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ATATURK
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- The Greek army launched a progressive operation toward the Turkish
positions in Sakarya on 13 August 1921. On 15 August 1921, Greek King Constantine ordered
his armies “To Ankara!”. Greeks, constantly progressing, invaded many of our cities
and towns and at last reached our defense line in Sakarya. On 23 August 1921, Sakarya War
began by assault of Greek army. Very violent conflicts took place all along the front with
assaults and counter-assaults. Greek assault was stopped by our detachments by making them
suffer many casualties. However, sometimes reinforced Greek forces could seize our
important positions, approached as far as Polatlý and noises of cannons were heard from
Ankara. Despite Turkish positions were split in many places, every point was obstinately
defended, and a new defense line was established behind all lost lines, and thus the enemy
was not allowed to progress.
- As a matter of fact,
the Chief Commander formulated the strategy of the war as follows: “There is no line
protection, but field protection. That field is the whole motherland. Before every span of
soil of the land is wet with the blood of our citizens, it cannot be left. Therefore,
every unit, either big or small, can be forced away from their positions. But every unit,
either small or big, will continue the war forming another front against the enemy in the
point where it can stand first. No unit, upon seeing that the unit next to it had to
withdraw shall do the same. They are obliged to stand and resist as much as possible in
the position they are.
- This rule, which bears
great importance with regard to war commandment was exactly put into practice in Sakarya,
and the sacred land territories were defended by forming another line without losing time
behind the lost line and so defended until the final point possible. The enemies were
fighting thinking that “Ankara is there!” beyond each hill they exceeded, however
Mustafa Kemal Pasha was pulling them to the place where he would strike the final blow, in
the forbidden area of honor of the country. At last, the power of the enemy started
extinguishing. Greek units were very far away from their main positions, and indeed ended
up in the forbidden area of honor of Turks.
- Now, it was the Turks
turn for assault. Our counter-assault initiated on 10 September 1921 made the enemy suffer
great casualties, and the Greeks began to withdraw toward West as a result of this
assault. Chief Commander Mustafa Kemal Pasha, who did not leave the front during the whole
war was sometimes seen in the most forward positions and sometimes he even entered the
line of fire.
- It is doubtless
that our soldiers were spiritually positively influenced by seeing their commander in the
most forward line next to the assaulting detachments and the commander’s pursuing the
battle in the fire line himself. This big and bloody war named “Sakarya Battle” lasted
for 22 days and nights and at last, resulted in our great victory in total destruction of
the enemy in the eastern part of Sakarya river. Upon this meaningful and great success,
Chief Commander Mustafa Kemal Pasha was given the rank of Field Marshal and title of
“Ghazi” by the Turkish parliament on 19 September 1921 with law.
- The results of Sakarya
victory revealed in political field. On 13 October 1921, Kars Agreement with Caucasian
Republics and on 20 October 1921, Ankara Agreement with France were signed. Greeks who
were defeated by Sakarya Battle, had withdrawn till Afyon-Eskiţehir line and was
defending themselves by strengthening their positions in this region, and reinforcing
important places with barbed wires. The enemy had three army corps on this wide line.
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- It was necessary to
force Greeks to withdraw from these last positions they hold for winning the final
victory. The enemy could only be taken out of Anatolia completely by this way. On the
other hand, both Greeks and British thought that a general assault by Turkish army was
impossible because of the difficulties Turkish government suffer and the harsh economical
conditions in Anatolia, and that Turkish army would want peace willy-nilly after standing
for a period of time.
- Therefore, they did not
accede to peace and aimed at maintaining their position so as to gain time and thus
acquire more profit. However, Chief Commander Mustafa Kemal Pasha followed a realistic
path by continuing his preparations for an assault apart from these imaginative plans; but
keeping the time and style of the assault as a secret.
- At last, he decided
that it was time for the counter-assault mobilizing all material and spiritual powers of
the country. However, Greeks were still superior in their number of soldiers and
equipment. The plan of Great Assault prepared in slightest detail by the Chief Commander
and the open area war to follow were disclosed to the army commanders called to Akţehir
on 27/28 July 1922 at night. Also asking their opinions, an order of “preparation for
assault” was issued secretly to the Western Front Armies on 6 August 1922.
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