Understanding Atatürk...

The four days between August 26 and 30, 1922, represent the cornerstone of the popular struggle that led to the liberation of İzmir, during which the Great Offensive took place for the liberation of Anatolia from occupation.

Politicians of the era, who asked "when will we launch the offensive" after the Battle of Sakarya and began to grumble within the parliament, were unaware that Atatürk was meticulously planning the right time and the right method. The whispers within the parliament had reached such a point that Rauf Bey (Orbay) would frequently and secretly ask Atatürk: "At least tell me the real situation. What is the state of the army? Is it really impossible to launch an attack?"

It was not just Rauf Bey, of course; Atatürk expressed that he felt great sadness, pain, and shame when Vasıf Bey's words, "We haven't been able to move since the Battle of Sakarya, we cannot move," were met with applause. The factions within the parliament and the infighting between them, which he described in detail in his Nutuk (The Speech), often led to chaos.

Emphasizing that this chaos had reached its peak a year and a half before the offensive, in January 1921, Atatürk decided that his personal intervention was necessary and resolved to gather everyone into a group called the Association for the Defense of the Rights of Anatolia and Rumelia.

In the meetings he held for this unification, he strove to reach a consensus on fundamental principles. Unity was finally achieved regarding the indivisibility of the homeland within the borders of the National Pact (Misak-ı Milli), the independence of the nation, the readiness of all the nation's material and spiritual assets for the struggle, and the preparation of the group, the state, and the nation within the framework of the Law of Fundamental Organization (Teşkilatı Esasiye Kanunu).

For Commander-in-Chief Atatürk, it was necessary for the nation, the National Assembly, and the army to be ready for this offensive. He had managed to reconcile the National Assembly through a common principle and a common group method. He was planning the Great Offensive with such great care and secrecy that one month before the offensive, on July 26, 1922, he organized a football match in Akşehir, where the Western Front headquarters was located, and ensured the participation of all commanders in this match. The purpose of this football match was to keep the meeting he would hold with the commanders in Akşehir secret. And so it was. On the morning of August 26, at 04:30, the offensive began under Atatürk's orders. This offensive achieved success through Atatürk's meticulous planning, leadership, genius, and the nation's self-sacrifice, and the stones were laid for the path leading to the liberation of İzmir.

Atatürk's idea that, in addition to the readiness of the army and ammunition, the nation and the National Assembly also needed to be prepared for success, was also rooted in his ideal of ensuring internal unity and solidarity, which he defined as the "internal front." It is obvious that the philosophy of our founding leader, who left many lessons for today, is not understood by politicians. The argumentative and abusive image of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and the state of the nation, which has been polarized as much as possible, hurts the founding spirit of the Republic.

Just think, a leader in wartime seeks a ground where the nation, the parliament, and the army will be ready, one and whole, and in consensus... There is no issue as important as understanding, internalizing, and keeping this philosophy alive. The AKP government, which cannot learn lessons from history and the vision of a leader like Atatürk who set an example for the world, and which even quarrels and fights with him and his values, has caused neighbor to be alienated from neighbor and brother from brother. This division, based on identity politics more commonly seen in Middle Eastern countries, has also caused the roof of the Republic, which ensures the unity and integrity of the nation, to leak.

Water is now dripping on our heads from this roof, which was built 100 years ago with a great struggle... We are cold. We are uneasy. Because of politicians who cannot learn lessons from our ancient history, the nation's hope that a solution will emerge from the parliament has diminished.

Of course, it is correct to look forward, not to the past, and revolution is an act that requires continuous development. However, it is the primary duty of those who govern the state to internalize the founding philosophy, to carry it further, and to be unifying and integrative under the roof of citizenship.

On this occasion, may the souls of our founding cadres, led by our leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who fought for our independence, and all our martyrs, rest in peace. Happy August 30 Victory Day.

Kemal, G. M. (1963). Nutuk (Vol. 220). Yapi Kredi Yayınları.

Aydemir, Ş. S. (1966). Tek adam: Mustafa Kemal.