Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the
founder of the Turkish Republic and its first President, stands as a
towering figure of the 20th Century. Among the great leaders of
history, few have achieved so much in so short period, transformed
the life of a nation as decisively, and given such profound
inspiration to the world at large.
Emerging as a military hero at the Dardanelles
in 1915, he became the charismatic leader of the Turkish national
liberation struggle in 1919. He blazed across the world scene in the
early 1920s as a triumphant commander who crushed the invaders of
his country. Following a series of impressive victories against all
odds, he led his nation to full independence. He put an end to the
antiquated Ottoman dynasty whose tale had lasted more than six
centuries - and created the Republic of Turkey in 1923, establishing
a new government truly representative of the nation's will.
As President for 15 years, until his death in
1938, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk introduced a broad range of swift and
sweeping reforms - in the political, social, legal, economic, and
cultural spheres - virtually unparalleled in any other country.
His achievements in Turkey are an enduring monument to
Atatürk. Emerging nations admire him as a pioneer of national liberation.
The world honors his memory as a foremost peacemaker who upheld the
principles of humanism and the vision of a united humanity. Tributes have
been offered to him through the decades by such world statesmen as Lloyd
George, Churchill, Roosevelt, Nehru, de Gaulle, Adenauer, Bourguiba, Nasser,
Kennedy, and countless others. A White House statement, issued on the
occasion of "The Atatürk Centennial" in 1981, pays homage to him as
"a great leader in times of war and peace". It is fitting that
there should be high praise for Atatürk, an extraordinary leader of modern
times, who said in 1933: "I look to the world with an open heart full of
pure feelings and friendship".
Mustafa Kemal ATATÜRK
FOUNDER AND THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE TURKISH REPUBLIC
Atatürk was born in 1881 at the Kocakasım ward of Salonika,
in a three story pink house located on Islahhane Street. His
father is Ali Rıza Efendi and his mother Zübeyde Hanım. His
paternal grandfather, Hafız Ahmed Efendi belonged to the
Kocacık nomads who were settled in Macedonia during the XIV
- XV th centuries. His mother Zübeyde Hanım was
the daughter of an Old Turkish family who had settled in the
town of Langasa near Salonika. Ali Rıza Efendi, who worked
as militia officer, title deed clerck and lumber trader,
married Zübeyde Hanım in 1871. Four of the 5 siblings of
Atatürk died at early ages and only one sister, Makbule
(Atadan) survived, and lived until 1956.
Upon
reaching school age, little Mustafa started school at the
neighborhood classes of Hafız Mehmet Efendi and later, with his
father's choice, was transferred to Şemsi Efendi School. He lost his
father in 1888 where upon he stayed at the farm of his maternal
uncle for a while and returned to Salonika to complete his studies.
He registered at the Salonika Mülkiye Rüştiye (secondary school) and
soon transferred to the military Rüştiye. While at this school, his
math teacher, also named Mustafa, added "Kemal" to his name. He
attended the Manastır Military School between 1896 - 1899 and later
the Military School in İstanbul from which he graduated in 1902 with
the rank of lieutenant. He later entered the Military Academy and
graduated on January 11, 1905 with the rank of major. Between 1905 -
1907 he was stationed in Damascus with the 5th. Army. In
1907 he was promoted to the rank of "Kolağası" (senior major) and
was posted with the III rd Army , which was stationed in
Manastır. He was the Staff Officer of the "Special Troops" (Hareket
Ordusu) which entered İstanbul on April 19, 1909. He was sent to
Paris in 1910 where he attended the Picardie manuevers. In 1911 he
started to work at the General Staff Office in İstanbul.
Mustafa Kemal was stationed at Tobruk and Derne regions with a group
of his friends during the war which started with the Italian attack
on Tripoli. He won the Tobruk battle in 22 December 1911 against the
Italians. On March 6, 1912 he was made the Commander of Derne.
When
the Balkan War started in October 1912, Mustafa Kemal joined the
battle with units from Gallipoli and Bolayır. His contributions to
the recapturing of Dimetoka and Edirne were considerable. In 1913 he
was assigned to Sofia as a military attache. In 1914, while still at
this post, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel. His
term as an attache ended in January 1915. By that time the First
World War had started and the ottomon Empire was inevitably involved.
Mustafa Kemal was posted to Tekirdağ with the assignment of forming
the 19th Division.
Mustafa Kemal put his signature under a legend of heroism at
Çanakkale during the First World War, which had started in 1914, and
had the Allied Powers admit to the fact that "Çanakkale is
unpassable!" On March 18, 1915 when the English and French navies in
an attempt to force their way up the Çanakkale Strait gave heavy
loses, they decided to put units on land at Gallipoli Peninsula. The
enemy forces which landed at Arıburnu on 25 April 1915 were stopped
by 19th Divison under Mustafa Kemal's command at
Conkbayırı. Mustafa Kemal was promoted to the rank of colonel after
this victory. English forces attacked at Arıburnu once more on 6-7
August 1915. Mustafa Kemal, as the Commander of the Anafartalar
Forces won the Anafartalar Victory on 6-7 August 1915. This victory
was followed by the victories of Kireçtepe on August 17, and the
Second Anafartalar Victory on August 21. Turkish nation who lost
about 253.000 men at battle, had managed to emerge in honour against
the Allied forces. Actually the fate at trenches changed when
Mustafa Kemal addressed his soldiers with the words "I am not giving
you an order to attack, I am ordering you to die!"
Mustafa Kemal was stationed at Edirne and Diyarbakır after the
Çanakkale wars and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general on
1 April 1916. He fought against the Russian forces and recaptured
Muş and Bitlis. Following short assignments at Damascus and Khallepo,
he came to İstanbul in 1917. He traveled to Germany with Vahdettin
Efendi, the heir to the throne. He became sick after this trip and
went to Vienna and Karisbad for treatment. He returned to Khalleppo
on 15 August 1918 as the Commander of the 7th army. At
this front, he fought successful defence wars. He was appointed as
the Commandar of Yıldırım Armies one day after the signing of the
armistice at Mondros. When this army was disbanded, he came to
İstanbul on November 13, 1918 and started to work at the Ministry of
Defence.
When,
following the Mondros Armistice, the Allied forces started to take
over the Ottoman armies, Mustafa Kemal went to Samsun on May 19,
1919 as 9th Army Inspector. With the circular he
published on 22 June 1919 at Amasya, he declared that " The freedom
of the nation shall be restored with the resolve and determination
of the nation itself" and called the meeting of the Sivas Congress.
He convened Erzurum Congress during 23 July - 7 August 1919 and
Sivas Congress during 4 - 11 September 1919, thus defining the path
to be followed towards the freedom of the motherland. He was met
with great enthusiasm in Ankara on 27 December 1919. With the
initiation of the Turkish Grand National Assembly on 23 April 1920,
a significant step was taken on the way to establishing the Turkish
Republic. Mustafa Kemal was elected as the head of the national
assembly as well as the head of the government. The Grand National
Assembly started to put into effect the necessary legislative
measures so as to enable the Independence War to come to a
successful conclusion.
Turkish War of Independence started with the first bullet shot at
enemy on 15 May 1919 during the Gerek occupation of İzmir. The fight
against the victors of the First World War who had divided up the
Ottoman Empire with the Treaty of Sevres signed on 10 August 1920,
initially started with the militia forces called Kuva-yi Milliye.
Turkish Assembly later initiated a regular army and achieving
integration between the army and the militia, was able to conclude
the war in victory.
The
significant stages of the Turkish War of Independence under the
Command of Mustafa Kemal are
Recapturing Sarıkamış, Kars and Gümrü
Çukurova, Gazi Antep, Kahramanmaraş, Şanlı Urfa defenses (1919 -
1921)
Ist İnönü Victory
IInd İnönü Victory
Sakarya Victory
Great Attack, Battle of the Chief Commander and the Great
Victory
After
the Sakarya Victory, National Assembly bestowed the rank of marashal
on Mustafa Kemal and the Gazi (veteran) title. War of Independences
came to end with the Lozanne Agreement, which was signed on 24 July
1923. Hence, there were no longer any obstacles to create a new
nation on Turkish soil which Treaty of Sevre had torn to pieces
leaving Turks an area the size of 5-6 provinces.
The
National Assembly which first convened on 23 April 1920 in Ankara
was the first clue to the Turkish Republic. The successful
management of the War of Independence by this assembly accelerated
the founding of the new Turkish State. On 1 November 1922, the
offices of the Sultan and caliph were severed from one other and the
former was abolished. There was no longer any administrative ties
with the Ottoman Empire. On 29 October 1923, Turkish Republic was
formally proclaimed and Atatürk was unanimously elected as its first
President. On 30 October 1923, the first government of the Republic
was formed by İsmet İnönü. Turkish Republic started to grow on the
foundations of the twin principles "Sovereignty, unconditionally
belongs to the nation" and "peace at home, peace in the world,"
Atatürk undertook a series of reforms to "raise Turkey to the level
of modern civilization" which can be grouped under five titles
1. Political Reforms
Abolishment of the office of the Sultan (November 1922)
Proclamation of the Republic (29 October 1923)
Abolishment of the caliph (3 March 1924)
2. Social Reforms
Recognition of equal rights to men and women (1926 - 1934)
Reform of Headgear and Dress (25 November 1925)
Closure of mausoleums and dervish lodges (30 November 1925)
Law on family names (21 June 1934)
Abolishment of titles and by-names (26 November 1934)
Adoption of international calendar, hours and measurements (1925
- 1931)
3. Legal Reforms
Abolishment of the Canon Law (1924 - 1937)
Transfer to a secular law structure by adoption of Turkish Civil
Code and other laws (1924 - 1937)
4. Reforms in the fields of education and culture
Unification of education (3 March 1924)
Adoption of new Turkish alphabet (1 November 1928)
Establishment of Turkish Language and History Institutions (1931
- 1932)
Regulation of the university education (31 May 1933)
Innovations in fine arts
5. Economic Reforms
Abolution of tithe
Encouragement of the farmers
Establishment of model farms
Establishment of industrial facilities, and putting into effect
a law for Incentives for the Industry
Putting into effect Ist and IInd
Development Plans (1933-1937), to develop transportation
networks
Acccording to the Law on Family Names, the Turkish Grand Assembly
gave "Atatürk" (Father of Turks) as last name to Mustafa Kemal on 24
November 1934.
Atatürk was elected as the Speaker of the Grand Assembly on 24 April
1920 and again on 13 August 1923. This was a position equal to that
of the president as well as the prime minister. Republic was
proclaimed on 29 October 1923 and Atatürk was elected as the first
President. Elections for President were renewed every four years
according to the Constitution. In 1927, 1931 and 1935 Turkish Grand
Assembly again elected Atatürk as the president.
Atatürk took frequent trips around the country and inspected locally
the works undertaken by the state, giving directives were problems
were faced. As president he was host to visiting foreign presidents,
prime ministers and ministers.
He
read his Great Speech, which covers the War of Independence and the
founding of the Republic on 15 - 20 October 1927, and his 10th
Year Speech on 29 October 1933.
Atatürk led a very simple private life. He married Latife Hanım on
29 January 1923. They took many trips to different parts of the
country together. This marriage lasted until 5 August 1925. A great
lover of children he adopted girls named Afet (İnan), Sabiha
(Gökçen), Fikriye, Ülkü, Nebile, Rukiye and Zehra and a shepperd boy
named Mustafa. He also took two boys called Abdurrahim and İhsan
under his protection. He provided for the futures of these children
who survived.
He
donated his farms to the Treasury in 1937 and some of his real
estate to municipalities of Ankara and Bursa. He divided his
inheritance among his sister, his adopted children and to the
Turkish History and Language Institutions. He enjoyed books and
music as well as dancing, horse riding and swimming. He was
extremely interested in Zeybek dances, wrestling and the Rumelia
folk songs. Games of billards and backgammon gave him great pleasure.
He valued his horse Sakarya and his dog Fox . He had a rich library.
He used to invite statesman, scholars and artists to dinners where
the problems of the country were discussed. He was particular about
his appearence and enjoyed dressing well. He was also a lover of
nature. He used to frequent the Atatürk Forest Farm and join in the
work.
He
knew French and German. Atatürk died on 10 November 1938 at 9.05 A.M
at Dolmabahçe Palace, defeated by the liver ailment he was suffering
from. He was taken to his temporary place of rest at the Ethnograpy
Museum in Ankara on 21 November 1938. When the mausoleum was
completed, he was taken to his permanent rest place with a grand
ceremony on 10 November 1953.