The Path to Independence: The Meaningful Story of Our August 30 Victory Day in Its 102nd Year!

One of the most important days in the glorious history of the Turkish nation is undoubtedly August 30 Victory Day! This blessed day, when the struggle for independence ended in victory and the enemy forces were expelled from Anatolia, is celebrated with various events each year in our country. Let’s take a closer look at the meaningful story and development process of the August 30 Victory Day.

The Path to Independence was Followed Step by Step by Atatürk

The great struggle for independence had big and important steps behind it. Therefore, the path to be followed had to be meticulously planned and implemented step by step. Here are the footprints of this struggle:

Landing in Samsun

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who arrived in Samsun on May 19, 1919, took the first step of the National Struggle. The pier where Atatürk landed in Samsun to start the War of Independence was later rebuilt in the same way in order to immortalize the memory of this beginning that determined the fate of the nation.

Amasya Circular

The first step taken with Atatürk’s landing in Samsun continued with the Amasya Circular. This circular, published on June 22, 1919, is considered the beginning of the establishment of the Turkish state.

Erzurum Congress

In the congress held between July 23 and August 7, 1919, national decisions were made on behalf of the Turkish people. With the idea that “The homeland is a whole, it cannot be divided” mandate and protection were rejected. It was declared that the homeland would not be divided, based on the principle of making the national will dominant.

Sivas Congress

On September 4, 1919, Turkish representatives came together and signed important decisions for the future of the Turkish nation. The decisions taken at the Erzurum Congress were expanded.

Opening of the Grand National Assembly (TBMM)

On April 23, 1920, the TBMM was established. The principle of ”Sovereignty unconditionally belongs to the nation.” forms the basis of the TBMM. Following the first meeting, the first founding assembly that would protect the rights of the nation was formed.

The Liberation of Izmir

Izmir, which was occupied by the Greeks on May 15, 1919, was finally liberated from the occupation on September 9, 1922. The Turkish army expelled the enemy forces from Izmir and Mustafa Kemal Atatürk arrived in Izmir.

Battle of the Sakarya

The battle that took place in Sakarya is considered one of the turning points in Turkish liberation history. Following this victory led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Atatürk earned the title of Marshal on September 19, 1921.

The battle of the Sakarya, which began in August 1921, was topped off with a great victory in September of the same year. However, this victory was not enough for Commander-in-Chief Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and the Turkish nation. The liberation of Turkish lands occupied after World War I from enemy occupation as soon as possible was the most important priority of the parliament.

A secret meeting was held in 1922 and a great offensive plan was prepared to expel the Greek army from Turkish lands. This offensive would later go down in history as the Great Offensive and the Battle of the Commander-in-Chief.

The Turkish army, which raided the enemy forces spreading to Western Anatolia, prevented the Greeks from making preparations by following minute-by-minute planning. The enemy forces, whose communication with other units was blocked, had to face unexpected results.

The military equipment of the two armies facing each other was not equal. The Turkish soldiers did not have the artillery, machine guns and aircraft that the Greek soldiers had. But this did not stop the Turkish soldiers! The rifles made by the Turkish nation with their own hands were the greatest supporters of the Turkish soldiers. Indeed, the Turkish army, which emerged from this war with a great victory, defended the most important enemy points with these rifles.

The Great Offensive: The Occupation Ends with Victory

The Battle of the Commander-in-Chief, which lasted from August 28-29, ended with a great victory on August 30. The war ended on August 30, 1922, and the Greek army was forced to leave Anatolian lands forever. On the day Mustafa Kemal Pasha gave that historic order, the enemy forces realized that they had no other way but to flee. Atatürk gave the order to the Turkish soldiers in the courtyard of a dilapidated house, “Armies, your first goal is the Mediterranean. Forward!”

After months of enemy pursuit, the Turkish army finally entered Izmir on September 9, 1922, and waved the Turkish flag again in the city, which had been under occupation since 1919. Following this glorious victory, the other occupied cities were taken back one by one. With the Treaty of Lausanne signed on July 24, 1923, the independence of the Turkish nation was declared to the whole world.

Proof of Determination and Resoluteness: August 30 Victory Day

With this victory, the Turkish nation showed the world the importance of determination and resoluteness, the desire for independence and never giving up. With the August 30 victory, the way was opened for Turkey to be recognized and respected in the international arena.

The War of Independence struggle that Mustafa Kemal Atatürk started on May 19, 1919, was topped off with a great victory on August 30. For this reason, August 30 continues to be celebrated in its 102nd year as proof of liberation and victory. The Turkish army and nation, which had nothing in their hands other than love for their country and desire for independence, saved Anatolia from enemy occupation with a great struggle. For this reason, this struggle, in which countless martyrs were given and various difficulties were endured, is the greatest proof of the power within the Turkish nation.

The August 30 celebrations were first celebrated with Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s words, “Armies, your first goal is the Mediterranean. Forward!” It took place in 1924 in the Çal Village of Dumlupınar, where he gave the order. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who attended the ceremony, laid the foundation of the “Tomb of the Unknown Soldier ” with his wife Latife Hanım, emphasizing the importance of national unity and solidarity. August 30, which was known as the Victory of the Commander-in-Chief until 1926, began to be celebrated as Victory Day from that date on.

The Room Where Major Decisions Were Made: The Atatürk Museum Room

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who stayed in Room 101 of the Pera Palace Hotel between 1917 and 1926, thought about some of the decisions he made for the future of the country here. He hosted many of his guests here. For this reason, Room 101 was converted into a museum in 1981 in order to keep the memory of Atatürk and his victories alive.

The room contains Atatürk’s belongings, gifts that had been sent to him, newspapers and magazines of the period. If you would like to travel back in time and join a magical atmosphere, you can visit Room 101 at the Pera Palace Hotel on August 30th Victory Day.