Turkish War of Independence

May 19, 1919 - August 30, 1922

Pre-war Politics

World War I ended in defeat for the Ottoman Empire. While Germany was restricted by the Treaty of Versailles, Habsburg Empire and Ottoman Empire were disintegrated.

From Ottoman Empire's territory, Saudi Arabia gained independence; France occupied Syria, Lebanon, and southern Anatolia(i.e.Asia Minor); Britain occupied rest of the Middle East, Dardanelles and Istanbul/Constentinople; Armenia claimed eastern Anatolia; Greece annexed Thrace and Smyrna/Izmir; and Italy claimed west and southwestern Anatolia. This left only the central-northern Anatolia under Turkish control, but with the Sevres Treaty 1920, allowing the allied forces to seize any remaining Turkish-controlled city if they found it necessary for their national security.

In fact, occupation of the regions listed above started immediately, once the World War ended. According to the cease-fire agreement (Mondros, Oct.30, 1918) remnants of the Ottoman army were supposed to be disbanded. In the capital (Istanbul), Mustafa Kemal already had great influence as the sole undefeated warhero of the nation. He used his influence to be assigned to Samsun in north Anatolia to administer the disarmament of the army. Once he was in Anatolia (May 19, 1919) as a pasha (equivalent Ottoman rank of army general) assigned by sultan Mehmed VI he was temporarily able to do whatever he wanted.

In this short period, he not only left the army intact, but traveled to as many towns as possible, persuaded locals to take his side, sent summons to every remaining free city for delegates. By the time the British-controlled government took his notice and the Sultan ordered his arrest, people no longer heeded their orders. Still in 1919, Mustafa Kemal organized congresses in two cities with the arriving delegates. They voted in favor of "Independence or Death" and "The borders right before the Mondros cease-fire (roughly today's Turkey) will be reclaimed". He also called for elections, after which the electees had to immediately go to Ankara to join the new parliament. By the time he arrived to Ankara, he had full support of most cities as well as high-ranking Ottoman army officers in Anatolia, many of whom he knew personally.

In March 1920 in Istanbul, the Ottoman Parliament voted in favor of the actions and decrees of Mustafa Kemal, and in return they were all arrested by the British, and exiled to Malta. This provided the legal basis Mustafa Kemal did not really need to establish the new parliament in April 23, 1920. He also resigned from his army position in order to hold the fledling parliament together in its first steps.

Eastern Front

Commander: Kazim Karabekir Pasha

Type  : Attrition war - Border skirmish

Against  : Soviet Union, Armenia, Enver Pasha (potentially)

This front was a hang-over from the World War I. During the first three years of the Great War, Russian and Armenian forces advanced far into eastern Anatolia. With the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917, Russian troops abandoned the war. With the Russian army gone, Turkish army advanced, reaching the Caspian Sea in 1918. As Soviet Union recovered from the revolution, Soviets and Armenians pushed Turks back to approximately today's borders by the end of the war. However, the cease fire never managed to cease the war. Armenians tried to claim the portion of eastern Anatolia promised to them by first Mondros cease-fire and then Treaty of Sevres while the Turkish armies that support Mustafa Kemal tried to hold them at the pre-Mondros border.

The conflict continued without any decisive battle, with numerous skirmishes. Eastern front soon became an inefficient and costly attrition/guerilla war in the mountainous terrain and harsh climate of the region. Today's borders were drawn with Treaty of Gumru (Alexandropol) between Mustafa Kemal's government and the independent Republic of Armenia on December 3, 1920.

Shortly afterwards, the Red Army entered Armenia and established a Soviet government. Then Armenians revolted and regained control. After holding for a month against the Bolsheviks, Armenian government asked for assistance from Turkey. However, being already at war in the west, Turkey chose to sign the Treaty of Moscow with the Soviet Union on March 16, 1921, securing the eastern borders for the forseeable future.

Kazim Karabekir's army was not allowed to relocate to the west yet. Mustafa Kemal's political arch-rival Enver Pasha was trying to gather troops in the Caucasus region, planning to return to his country as the savior after Greek army would destroy Mustafa Kemal's army while being crippled itself, as the two armies were in an inevitable collision course.

Southern Front

Commander: None

Type  : Guerilla war

Against  : France

>>>>>Still under construction<<<<<

Western Front - Defensive

Commander: Ismet Pasha

Type  : Army maneuvers - Field battles

Against  : Greece

Western Front - Offensive

Commander: Marshall Mustafa Kemal

Against  : Greece, Britain (almost)

See Second Greco-Turkish War for summary of western front.

Post-war Diplomacy