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MEMORIES FROM ATATURK

Commander-in-Chief Mustafa Kemal Pasha launched the Great Offensive from Kocatepe at 5:30 a.m. on August 26, 1922, with cannon fire, personally commanding the battle. The enemy was routed in the field battle of Dumlupınar on August 30 and in hand-to-hand combat, and victory was achieved with the Turkish Army's entry into Izmir on September 9, 1922. On the 103rd anniversary of this victory, we commemorate all our martyrs and veterans, especially Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his comrades-in-arms, with mercy and gratitude. (August 26, 2025)

SINCE THE ORDER CAME FROM HIM

I am also recounting this incident verbatim from Mr. Salih Bozok:

While traveling along the front, one day, without realizing it, we came between  our hunters fighting the enemy and our artillerymen pouring fire on them. At that moment, a cavalryman, carrying an empty horse in tow, approached us and said to Gazi Pasha:

-Our commander has sent you this horse. He's waiting for you within artillery range.

Atatürk:

-You take this horse to him, so he can mount it and come here himself!

Not long after, Derviş Pasha, Commander of the Fifteenth Regiment, approached us. Gazi Pasha asked for information and an explanation of the current situation. Pasha said:

-We are fighting the enemy vanguard, Pasha!

Before Derviş Pasha could finish his reply, a terrific group fire began from behind us. Our artillery was roaring so loud it shook the mountains and hills like an earthquake. Atatürk said to Derviş Pasha:

-How can our artillery fall behind us when we've come here?... You must get them to advance ahead of us!"

After Derviş Pasha immediately fulfilled this order and returned, Gazi Pasha laughed and said to him:

-Pasha, the work is not complete. Because this time, the our hunters line and the artillery line have come together!"

It was clear from both his previous order and these words that Gazi Pasha wanted to swiftly finish off the enemy and launch an attack on our forces. Derviş Pasha's truly sharp mind had long since grasped Gazi Pasha's intentions. Indeed, he said:

-Pasha, if you command, we will advance the our hunters line as well!

Atatürk laughed, pleased that his intentions had been quickly understood, and said:

-You are both a Commander and a Dervish, so what are you waiting for?... We must attack... We must attack immediately!"

There was no connection to the skirmish line from where we were. Therefore, Dervish Pasha would personally convey Atatürk's order to the our hunters line. This was very dangerous. Considering this situation, I said to Dervish Pasha:

-Pasha, wouldn't it be better if you didn't go there yourself, but sent someone else?

To my question, Dervish Pasha frowned:

-Look, where is the order coming from!

I will never forget his response, and then the way he mounted his horse and galloped towards the firing line.

Not long after half an hour, our hunters went into action and an hour later the enemy soldiers, who could not hold their stitches together, scattered like chicks towards the Murat Mountains, thus making Atatürk realize one of his many wishes.