Republic of Turkey celebrates 87th anniversary

  • Published
  • By Mehmet Birbiri
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Turkey declared itself an independent republic nearly 87 years ago on October 29, 1923, and in commemoration of Republic Day, there will be ceremonies, parades and other events taking place throughout the country Friday.

The history of Republic Day starts with the Ottoman Turks when they first appeared in the early 13th century in Anatolia subjugating Turkish and Mongolian tribes. They spread out, pressing against the eastern border of Byzantium.

At its height, the Ottoman Empire stretched from the Persian Gulf in the east to the outskirts of Vienna in the west, including all of northern Africa, present day Balkan and Middle Eastern countries. After having one of the biggest empires the world had ever seen and ruling lands on three continents for more than 600 years, the Ottoman Empire was diminished and became known as "the sick man of Europe" after World War I.

The decline of Turkish power started in 1571 when the Turkish navy was defeated by the Combined European navy and the siege of Vienna failed. Later, the Turkish-Russian War (1877-1878), gave Bulgaria independence while Romania and Serbia seperated from their nominal allegiance to the Ottoman sultan.

The Turks revolted in 1909, when a group of young liberals, known as the "Young Turks," forced Sultan Abdul Hamid to grant a constitution and install a liberal government.

During World War I, Turkey, then Anatolia, was allied and fought with the Germans. As a result of Germany's defeat, the allied forces divided and occupied Anatolia. The Greeks took Izmir and the Agean region, the British--Istanbul and straits, the French--the Adana-Gaziantep region and the Italians took the current Antalya area.

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, general of the Turkish forces, could not accept the partition of his country. He was the man who stopped the British Armada at the Dardannels, the hero of Gallipoli and a victorious commander during the war.

He decided to create the nation of Turkey with the current borders of the Ottoman Empire. Ataturk left Istanbul May 15, 1919 and traveled to Samsun where he began the War of Independence four days later in Anatolia. He fought the ruling sultan as well as the invaders.

In spite of many difficulties, he drove the invaders, including the sultan, out of Turkey. In April 23, 1920, Ataturk founded the "Grand National Assembly" and was elected the GNA chairman.

The treaty of Lausanne, signed by Turkey and allied forces, had been a political victory for the rulers of the new state and freed the country from foreign occupation. The treaty also established the territory and integrity of the land.

Long before the nation's push for independence, an idea had taken shape in Ataturk's mind; the state would be a republic. In order not to sow the seeds of indifference, however, he had not spoken of it, not even to his closest friends.

Following the abolishment of the Sultanate, he decided it was time to take action to strengthen the political structure of the Turkish state.

The country needed to name its new form of government. To end the debates in the assembly, Ataturk consulted with his closest friends during dinner Oct. 28, 1923, and made the decision to proclaim the country as a republic.

After the meal, Ataturk rose and declared, "Friends, we shall proclaim the republic tomorrow." The next day, an amendment to the constitution was proposed and the Turkish state was proclaimed the Republic of Turkey.