In our country, May 9 - Victory Day of Soviet troops over Nazi Germany - is dear and close to everyone. On this memorable date, a lot of events are held to revive the events of those days, to honor the memory of the dead. In Turkey, there is also such a day, dearly honored by its citizens, and its history is just as interesting and heroic.
Public Holidays in Turkey
In addition to traditional religious holidays, such as Ramadan and Kurban Bayram, in this country there are no less revered state. So, on January 1, the Turks celebrate New Year, and on February 8 - the Day of Grandparents; April 23 - Children's Day, every second Sunday of May, the Turkish people honor their mothers. The memory date of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (the founder of the modern Turkish state) and Youth and Sports Day are May 19. And on October 29 - a celebration dedicated to the proclamation of the state of the republic. And finally, August 30 is Victory Day in Turkey. Let's talk more about his story.
History: the beginning of the war
Then the Ottoman Empire was one of the participants in World War I on the side of Italy, Germany and Austria-Hungary. However, the difficult economic and political internal situation forced the state to conclude a truce with the countries of the Entente.
The result of this agreement was the loss by the empire of the territories of Arabia, Syria, Palestine, Armenia and Mesopotamia. In addition, the Entente promised Greece that the latter would receive in its possession the western lands of Asia Minor and East Thrace, the former residence of the Greeks, but then under the rule of the Ottoman Empire.
Soon, the troops of Greece, Armenia and the Entente countries invaded the territory of future Turkey. It should be noted that this war was fought in the name of lofty ideals - the restoration of "Great Greece", that is, the expansion of its territories to the size of the Byzantine Empire - this was the basis of the political ideas of the Greek people from the thirties of the XIX century.
In mid-May 1919, the Greek army landed near Smyrna (Asia Minor), and the Turks resisted it. Thus began the war for Turkish independence, in Soviet history called the Kemalist revolution, led by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
Opponents occupied the country from several areas:
- Greeks attacked in the west;
- Italian troops landed in Antalya;
- in the southeast was the army of the French;
- in the east - the combined army of Armenia and the British interventionists.
It must be said that during their offensive, the invaders actively removed antique artifacts from the territory of the Ottoman state and carried out archaeological excavations. Therefore, many valuable works of ancient Greek art can now be seen not in their historical homeland, but in British or German museums.
However, the liberation movement under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal gained strength. In contrast to the power of the Sultan, in April 1920, the Great National Assembly was formed. A positive role was played by the fact that the armies of France and Italy were gradually withdrawn from the country, so the main battles took place between the troops of Greece and Ataturk.
In March 1921, an agreement "On Cooperation and Friendship" was concluded between Turkey and the USSR, providing for the gratuitous supply of necessary weapons and financial assistance to the Turks from Soviet Russia.
The Battle of Dumlupinar - End of the War of Independence of Turkey
On August 26, 1922, the battle of Dumlupinar began, ending on the 30th of the same month. During the battle, the Greeks suffered a major defeat: some of their troops died, some were captured. Victory Day in Turkey is the last day of this battle. It is a symbol of the liberation of the Turkish people from foreign interventionists. And August 30 is a holiday in Turkey in memory of this.
After a crushing defeat at Dumplipinar, the remnants of the Greek army stopped in Smyrna. But on September 9, there were already Turkish liberators. In the evening the city was set on fire, the massacre of civilians began. Various sources speak of a different number of deaths on this terrible day - from 20 to 200 thousand. And so far, Turkey and Greece are shifting responsibility for this brutal and senseless reprisal.
The result of the war was that the monarchical system in the country was overthrown, and the national liberation movement took power into its own hands and established a republic in Turkey. Also in 1923, a peace treaty was signed, according to which Turkey was recognized as an independent state, and the Entente renounced its claims to Turkish lands.
Modern Independent Turkey
Turkey today is a unitary state, a semi-presidential republic (parliamentary and presidential rules of government are combined). Its Constitution (the third in a row since 1924) has three unchanged provisions:
- The Turkish state is a republic.
- She is a secular, democratic, legal state.
- A nation, a country, a state is an indivisible whole.
The head of state is a president with broad powers. And the legislative power, as at the very beginning of the independence movement, is represented by the Turkish Grand National Assembly.
How to spend a holiday on August 30 in Turkey
Zafer Bayrami - Victory Day - a great national celebration and an official day off in the country. On this day, military parades, concerts and related ceremonies are held. In general, August 30 is a holiday in Turkey when a Janissary march is played, which is a connecting symbol of the memory of the country's military victories. People lay flowers at the Ataturk mausoleum. State flags and portraits of Mustafa Kemal are hung everywhere.
The Turks honor their history and the liberating soldiers who gave the state independence, therefore August 30 is a holiday in Turkey, significant and respected by its citizens.