The liberation of Istanbul from enemy occupation… They left just as they came!

The Ottoman Empire, which emerged from the First World War in defeat, signed the Armistice of Mudros on October 30, 1918.

Istanbul, which was effectively occupied by the Allied Powers on October 13, 1918, was officially occupied on March 16, 1920. The occupiers established their own administration.

The administration of Istanbul, which had been conquered by Fatih Sultan Mehmet on May 29, 1453, and served as the capital of the Ottoman Empire, fell into the hands of the Allied Powers…

The Turkish people, who began to resist the occupations and the subsequent occupation of Istanbul following the signing of the Armistice of Mudros, achieved great victories under the leadership of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and the administration of the Government of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM). With the Great Offensive that began on August 26, 1922, the Greek Army was cleared from Western Anatolia. Izmir, which had been occupied by the Greeks on May 15, 1919, was liberated on September 9, 1922.

Following the success of the National Struggle, the Treaty of Lausanne was signed on July 24, 1923, and ratified by the TBMM on August 23. The independence and national sovereignty of the Turkish nation were accepted by the entire world.

The Allied Powers began to evacuate Istanbul with the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne. The last units left Istanbul on October 2, 1923. Units under the command of Şükrü Naili Pasha entered Istanbul with a ceremony on October 6, 1923. The victory was crowned with the liberation of Istanbul.

After this date, October 6 was accepted as 'Liberation Day'.

The words "They will leave just as they came," spoken by Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk to his aide Cevat Abbas in 1918 when the occupation began, had come true.

On the first anniversary of the liberation of Istanbul (October 6, 1924), 'Liberation Day' celebrations were held, lasting two days. The celebrations, held with the great participation of the people of Istanbul, students, and institutions, were enthusiastic. (Hüseyin Kalemli, First Liberation Day Celebrations in Istanbul) Articles and news about 'Liberation Day' also received extensive coverage in the press.

In the editorial titled "Istanbul's Liberation Day" written by Hüseyin Cahid in the newspaper 'Tanin', the following was stated:

"Istanbul, which had been crushed under enemy occupation for years and carried the torture of a poisonous wound in its self-respect, felt the happiness of reuniting with the savior Turkish army on this day last year. Although the Turkish homeland was essentially liberated as a result of the great military victory that ended with the enemy being cast into the sea, the army entering Istanbul for the first time gives the occasion a special character…

(…) Istanbul, on this Liberation Day, sees the self-sacrificing, heroic, and pure 'Mehmetçik' as a symbol before its eyes. 'Mehmetçik' means the entire Turkish army. From the private to the officers, the commanders, and the greatest leaders, the entire Turkish army. Because these are an inseparable collective entity..." (Tanin, October 6, 1924, No: 712, p. 1)

We are celebrating the 102nd anniversary of the liberation of Istanbul. There are only a few days left until October 29, when we will celebrate the 102nd anniversary of the founding of our Republic…

I offer my endless respect and gratitude to our Great Leader Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who said "Freedom and Independence is my character," and to his comrades-in-arms, for having our flag hoisted back where it belongs, for showing friend and foe alike who is the host and who is the guest on these lands by fighting, and for emerging from every step he took with great success.