THE TURKISH MIRACLE
During The Battle of Dumlupinar, the Commander-in-Chief's
Battle, concluded victoriously on August 30, 1922, and beckons
us from the pages of history as the Turkish Miracle.
International events, like the lives of people, are filled with
ups and downs. The history of the Turkish nation also has its
ups and downs. No matter how numerous these events may be, the
downs of Turkish history have certainly been followed by ups. As
always, the Turks have earned their rightful place in the pages
of history. Here is another example: the event of the upsurge,
the Turkish miracle, has been realized...
In accordance with the decisions of the War Council established
on January 14, 1921, the military equipment and all the
requirements required for a major attack against the enemy are
provided mostly from the country's own resources. The opinions
of the commanders are also taken into consideration. It is
necessary to sacrifice everything for the sake of the well-being
of the country.
Mustafa Kemal Pasha, who saw the path to victory through
perceptive determination, political vision, understanding of the
enemy's psychology, and especially his understanding of the
forces under his command, listened to the opinions of his
commanders. The army would be ready for battle by mid-August.
Although the enemy had determined that the Turks would launch a
major offensive, they could not predict the timing. General
Trikupis brought the forces under his command back as reserves.
The enemy failed to realize the imminent danger. At that moment,
preparations for the ball in Afyon were at the forefront.
As the sun disappeared behind the mountains, our troops set out
for their staging areas. A faint moonlight illuminated their
path. The Commander-in-Chief, having moved his headquarters from
Akşehir to the Şuhut district the day before, now moved them
south to the sunset point of Kocatepe.
It was 6:00 a.m. on August 26, 1922... Turkish cannons began
firing along the entire front. At 06:30, the Turkish soldiers
captured the positions at Kalecik Sivrisi and Poyralıkaya.
The Commander-in-Chief waited, observing the battlefield. He
eagerly awaited crucial news from the Turkish air force: whether
the enemy reserves around Eskişehir had mobilized. He also
refused the offer of breakfast. His wait was short. The Turkish
eagle delivered the information he had been waiting for, and in
a positive manner. The tension of anxiety faded from his
features, and he ordered them to bring him breakfast.
On the battlefield, the Turkish soldiers continued their bloody
struggle with the enemy, continuing to exemplify heroism to both
the enemy and the world. Enemy trenches and defensive lines,
deemed impenetrable by experts for six months, could not hold
out even for six hours against the superior moral strength of
the Turkish soldiers.