PATH TO INDEPENDENCE
Following the occupation of Istanbul by the Allies in 1919, Atatürk went to the northern Samsun province as the inspector of the 9th army, completely changing his life and, eventually, Türkiye.
After proclaiming that the country's liberation from the occupant forces would only be possible through the will of the people, he organized two congresses-in the cities of Sivas and Erzurum-where the battle of independence and the country's future was discussed.
On April 23, 1920, the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye was established, and Atatürk was elected as the head of the government and speaker of the parliament, which enabled him to adopt laws essential to beat occupant forces.
The struggle for Turkish independence started on May 15, 1919, when the first bullet against the occupant Greek forces was fired by Hasan Tahsin, a Turkish journalist who was killed shortly after his action.
Turkish army, under the leadership of Atatürk, won incredible battles against the occupant forces-including the first and second Battles of İnönü, Sakarya, and the Great Offensive-until 1923 when the Lausanne Treaty was signed on July 24.
The incredible achievements on the battlefield led to Turkish independence, and the Republic of Türkiye was founded on Oct. 29, 1923.
Atatürk became the first president of the republic and served in that capacity until Nov. 10, 1938, when he passed away in Istanbul at the age of 57 due to cirrhosis.
As a tradition, Turkish people visit his mausoleum in Ankara every Nov. 10 and pay their tributes to Atatürk.
