Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the Republic of Türkiye, passed away in 1938 at age of 57
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the revered founder of the Republic of Türkiye, is remembered not only as the military commander who led the Turkish nation through its War of Independence but also as a visionary statesman who introduced groundbreaking reforms.
Ataturk was born in 1881 in the city of Thessaloniki, then part of the Ottoman Empire, to Ali Riza Efendi and Zubeyde Hanim. He lost his father at a young age.
In 1893, he began his military education in Thessaloniki, where he also learned French.
Later, he continued his studies at the Military School of Istanbul, graduating as a lieutenant in 1902. His remarkable skills quickly advanced him through the ranks, reaching the position of staff captain in 1905.
A major turning point in Ataturk's career came in 1911 when he led a successful campaign against Italian forces in Tripoli. He further distinguished himself during the Balkan Wars in 1912, where he played a critical role in reclaiming the Dimetoka and Edirne as a major.
- Success in battle of Dardanelles
In 1914, as World War I broke out, Ataturk was serving as a military attache in Sofia, and the allies deployed soldiers on the Gallipoli peninsula as the Dardanelles (Canakkale) campaign began.
In a letter to Acting Chief Commander Enver Pasha, Ataturk requested to be in the field, suspending his duty in Sofia.
Ataturk and Turkish soldiers made history by showing incredible resistance. Ataturk's order to his soldiers at the war still echoes in the hearts of all Turks: "I don't order you to attack, I order you to die!"
His achievements continued in the northwestern Edirne and southeastern Diyarbakir in 1916, earning him the title of major general that same year. In 1918, he led successful resistance against British forces in Damascus.
- Path to independence
In 1919, after the Allied occupation of Istanbul, Ataturk traveled to northern Samsun province as the inspector of the 9th army, completely changing his life and, eventually, Türkiye.
After proclaiming that the country's liberation from the occupant forces would only be possible through the will of the people, he organized two congresses – in the cities of Sivas and Erzurum – where the battle of independence and the country's future was discussed.
On April 23, 1920, the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye was established, with Ataturk as its head. This new assembly passed laws crucial to resisting the occupation.
The struggle for Turkish independence started on May 19, 1919, when the first bullet against the occupant Greek forces was fired by Hasan Tahsin, a Turkish journalist who was killed shortly after his action.
Turkish army, under the leadership of Ataturk, won incredible battles against the occupant forces – including the first and second Battles of Inonu, Sakarya, and the Great Offensive – until 1923 when the Lausanne Treaty was signed on July 24.
The incredible achievements on the battlefield led to Turkish independence, and the Republic of Türkiye was founded on Oct. 29, 1923.
Ataturk became the first president of the republic and served in that capacity until Nov. 10, 1938, when he passed away in Istanbul at the age of 57 due to cirrhosis.
As a tradition, Turkish people visit his mausoleum in Ankara every Nov. 10 and pay their tributes to Ataturk.
