In his 57 years of life, he encompassed the rebirth of a nation. He crowned every struggle he undertook for the independence of his nation and homeland with victory, thanks to his military and political genius. He inscribed his name in golden letters in Turkish and world history.
"Freedom and independence are my character," said the Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who saved a nation from captivity, marking 86 years since his passing.
Born in 1881 in Thessaloniki, Atatürk began his primary education at the neighborhood school of Hafız Mehmet Efendi, in accordance with his mother Zübeyde Hanım's wishes. Later, upon his father Ali Rıza Efendi's request, he completed primary school at Şemsi Efendi School. For his secondary education, Atatürk left the Selanik Mülkiye Rüştiyesi of his own accord and continued his studies at the Selanik Military Rüştiyesi. At this school, his mathematics teacher, Captain Mustafa Efendi, gave him the second name "Kemal" to distinguish him from the other "Mustafa"s in the class. After graduating from the Selanik Military Rüştiyesi, Mustafa Kemal graduated second from the Manastır Military High School. Alongside his military education, Atatürk also received foreign language training, learning French during the summers he returned to Thessaloniki.
Coming to Istanbul, Atatürk completed the War Academy, which he entered in 1899, in 1902 with the rank of lieutenant, and graduated from the War Academy as a staff captain in 1905. For his staff training, Atatürk was assigned to the 5th Army Command in Damascus in 1905. Due to his outstanding services in the Syrian region, he was awarded the Mecidi Medal of the 5th Rank and was assigned to the 3rd Army Headquarters located in the city of Manastır in 1907. Atatürk was assigned to the staff branch of the 3rd Army Headquarters in Thessaloniki. While serving in Manastır and Thessaloniki, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk participated in the Action Army that suppressed the March 31 Incident in Istanbul in 1909. In 1910, he was also assigned to the operation organized to suppress the rebellion in Albania, and following Italy's military intervention in Tripoli in 1911, he was sent to Tobruk. After successfully managing Turkish forces in Tobruk and Derne, Atatürk participated in the Balkan War as a major in 1912-1913, serving in the corps that recaptured Edirne from Bulgaria.
THERE CAN BE NO NOBLER DUTY THAN THE DEFENSE OF THE HOMELAND Appointed as a military attaché in Sofia in 1913, Atatürk applied to the Chief Commandership to serve at the front when World War I broke out. He was told, "There is always a duty for you in the army. However, we consider the Sofia Military Attaché position more important, so we are keeping you there." In response, the Great Leader wrote the following letter to the Deputy Commander-in-Chief Enver Pasha:
"There can be no more important and noble duty than active duties related to the defense of the homeland. While my friends are on the battlefronts, I cannot serve as a military attaché in Sofia. If I am unworthy of being a first-class officer, please say so openly."
Following this, Atatürk was appointed to the command of the 19th Division to be formed in Tekirdağ under the command of Esat Pasha in 1915. The enemy forces that landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula and advanced to Conkbayırı retreated under the attack of the 19th Division forces commanded by Atatürk. Atatürk gained fame as the "Hero of Anafartalar."
HIS WATCH SAVED HIM FROM DEATH While fierce battles were ongoing at Conkbayırı, a piece of shrapnel that hit his chest struck the watch in his pocket, saving Atatürk from death. Appointed as the commander of the 16th Corps on the Eastern Front, Atatürk halted Russian attacks in 1916, reclaiming Bitlis and Muş from the enemy, and was promoted to general on this front.
In 1917, Atatürk was appointed as the commander of the 7th Army stationed in Palestine and Syria, and that same year, he went to Germany with Crown Prince Vahdettin to inspect the German General Staff and the German war fronts. In 1918, after being reassigned to the Syrian front while he was the commander of the 7th Army, he returned to Istanbul following the signing of the Mondros Armistice Agreement, which marked the end of World War I. Keeping his aim of saving the country from enemy occupation secret, he left Istanbul for the Inspectorate of the Army.
THE GRAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF TURKEY BEGAN ITS HISTORICAL DUTY IN ANKARA Mustafa Kemal, who landed in Samsun via the Black Sea on May 19, 1919, published the Amasya Circular on June 22, 1919. He informed the Turkish nation that "the integrity of the homeland and the independence of the nation are in danger, and a congress will be convened in Sivas with determination and resolution to save the homeland." He also resigned from the duties assigned by the Ottoman government and the military, presiding over the congresses held in Erzurum on July 23, 1919, and in Sivas on September 4, 1919.
In these congresses, it was decided and announced that "the nation will defend the homeland against enemy occupation, a temporary government will be established for this purpose, and a national assembly will be convened, and that mandates and protectorates will not be accepted." The Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) began its historical duty in Ankara on April 23, 1920, thanks to his efforts. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was elected as the President of the Assembly and the Government.
THE VOICE OF THE NATIONAL STRUGGLE FOUNDED AA Seventeen days before the TBMM opened, on April 6, 1920, Anadolu Agency (AA) was established under the instruction of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Founded to "make Turkey's voice heard to the world," AA announced the first laws enacted by the TBMM and witnessed every stage of the National Struggle and the War of Independence. Despite the opening of the TBMM and the establishment of a national government, the Treaty of Sèvres was signed between the Ottoman Government and the Allied Powers on August 10, 1920.
The Great Leader Atatürk emphasized in a statement to a reporter from the United Telegraph newspaper that they did not recognize the Treaty of Sèvres, stating, "The Treaty of Sèvres, which is aimed at destroying our political, judicial, economic, and financial independence and ultimately denying and abolishing our right to live, does not exist for us." It was announced to the world that the Treaty of Sèvres, signed between the Ottoman Government and the Allied Powers, was not accepted by the TBMM.
THE ORDERS HE GAVE TO THE TURKISH ARMIES CHANGED THE COURSE OF HISTORY The advance of Greek forces, which occupied Izmir with the help of the Allied Powers, was halted in 1921 by the First and Second İnönü Battles.
The Sakarya Battle began with the Greek army's renewed attack on August 23, 1921. Atatürk ordered the troops, "There is no defense line, there is a defense area. That area is the entire homeland. No part of the homeland can be abandoned until it is soaked with the blood of its citizens."
The Greek army was defeated, and the Turkish army, led by Commander-in-Chief Mustafa Kemal Pasha, concluded the Sakarya Battle with victory. In this 22-day war, the Greek army suffered heavy losses. Due to this victory, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was awarded the rank of "Marshal" and the title of "Gazi" by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. Following the Sakarya Victory, the Kars Agreement with the Caucasian Republics was signed on October 13, 1921, and the Ankara Agreement, which delineated the borders of present-day Turkey except for Hatay, was signed on October 20, 1921.
Under Atatürk's command, the Turkish army launched a counter-offensive on August 26, 1922, to liberate the homeland from enemy occupation, initiating the Great Offensive. In the Dumlupınar (Commander-in-Chief) Battle on August 30, 1922, led by Mustafa Kemal Pasha, the Turkish army destroyed a large part of the Greek army. Pursuing the enemy forces that were fleeing in defeat, the Turkish army entered İzmir on September 9, 1922. After the great military victories that liberated Anatolia from enemy invasion, the Mudanya Armistice Agreement was signed on October 11, 1922, and the Allied Powers withdrew from the Turkish territories they occupied.
THE INDEPENDENCE DOCUMENT OF TURKEY: THE LOZAN PEACE TREATY WAS SIGNED The Lozan Treaty was signed on July 24, 1923, between the Turkish delegation led by İsmet İnönü and England, France, Italy, Japan, Greece, Romania, and Yugoslavia. With this agreement, Turkey was recognized as an independent and sovereign state.
The Great Leader evaluated the Lozan Treaty by stating, "This treaty is a document that expresses the collapse of a great assassination that has been prepared against the Turkish nation for centuries and was thought to be completed with the Treaty of Sèvres."
THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY After the War of Independence, the Republic was declared by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on October 29, 1923, and Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was elected as the President. Until his death in 1938, Atatürk was elected President four consecutive times, becoming the longest-serving President. An assassination attempt planned to be carried out in İzmir against President Mustafa Kemal Atatürk on June 14, 1926, was thwarted. The ringleaders were arrested in İzmir.
The Great Leader stated in a statement to Anadolu Agency regarding the assassination attempt, "There is no doubt that the vile attempt was directed not only at my person but also at our sacred Republic and the high principles on which it is based. My humble body will one day surely return to the soil, but the Republic of Turkey will live forever." On November 24, 1934, Gazi Mustafa Kemal was given the surname "Atatürk" by Law No. 2587, and the use of this surname by others was prohibited.
HE WROTE HIS NAME IN HISTORY WITH GOLDEN LETTERS Mustafa Kemal Atatürk initiated the Five-Year Industrial Plan in 1933 to alleviate the effects of the 1929 World Economic Crisis and accelerate the country's development. During the same period, significant steps were taken in foreign policy. Initiatives such as joining the League of Nations, signing the Balkan Pact, the Montreux Convention regarding the Straits, and the Sadabad Pact contributed to Turkey's emergence as an influential actor in its region and the world.
Atatürk made intense diplomatic efforts for the inclusion of Hatay into the motherland, and this goal was achieved in 1939 after his death. Not only as a commander who successfully led the Turkish nation in the War of Independence but also as a brilliant statesman who enacted significant reforms, Atatürk worked tirelessly for the independence of his nation and homeland throughout his 57 years of life.
With his military and political genius, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk inscribed his name in Turkish and world history with golden letters. He passed away at the age of 57 at Dolmabahçe Palace at 09:05 on November 10, 1938. Atatürk's death was met with great sorrow not only in Turkey but all over the world.
THE JOURNEY OF ATATÜRK'S FUNERAL TO ANITKABİR Atatürk, who passed away at Dolmabahçe Palace on November 10, 1938, was placed on a catafalque in the ceremony hall of Dolmabahçe Palace on November 16. On November 19, the funeral was sent to İzmit by the Yavuz Battleship, accompanied by a large crowd, and then to Ankara on the same evening using the train he had traveled throughout the country.
On November 20, the funeral was welcomed by state officials in Ankara and placed on a catafalque in front of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. On November 21, 1938, with a very large funeral ceremony, Atatürk's body, which was temporarily buried in the Ankara Ethnography Museum, remained there until it was moved to his eternal resting place, Anıtkabir, on November 10, 1953. Atatürk, who said, "My humble body will one day return to the soil, but the Republic of Turkey will live forever," continues to live in the hearts of the Turkish nation at Anıtkabir, the heart of Turkey, which is his eternal resting place.