Victory Day on August 30: a heroic page in the history of the Turkish people

Today, August 30, Turkey proudly celebrates Victory Day - one of the greatest pages of heroism that the Turkish people inscribed in history with their blood.

After the triumphant Battle of Sakarya, the strategic necessity of launching an offensive became more evident with each passing day.

In June 1922, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk made the fateful decision to begin an offensive operation. The Great Offensive, which has enormous historical significance and profound strategic meaning, became the decisive moment in Turkey's war for independence.

The military situation at that time was extremely tense: in Western Anatolia, the Greek army was positioned against Turkish troops, methodically strengthening their positions and increasing the number of units throughout the year.

According to the brilliant operational plan developed under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the forces of the 1st Army were ordered to rapidly advance from the southwest of Afyon to the north, while the forces of the 2nd Army in the north were instructed to pin down enemy units in the Döğer area, diverting their attention. The cavalry corps was tasked with crossing the Ahır mountains and completely cutting off the enemy's communications with Izmir.

After careful preparation, Atatürk left Ankara for Akşehir on August 19, 1922, and on August 26 gave the historic order to attack the enemy.

After successful advancement on the night of August 29, a final assessment of the combat situation was conducted, and a decision was made to swiftly conclude the battle. The offensive operation, carried out with faith in hearts and boundless love for the Homeland, culminated in a decisive victory for the valiant Turkish army thanks to the flawless execution of the masterfully prepared plan.

On August 30, in the battle personally led by Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk from the command height of Zafertepe, the enemy army was completely defeated, and its remnants were forced to retreat in panic in three fragmented groups. Observing this, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk issued his famous order: "Armies, your first objective is the Mediterranean Sea. Forward!"

As a result of the Great Offensive, enemy troops were forced to hastily leave Western Anatolia, and with the signing of the Mudanya Armistice on October 11, 1922, Anatolia forever became an integral Turkish land.