Mustafa Kemal's secret session of the Grand National Assembly on March 6, 1922, sheds light on today

As you all know, the most important states of Europe emerged through the detriment and decline of Turkey. Today, the most powerful developments that affect the whole world and threaten our nation's life and our country have occurred to the detriment of Turkey. If a strong Turkey had maintained its existence, it could be said that England's current policy would not exist; if Turkey had not been defeated in Pest and Belgrade after Vienna, the policy of Austria-Hungary would not even be mentioned. France, Italy, and Germany have developed and strengthened their policies by feeding from the same source."

"..... Things that rise through the detriment of something else lower the one that suffers from it/ Indeed, in contrast to all the progress, rise, and civilization of Europe, Turkey has declined and fallen further and further. Those who set out to destroy Turkey, those who saw profit and life in its elimination, ceased to be harmful to each other, united by sharing their interests, and formed an alliance. As a result, many intellects, emotions, and thoughts were concentrated on the point of destroying Turkey, and this concentration turned into a destructive tradition in the generations that formed as centuries passed. AS A RESULT OF THE CONTINUOUS APPLICATION OF THIS TRADITION TO THE LIFE AND EXISTENCE OF TURKEY, THEY FINALLY MANAGED TO PENETRATE AND INFILTRATE TURKEY'S INTERNAL LIFE AND INTERNAL ADMINISTRATION UNDER VARIOUS PRETEXTS SUCH AS REFORMING AND CIVILIZING TURKEY, AND THEY GAINED THE POWER AND MIGHT TO PREPARE SUCH A FAVORABLE GROUND."

"..... Yet that power and might added a poisonous and burning liquid to the essence of development that existed in Turkey and the Turkish people. Under its influence, the minds of the nation, and most of all the administrators, were completely corrupted. Now, a mentality emerged that to correct the situation, to find life, to be human, one must necessarily take advice from Europe, conduct all affairs in accordance with Europe's ambitions, and take all lessons from Europe, YET WHAT INDEPENDENCE HAS EVER BEEN ABLE TO RISE WITH THE ADVICE OF FOREIGNERS AND THE PLANS OF FOREIGNERS? HISTORY HAS NOT RECORDED SUCH A THING. Those who attempted to create such an event in history have faced its poisonous results. Indeed, Turkey, because of some administrators crippled by this wrong mentality, has declined and fallen more every hour, every day, every century.

The starting point of this decline began with helplessness. Certain people who had somehow taken charge of Turkey and the Turkish people were keeping Turkey in an idle and timid state as if they were condemned to remain silent in the face of victorious enemies. They were cowardly and hesitant in doing what was necessary for the interests of the country and the nation. Intellectuals in Turkey were practically insulting themselves. They were saying: "WE ARE NOT HUMAN AND WE WILL NOT BE. THERE IS NO POSSIBILITY OF US BECOMING HUMAN ON OUR OWN." THEY WANTED TO SURRENDER OUR LIVES, OUR HISTORY, AND OUR EXISTENCE UNCONDITIONALLY TO THE EUROPEANS WHO ARE HOSTILE TO US AND OF WHOSE HOSTILITY THERE IS NO DOUBT. They were saying, "LET THEM MANAGE US." How can it be considered appropriate for a bunch of madmen who have no conscientious or intellectual bond left with the homeland and the nation to be kept in the position of protectors of the state and national independence and honor(?)

With the GREAT OFFENSIVE, which began on August 26, 1922, and resulted in the victory of the Turkish armies on August 30, 1922, a decisive victory was achieved. The Gazi did not only drive the allied forces, who had kept our lands under occupation for more than three years, into the sea, but also set an example and gave hope to the "Oppressed Nations" in similar situations.

A very short time before the Great Offensive, the Gazi was saying the following to the Iranian ambassador in Ankara regarding the future:

"If Turkey's current struggle were only on its own behalf and account; perhaps it could have taken less time and ended sooner. Turkey is exerting a determined and significant effort! Because what it is defending is the cause of all oppressed nations, of the entire East...."