ATATURK: Father of The Turks

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was born in 1881 in a three-storey pink house on Islâhhâne Street, Kocakasım Neighbourhood in Thessaloniki. His father was Ali Rıza Efendi and his mother was Zübeyde Hanım. His paternal grandfather Hafız Ahmet Efendi was one of the Kocacık Yörüks who settled in Macedonia from Konya and Aydın in the XIV-XVth centuries. His mother Zübeyde Hanım was the daughter of an old Turkish family settled in the town of Langaza near Thessaloniki. Ali Rıza Efendi, who worked as a militia officer, a clerk of the Evkaf and a timber merchant, married Zübeyde Hanım in 1871. Four of Atatürk's five siblings died at a young age, only Makbule (Atadan) lived until 1956.

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Zübeyde Hanım : Mother of the Atatürk

When young Mustafa was of school age, he started his education at Hafız Mehmet Efendi's neighbourhood school, and then transferred to Şemsi Efendi School upon his father's request. During this time, his father died (1888). After staying with his uncle in Rapla Farm for a while, he returned to Thessaloniki and finished his schooling. He enrolled in Selânik Mülkiye Rüştiyesi. Shortly afterwards, in 1893, he entered the Military Rüştiye. At this school, his maths teacher Mustafa Bey added "Kemal" to his name. In 1896-1899, he graduated from Manastır Military School and started his education at the Military Academy in Istanbul. In 1902, he graduated with the rank of lieutenant and continued his education at the War Academy. On 11 January 1905, he graduated from the Academy with the rank of captain. Between 1905 and 1907, he served in the 5th Army in Damascus. In 1907, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel (Senior Captain). He was assigned to the III Army in Monastir. On 19 April 1909, he served as Chief of Staff in the Movement Army that entered Istanbul. In 1910, he was sent to France. He participated in the Picardie Manoeuvres. In 1911, he started to work under the General Staff in Istanbul.
 

In 1911, in the war that started with the Italian attack on Tripolitania, Mustafa Kemal took part in the Tobruk and Derne region with a group of his friends. On 22 December 1911, he won the Battle of Tobruk against the Italians. On 6 March 1912, he was appointed as Derne Commander. 

When the Balkan War started in October 1912, Mustafa Kemal joined the war with the troops in Gallipoli and Bolayır. He rendered great services in the recapture of Dimetoka and Edirne. In 1913, he was appointed as Attaché General in Sofia. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1914. His term as Attaché General ended in January 1915. Meanwhile, World War I had started and the Ottoman Empire was forced to enter the war. Mustafa Kemal was assigned to Tekirdağ to establish the 19th Division.

In World War I, which started in 1914, Mustafa Kemal wrote an epic of heroism in Çanakkale and made the Entente States say "Çanakkale is impassable!". On 18 March 1915, when the British and French fleet attempting to cross the Dardanelles suffered heavy losses, they decided to land troops on the Gallipoli Peninsula. On 25 April 1915, the 19th Division, commanded by Mustafa Kemal, stopped the enemy forces landing in Arıburnu at Conkbayırı. Mustafa Kemal was promoted to colonel upon this success. On 6-7 August 1915, the British attacked again in Arıburnu. Anafartalar Group Commander Mustafa Kemal won the Anafartalar Victory on 9-10 August. This victory was followed by Kireçtepe on 17 August and II Anafartalar on 21 August. The Turkish nation, which lost approximately 253,000 martyrs in the Gallipoli Wars, was able to defend its honour against the Allied Powers. Mustafa Kemal's order to his soldiers "I do not order you to attack, I order you to die!" changed the fate of the front.

Mustafa Kemal served in Edirne and Diyarbakır in 1916 after the Çanakkale Wars. On 1 April 1916, he was promoted to major general. He fought against the Russian forces and ensured the retaking of Muş and Bitlis. After short-term assignments in Damascus and Aleppo, he came to Istanbul in 1917. He travelled to Germany with his guardian Vahidettin Efendi and made inspections at the front. He fell ill after this trip. He travelled to Vienna and Karisbad for treatment. On 15 August 1918, he returned to Aleppo as the commander of the 7th Army. He fought successful defence battles against the British forces on this front. One day after the signing of the Armistice of Mondros, on 31 October 1918, he was appointed as the Commander of the Lightning Armies Group. Upon the abolition of this army, he came to Istanbul on 13 November 1918 and took office in the Ministry of War.

After the Armistice of Mudros, when the Allied Powers started to occupy the Ottoman lands, Mustafa Kemal sailed to Samsun on 19 May 1919 as the 9th Army Inspector. On 22 June 1919, with the circular he issued in Amasya, he declared that "the nation's determination and resolve will save the nation's independence" and called the Sivas Congress to meet. Between 23 July - 7 August 1919, he convened Erzurum Congress and between 4 - 11 September 1919, Sivas Congress to determine the path to be followed for the salvation of the homeland. On 27 December 1919, he was enthusiastically welcomed in Ankara. On 23 April 1920, with the opening of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, an important step was taken towards the establishment of the Republic of Turkey. Mustafa Kemal was elected as the President of the Assembly and the Government. The Grand National Assembly of Turkey started to adopt and implement the laws necessary for the successful outcome of the War of Independence. 


The Turkish War of Independence began on 15 May 1919 when the first bullet was fired at the enemy during the Greek invasion of Izmir. On 10 August 1920, the militia forces called Kuvâ-yi Milliye (Kuvâ-yi Milliye) fought against the victorious states of World War I, which shared the Ottoman Empire between them by signing the Treaty of Sevres. The Grand National Assembly of Turkey established the regular army and brought the war to a victorious conclusion by ensuring the integration of the Kuvâ-yi Milliye and the army.

The important stages of the Turkish War of Independence under Mustafa Kemal are as follows: The liberation of Sarıkamış (20 September 1920), Kars (30 October 1920) and Gyumri (7 November 1920). Defences of Çukurova, Gazi Antep, Kahraman Maraş Şanlı Urfa (1919-1921) I. Inonu Victory (6-10 January 1921) II. Inonu Victory (23 March-1 April 1921) Sakarya Victory (23 August-13 September 1921) The Great Offensive, the Battle of the Commander-in-Chief and the Great Victory (26 August 9 September 1922)

After the victory of Sakarya, on 19 September 1921, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey awarded Mustafa Kemal the rank of Field Marshal and the title of Gazi. The War of Independence was concluded with the Treaty of Lausanne signed on 24 July 1923. Thus, there was no obstacle left for the establishment of a new Turkish state based on national unity on the territory of Turkey, which had been shattered by the Treaty of Sèvres, leaving the Turks a homeland the size of 5-6 provinces.

On 23 April 1920, the opening of the Turkish Grand National Assembly in Ankara heralded the establishment of the Republic of Turkey. The parliament's successful management of the Turkish War of Independence accelerated the establishment of the new Turkish state. On 1 November 1922, the caliphate and the sultanate were separated and the sultanate was abolished. Thus, the administrative ties with the Ottoman Empire were severed. On 13 October 1923, the Republic was adopted and Atatürk was unanimously elected as the first president. On 30 October 1923, the first government of the Republic was established by İsmet İnönü. The Republic of Turkey began to rise on the foundations of "Sovereignty belongs to the nation unconditionally" and "Peace at home, peace in the world".

tatürk made a series of revolutions in order to "raise Turkey to the level of contemporary civilisation". We can categorise these revolutions under five headings:

1. Political Revolutions:

Abolition of the Sultanate (1 November 1922)
Proclamation of the Republic (29 October 1923)
Abolition of the Caliphate (3 March 1924)

2. Social Revolutions:

Giving women equal rights with men (1926-1934)
Hat and dress revolution (25 November 1925) 
Closure of dervish lodges and tombs (30 November 1925) 
Surname law ( 21 June 1934)
Abolition of epithets and titles (26 November 1934) 
Adoption of international clocks, calendars and length measurements (1925-1931)

3. Legal Revolution:

Abolition of the Mecel (1924-1937) 
Transition to secular legal order by enacting the Turkish Civil Code and other laws (1924-1937)

4. Revolutions in Education and Culture:

Unification of education (3 March 1924) 
Adoption of new Turkish letters (1 November 1928) 
Establishment of Turkish Language and History Institutions (1931-1932) 
Regulation of university education (31 May 1933) 
Innovations in fine arts

5. Revolutions in the field of economy:

Abolition of Ashar 
Encouraging farmers 
Establishment of sample farms 
Establishment of industrial organisations by enacting the Law on Encouragement of Industry Implementation of the First and Second Development Plans (1933-1937), equipping the country with new roads

In accordance with the Surname Law, Mustafa Kemal was given the surname "Atatürk" by the Turkish Grand National Assembly on 24 November 1934.

Atatürk was elected as the President of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on 24 April 1920 and 13 August 1923. This presidency was at the level of the State-Government Presidency. On 29 October 1923, the Republic was proclaimed and Atatürk was elected as the first president. According to the Constitution, presidential elections were renewed every four years. In 1927, 1931 and 1935, the Turkish Grand National Assembly re-elected Atatürk as president.

Atatürk frequently travelled around the country and inspected the state activities on the spot. He gave orders to those in charge about the failing aspects. He hosted foreign heads of state, prime ministers, ministers and commanders who visited Turkey in his capacity as President.

On 15-20 October 1927, he delivered his great speech on the War of Independence and the foundation of the Republic, and on 29 October 1933 he delivered his 10th Anniversary Speech.

 Atatürk lived in simplicity in his private life. On 29 January 1923, he married Latife Hanım. They travelled together on many trips abroad. This marriage lasted until 5 August 1925. Atatürk, who loved children very much, adopted Afet (İnan), Sabiha (Gökçen), Fikriye, Ülkü, Nebile, Rukiye, Zehra and a shepherd named Mustafa. He took children named Abdurrahim and İhsan under his care. He prepared a good future for his survivors.

                                       
                                        Afet İnan

                                       
                                     Sabiha Gökçen


In 1937, he donated his farms to the treasury and some of his immovable properties to Ankara and Bursa Municipalities. He allocated a share of his inheritance to his sister, his foster children and the Turkish Language and History Institutions. He loved reading books, listening to music, dancing, horse riding and swimming. He was very interested in Zeybek dances, wrestling and Rumelia folk songs. He enjoyed playing backgammon and billiards. He valued his horse named Sakarya and his dog Fox very much. He had built a rich library. He would invite statesmen, scientists and artists to his dinners and discuss the problems of the country. He took care to dress clean and tidy. He loved nature very much. He often travelled to Atatürk Forest Farm and participated in the works himself.

He spoke French and German. On 10 November 1938 at 9.05 am, he died at Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul, unable to recover from cirrhosis. His body was buried in Ankara Ethnography Museum, his temporary resting place, with a ceremony on 21 November 1938. After the construction of Anıtkabir, his body was buried in his eternal resting place on 10 November 1953 with a magnificent ceremony.

I say goodbye to you with a song that Atatürk loved: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5r2MzXLlvlo