MEMORIES FROM ATATURK

MEMORIES 1
 

Title 7

Title 8
Title 9

Title 10
Title 11

Title 12
Title 12

Title 13
Title 14

Title 15
Title 16

Title 17
Title 18

Title 19
Title 20

ANILAR 2
Title 1
Title 2

Title 3
Title 4
Title 5

Title 6
Title 7

Title 8
Title 9

Title 10

ANILAR 3
Title 1
Title 2

Title 3
Title 4
Title 5

Title 6
Title 7

Title 8
Title 9

Title 10

SECTION 4
Title 1
Title 2
Title 3
Title 4
Title 5
Title 6

On the 106th anniversary of May 19, 1919, when the founder of the Republic of Turkey, the Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, landed in Samsun and started our War of Independence, we remember with mercy and gratitude all our martyrs and veterans, especially Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his comrades-in-arms. (19.05.2025)

I WANT TO LEARN FROM YOU (A.N.Z.A.C)

General Birdwood, the Commander of the ANZAC (A.N.Z.A.C) Corps, fought against Mustafa Kemal in Arıburnu in 1915, and again in that region and in Conkbayırı in August of the same year, and was defeated. This General had a remarkable conversation with Mustafa Kemal at the Perapalas Hotel during the Armistice. According to what Dr. Rasim Ferit (Talay) explained to Mr. Hikmet Bayur, the incident happened as follows:

General Birdwood, as the Istanbul occupation commander, settled in the Perapalas Hotel with his headquarters. Mustafa Kemal, who had returned from Çanakkale(Dardanel), was also at the same hotel.

One day, Birdwood's escort officer Sedat Riza Bey approached Dr. Rasim Ferit Bey and asked him to mediate to ensure this meeting. The doctor informs Mustafa Kemal of the general's request, and he says:

-Come, he says.

The British General acts extremely respectfully and after a few polite words, the following conversation takes place between them:
General:
- Your Excellency, how did you defeat us?
Atatürk:
- You and we both have historical newspapers; history writes..
General:
- I want to learn from you.

Upon this answer, Mustafa Kemal asks Dr. Rasim Ferit Talay for paper and a pen. He also gives him a prescription paper and his gold pencil. Mustafa Kemal draws a sketch and shows it and says:
- You landed on such and such a date; until such and such an hour, you were in such and such a situation and we were in such and such a situation. Everything was in your favor. Why did you stop at this line and not advance?
⁃ Our soldiers were very tired.
After this answer, Mustafa Kemal, who was drawing the sketch of Conkbayır, asked another question:
- You moved from this direction on such and such a day and got into this situation. Why didn't you advance?
- As we advanced, water didn't reach us from behind, our soldiers were thirsty and stopped.
Atatürk:
- As you see, I didn't do anything; first fatigue, then thirst stopped your army.
Birdwood, who got up after receiving this answer, said:
- I have never known a heroic, great and respectable General like you! ..

The two Generals embraced and then sat down. As Birdwood was leaving, he said to Mustafa Kemal Pasha:

- If you allow, I will keep this paper and this pen as a souvenir...

He took it and kept it. Birdwood has been a fan of Mustafa Kemal ever since.

Birdwood, who came to represent England at Atatürk's funeral and became a Marshal from that time on, said the following when talking about Atatürk:

- We made love by fighting!

He came to Ankara from beyond the horizons, old and sick, standing with the Marshal's baton in his hand; he could not help but salute his old great enemy and new great friend, his admirer Mustafa Kemal Atatürk for the last time, and fulfilled his humanitarian duty. And with all his heart..

After the ceremony, a British General summarized his impression and said:

- Even Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's death was a military operation!...