HAKAN ALTIN

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)

THE TURKISH MIRACLE

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.