The 88th anniversary of the Turkish victory over Greek forces in the War of Independence will be remembered around the country and in Turkish representations across the world Monday.
President Abdullah Gül released a message on Sunday to mark Victory Day.
In his message, Gül defined the Aug. 30 victory as a summary of the glorious history of the Turkish nation.
“Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's outstanding command and leadership talent, our nation's affection for its homeland, its ambition for independence and its courage brought us this unique victory," Gül said.
In his message, Chief of General Staff Gen. Işık Koşaner said the victory, won after many challenges and sacrifices, was the beginning of the Turkish nation's march on the path of contemporary civilizations.
"Our walk on this path will continue without any interruption in the light of our unitary state, nation-state and secular-state structure and the Kemalist thought system,” Koşaner said.
The general added that nobody should forget that the aim of every effort against the Turkish Armed Forces, or TSK, was to hamper the independence and integrity of the Turkish Republic.
The victory on Aug. 30, 1922, over the Greek military was the last big engagement between the two armies.
The war began with the Greek invasion of İzmir in May 1919 after the end of World War I with tacit support from the Allies, especially Great Britain. The defeated Ottoman Empire was too weak to resist the Greek forces, with initial resistance provided by irregular Turkish units called Kuvay-i Milliye.
Atatürk leads
The invasion generated a huge reaction in Anatolia and resulted in an independence movement led by officers of the disbanded Ottoman military.
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who came to lead the officers, succeeded in stemming the Greek invasion and in August 1922 launched a strong counterattack.
Victory in the Dumlupınar Battle on Aug. 30 in the central Anatolian province of Kütahya destroyed the Greek army and Turkish forces entered İzmir on the Aegean coast Sept. 9. The battle brought an end to the war between Greece and Turkey, with Turkey declaring independence on Oct. 29, 1923, after the signing of the Lausanne Treaty.
The date of Aug. 30 has since been celebrated as “Victory Day,” with military marches and other official celebrations marking the Turkish victory.
