Turkish War
                     TURKISH WAR
INTRODUCTION
The Turkish War of Independence (19 May 1919 – 24 July 
1923) was a series of military campaigns waged by the 
Turkish National Movement after parts of the Ottoman 
Empire were occupied and partitioned following its defeat in 
World War I. 
Source: en.wikipedia.org 2
CAMPAIGNS
The campaigns were directed against Greece in the west, 
Armenia in the east, France in the south, monarchists and 
separatists in various cities, and Britain and Italy in 
Constantinople (now Istanbul).
Simultaneously, the Turkish nationalist movement carried 
out massacres and deportations in order to eliminate native 
Christian populations—a continuation of the Armenian 
genocide and other ethnic cleansing operations during 
World War I.
Source: en.wikipedia.org 3
BEGINNING OF THE 
TURKISH WAR 
In an attempt to reestablish control over the power vacuum 
in Anatolia, the Allies convinced Greek Prime Minister 
Eleftherios Venizelos to launch an expeditionary force into 
Anatolia and occupy Izmir, beginning the Turkish War of 
Independence. 
Source: en.wikipedia.org 4
TROUBLES WITH 
DEMOBILIZATION
When the Allies continued occupying areas in the Ottoman 
Empire despite the armistice, Ottoman commanders began 
to refuse demobilization and prepared for renewed conflict. 
The British forces demanded that Turkish troops under the 
command of Ali İhsan Pasha evacuate Mosul, claiming that 
civilian Christians in Mosul and Zaho were killed en masse. 
Source: en.wikipedia.org 5
MILITARY ACTION BETWEEN 
TURKS AND GREEKS
Military action between Turks and Greeks in Anatolia in 
1920 was inconclusive, but the nationalist cause was 
strengthened the next year by a series of brilliant victories. 
Twice Ismet Pasha defeated the Greek army at Inönü area, 
blocking its advance into the interior of Anatolia. 
Source: www.allaboutturkey.com 6
TURKEY'S DIPLOMATIC 
SITUATION 
An improvement in Turkey's diplomatic situation 
accompanied military success. Impressed by the viability of 
the nationalist forces, both France and Italy had withdrawn 
from Anatolia by October 1921. 
Treaties were signed that year with the Soviet Union, the 
first European power to recognize the nationalists, 
establishing the boundary between the two countries. In 
1919 a war broke out between the Turkish nationalists and 
the newly proclaimed Armenian republic.
Source: www.allaboutturkey.com 7
KARS REGION OCCUPIED BY 
TURKS
 Armenian resistance was broken by the summer of 1921, 
and the Kars region was occupied by the Turks. 
In 1922 the nationalists recognized the Soviet absorption of 
what remained of the Armenian state, and Armenian 
minority in Turkey moved back to Armenia.
Source: www.allaboutturkey.com 8
BATTLE OF THE 
COMMANDER IN CHIEF
The final drive against the Greeks began in August 1922 
with a battle called as the Battle of the Commander in 
Chief. 
In September the Turks moved into Izmir, where thousands 
were killed during the fighting and capture of the city. 
Greek soldiers who had crowded in Izmir, were taken away 
by Allied ships, leaving the city on fire before they pulled 
out in order to leave nothing behind.
Source: www.allaboutturkey.com 9
SPOKESMAN FOR TURKEY
At the end of October 1922, the Allies invited both the 
Ankara and the Istanbul governments to a conference at 
Lausanne, but Atatürk was determined that the nationalist 
government should be the only spokesman for Turkey. 
The action of the Allies prompted a resolution by the Grand 
National Assembly in November 1922 that separated the 
offices of sultan and caliph and abolished the former. 
Source: www.allaboutturkey.com 1 0
THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY
On 29 October 1923, the Grand National Assembly 
proclaimed the Republic of Turkey. Atatürk was named as 
the President, and Ankara as its capital. 
The War of Independence which started on 19 May 1919 
with Ataturk's arrival in Samsun, was concluded with victory 
and the modern state of Turkey was born.
Source: www.allaboutturkey.com 1 1