Battle of Kütahya–Eskişehir

Battle of Afyonkarahisar-Eskişehir
Part of Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922)
Greek cavalry attack
Date June 27 - July 10, 1921 Location Afyonkarahisar - Kutahya - Eskisehir Result Greek victory
Belligerents
Turkish Revolutionaries	Kingdom of Greece
Commanders and leaders
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk Ismet Inonu	Constantine I of Greece Anastasios Papoulas
Strength
~ 120,000 (9 divisions)	~ 120,000 (precise number unknown)

See also: Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922)

Introduction

The Battle of Afyonkarahisar-Eskişehir of 1921, also known in some Greek historiography as battle of Dorylaion, was part of the Greek Asia Minor Campaign and the Turkish War of Independence of 1919-1922.

The battle took place in a number of phases between 27 June and 10 July 1921, when the Greek army defeated the Turkish troops commanded by Ismet Inönü in defence of the line of Afyonkarahisar-Kutahya-Eskisehir.

This was the largest confrontation between the two sides in terms of numbers of armed forces during the whole war, as the Greeks threw in the battle nine of their divisions (about 120,000 men) against an unknown, but similar number of Turks. Strategically though, the battle was of little importance as the Greeks failed to grasp the opportunity to encircle the retreating Turkish troops. This proved later to be a major strategic error, when the two sides had to meet each other again during the much more fierce Battle of Sakarya which turned the tide in favour of the Turks.

Outcome

The Greek Army managed to break through Turkish resistance and occupied the towns of Afyonkarahisar, Kutahya and Eskisehir, together with their inter-connecting rail-lines. The Turks despite their defeat managed to avoid encirclement and made a strategic retreat on the east of Sakarya river. Ismet İnönü was replaced by Fevzi Paşa as the Chief of Staff of the Turkish Army after his failure to check the Greek offensive.

This was the major decision point that sealed the Greek destiny in Anatolia. The state and Army leadership, including King Constantine, prime minister Gounaris, and General Papoulas, met at Kutahya were they debated the future of the campaign. The Greeks with rejuvenated their faltering morale failed to appraise rationally the strategic situation that favoured the defending side; instead, in the overall climate of enthusiasm, the leadership was polarised into the risky decision to pursue an engagement with the Turks on their last line of defence, close to Ankara. Only few voices supported a defensive stance, including Ioannis Metaxas.

After a delay of almost a month, that gave time to the Turks to organise their defence, 7 of the Greek divisions crossed east of Sakarya River.