August 30: The victory of those who did not flinch from the hail of bullets

History is instructive. It is not forgiving. It does not pardon. That is why Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk warned with these words: “History is merciless to the imprudent.”

Our August 30 Victory Day, which we celebrated yesterday, is, like all our other national holidays, full of lessons. It is instructive.

The first lesson it teaches is that imperialism can be defeated. That is why Gandhi, the founding leader of India, said, “Until the Turks defeated the British in the War of Independence, we thought God was British.” It taught the world what an organized nation can achieve with the right program and a strong leader.

The second lesson it teaches is the honor of duty. That is why Colonel Reşat (Çiğiltepe), who committed suicide because he could not fulfill his promise to Mustafa Kemal Pasha on time during the Great Offensive, is one of the monuments of honor and honorable heroes in our history. The heroic Mehmetçik would take the hill 45 minutes after Colonel Reşat’s suicide. The note left behind by Colonel Reşat, who made Atatürk cry with this suicide of honor, is as follows: “My Commander, since I could not keep my promise to you to take this hill within half an hour, I can no longer live.”

The third lesson it teaches is sacrifice and heroism. Nazım Hikmet summarizes this situation in the simplest way in his Epic of the National Forces: “In a formidable and sacred adventure, in the front line, in the very front row, one felt like rearing up and dying.”

The fourth lesson it teaches is courage. Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, in his book titled Conversation with an Officer and a Commander, which he wrote during his time as a military attaché in Sofia (1913–1914), says: “The hail of bullets falling in battle causes less harm to those who do not flinch from that rain than to those who do.” A Japanese proverb also states: A soldier who fights to die in war lives, while a soldier who fights not to die, dies. August 30 is the victory of those who were not afraid of the hail of bullets and artillery shells.

The fifth lesson it teaches is determination. Under the leadership of Atatürk, the Turkish nation established a state based on full independence and national sovereignty from the ashes of the Ottoman Empire, which Tsar Nicholas I of Russia had described as the “sick man of Europe.” In the War of Independence, it became a nation while becoming a state, and became a state while becoming a nation. It became an example to oppressed nations and downtrodden peoples.

Therefore, one must know history, know the value of Atatürk and the Republic, and be wise. Because those who do not know their history have their geography drawn by others.