Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Turkey's first President and the leader of the Turkish War of Independence Mustafa Kemal

Ataturk was the founder and first President of the Republic of Turkey. He was a division commander during the Battle of Gallipoli in 1915 and was instrumental in preventing the partition of Anatolia and Eastern Thrace through his political and military leadership in the Turkish War of Independence. The successful anti-imperialist resistance drove out the various Allied occupying forces, and ultimately led to the establishment of the Republic of Turkey in 1923. Ataturk then instituted reforms in the political, economic and cultural aspects of life in Turkey, which led to the creation of a democratic secular nation-state guided by educational and scientific progress.

Founding & History of the Turkish Republic

Atatrk is internationally known as an outstanding statesman, soldier, commander, reformer, and nation-builder who introduced many reforms with the aim of founding a new secular democratic and modern republic after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. As a visionary, revolutionary figure, and political thinker, he strove to set Turkey on a path from which Turks today vow not to stray (this path included a series of political, legal, cultural, social and economic reforms, such as the emancipation of women, change in dress and alphabet). Ataturk's legacy and principles are deeply embedded in the Turkish national consciousness, while the results of his reform and modernization movement are firmly rooted in all realms and dimensions of life in Turkey. The Turkish people's enduring respect and gratitude for Ataturk's grasp of the future needs of Turkey, along with his nobility of purpose, is demonstrated by the love of nation and patriotism, and is a reason why his statues and photographs are so widely displayed. Turks, regardless of political party affiliation, desire to protect the national ideals which are founded on Ataturk's legacy and principles.

* The founding principles of the Turkish Republic are often referred to as "Kemalizm,"
"Atatrk Dnce," or "Atatrklk" (in addition to "Atatrk lkeleri ve nklap Tarihi"). (Cumhuriyetin Temel lkeleri)

CHRONOLOGY 1881
Birth of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk to Ali Riza and Zbeyde at Salonika.

1883
German military mission established in Ottoman Empire.

1893
Young Mustafa enters Military Secondary School at Salonika and is given the additional name of Kemal.

1895
Mustafa Kemal enters Military Training School at Monastir.

1896
Revolt by students of Military Medical School in Istanbul suppressed.

1897
17 April. Ottoman-Greek war commences, following a Greek threat to annex Crete. Peace settlement by intervention of the European Powers.

1898
State visit of Kaiser Wilhelm II to Ottoman Empire.

1899
13 March. Mustafa Kemal enters War College in Istanbul.

1902
Mustafa Kemal graduates as Lieutenant, General Staff College in Istanbul.

1905
11 January. Mustafa Kemal graduates from the General Staff College with the rank of Staff Captain and is posted to the Fifth Army, based in Damascus

1906

October. Mustafa Kemal helps to found Fatherland (Vatan) Society in Damascus.

1907
20 June. Mustafa Kemal promoted Adjutant-Major. September. Mustafa Kemal posted to Third Army at Salonika.

1908
24 July. 'Young Turk' Revolution in Salonika. Committee of Union and Progress forces Abdulhamit to restore Constitution of 1876 and recall Parliament. 5 October. Bulgaria proclaims independence. 7 October. Austria-Hungary annexes Bosnia and Herzegovina. 12 October. Crete votes for Union with Greece. Mustafa Kemal sent to Tripolitania on mission for Committee of Union and Progress.

1909
13 April. Counter-revolution in Istanbul. Union and Progress striking force, with Mustafa Kemal as divisional chief of staff, marches on the city from Salonika. 27 April. Deposition and exile of Abdulhamit. Succession of Mehmet V as Sultan. Mustafa Kemal attends Congress of Union and Progress Party in Salonika. 6 September. Mustafa Kemal appointed Commander of Third Army and later Commander of Thirty-eighth Infantry Regiment.

1910
Mustafa Kemal serves as Chief of Staff in suppression of revolt in Albania. Mustafa Kemal sent to Paris with military mission to attend French army manoeuvres.

1911
13 September. Mustafa Kemal is posted to the General Staff in Istanbul. 5 October. Italian invasion of Tripoli. Mustafa Kemal with Turkish Forces at Tobruk and Derna. 27 November. Mustafa Kemal promoted to Major.

1912
8 October - 3 December. Beginning of First Balkan War. Montenegro, Serbia, Bulgaria and Greece at war with Ottoman Empire. Severe Turkish defeats. Salonika falls to the Greeks. Mustafa Kemal leaves Cyrenaica and returns to Istanbul. Coup d'etat against Government by Union and Progress officers. 25 November. Mustafa Kemal appointed Director of Operations for relief of Adrianople. Fall of Adrianople.

1913
30 May. Treaty of London between Ottomans and Balkan states. 30 June - 20 July. Second Balkan War. Bulgaria attacks Greece, Serbia and Rumania. Ottomans recovers Adrianople. 27 September. Treaty of Bucharest restores territory to Ottoman Empire. 27 October. Mustafa Kemal appointed Military Attach in Sofia.

1914
1 March. Mustafa Kemal promoted Lieutenant-Colonel. 28 June. Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand at Sarajevo. 16 July. Mustafa Kemal sends despatch to War Minister from Sofia, urging a policy of Turkish neutrality in the event of war, with a view to possible later intervention against Bulgaria and the Central Powers.

28 July. Austria declares war on Serbia, with support of Germany. 2 August. Ottoman leadership signs secret alliance with Germany. 11 August. Ottomans purchase German warships Goeben and Breslau on arrival in the Bosporus. 28 October. Ottomans shells Russian Black Sea ports. 3 November. Russia declares war on Ottoman Empire. 5 November. Britain and France declare war on Ottoman Empire.

1915
2 February. Mustafa Kemal appointed to reorganize and command Nineteenth Division in Thrace. 19 February. Unsuccessful Allied naval attack on Dardanelles. 25 February. Mustafa Kemal establishes Headquarters of Nineteenth Division at Maidos on Gallipoli Peninsula. 18 March. Allied navy fails to force the Turkish Straits. Mustafa Kemal demonstrates outstanding skills as a soldier and commander throughout the battle at Canakkale. 25 April. Allied military landings at Ariburnu (Anzac Cove). Advance checked by Mustafa Kemal with his outstanding leadership of the Nineteenth Division. 1 June. Mustafa Kemal promoted Colonel. 8 - 9 August. Mustafa Kemal appointed to command of Sixteenth Army Corps. Checks second Allied advance on Gallipoli Peninsula.

1916
9 January. Allied evacuation of Gallipoli Peninsula complete. 14 January. Mustafa Kemal posted to Adrianople in command of Sixteenth Army Corps. Transfer to Caucasus front.

1 April. Mustafa Kemal promoted General and Pasha. 27 June. Sherif of Mecca proclaims independence of Arabia. 6 - 7 August. Mustafa Kemal recaptures Bitlis and Mu from Russians.

1917
5 March. Mustafa Kemal appointed second-in-command effective Commander of Second Army. 11 March. British forces capture Baghdad. 5 July. Mustafa Kemal appointed Commander of Seventh Army in Syria. 20 September. Mustafa Kemal sends report to Government on the poor state of the army and the country, and relinquishes his command. October. Mustafa Kemal returns to Istanbul. 11 December. British forces capture Jerusalem. 15 December - 5 January 1918. Mustafa Kemal visits Germany with Crown Prince Vahdettin.

1918
3 July. Death of Sultan Mehmet V. Vahdettin succeeds him as Mehmet VI. 7 August. Mustafa Kemal reappointed Commander of Seventh Army in Palestine. 19 - 30 September. British forces, under General Allenby, drive Turkish forces out of Palestine and Syria. Mustafa Kemal defends frontier north of Aleppo. 30 October. Armistice signed between Ottomans and Britain at Mudros. 31 October. Mustafa Kemal takes over command of Army Group at Adana. 7 November. Dissolution of Army Group.

13 November. Mustafa Kemal returns to Istanbul. Allied fleets enter Istanbul. 21 November. Dissolution of Parliament.

1919
18 January. Opening of Peace Conference at Versailles. 30 April. Mustafa Kemal appointed Inspector-General of Ninth (later Third) Army in Anatolia. 15 May. Greek forces land in Izmir, with Allied approval. 19 May. Mustafa Kemal lands in Samsun. 21 June. Mustafa Kemal issues 'Declaration of Independence' at Amasya. Summons Nationalist Congress to be held in Sivas. 23 June. Mustafa Kemal ordered by the Ottoman Government to return to Istanbul. 8 July. Mustafa Kemal resigns from the army and is dismissed by the Ottoman Government. 23 July - 7 August. Nationalist Congress meets in Erzurum under presidency of Mustafa Kemal. Declarations of National Pact are issued. 4 - 13 September. Nationalist Congress meets at Sivas under presidency of Mustafa Kemal. Confirmation of National Pact. Establishment of Representative Committee. 5 October. Resignation of Government. 7 November. New Parliament elected in Istanbul with Nationalist representation. 27 December. Mustafa Kemal establishes headquarters in Ankara, with Representative Committee.

1920

28 January. National Pact adopted by Istanbul Parliament. 9 February. Evacuation of French garrison from Mara and start of general withdrawal from Cilicia. 16 March. Military occupation of Istanbul by Allies. 11 April. Dissolution of Istanbul Parliament. 23 April. First Grand National Assembly meets in Ankara. 11 May. Mustafa Kemal condemned to death by Sultan's Government. 10 June. Treaty of Sevres presented by Allies to Sultan's Government. 22 June - 9 July. Greek army advances into Anatolia and captures Bursa. 10 August. Treaty of Sevres signed by Sultan's Government. 24 August. Draft treaty initialled in Moscow between Soviet Union and Nationalist Government. 28 September - 2 November. Nationalist forces invade regions with Armenian revolts and capture Kars. 2 December. Soviet Union establishes Armenian Republic at Erivan. 3 December. Treaty of Gmr settles Turco-Armenian frontiers.

1921
6 - 10 January. Greek advance checked at First Battle of Inonu. 20 January. Grand National Assembly at Ankara adopts Constitution Act, based on popular sovereignty. 23 February - 12 March. London Conference fails to reach agreement with Nationalists on modifications to Treaty of Sevres. 16 March. Treaty of Moscow between Nationalist Government and Soviet Union. 23 March - 1 April. Greeks resume offensive in Anatolia and are checked at Second Battle of Inonu .

10 July. Greeks resume offensive and capture Eskiehir. 5 August. Mustafa Kemal given full powers as Commander-in-Chief by Grand National Assembly. 23 August - 13 September. Battle of Sakarya. Turks check Greek advance before Ankara. 26 August. Greeks thrown back at battle of Sakarya. 19 September. Mustafa Kemal given title of Gaziand rank of Marshal by Grand National Assembly. 13 October. Treaty of Kars between Nationalist Government and Transcaucasian Soviet Republics. 20 October. Treaty of Ankara between Nationalist Government and France.

1922
26 August - 9 September. Nationalist forces defeat Greeks in counter-offensive and capture Izmir, which is destroyed by fire. Turks launch final offensive against Greek forces in Anatolia; break through the following day; win decisive victory on 30 August. 23 September. Nationalist forces enter the Turkish Straits Neutral Zone. 3 - 11 October. Conference at Mudanya agrees on Armistice between Allies and Nationalist Government. 19 October. Resignation of Lloyd George and his Government. 1 November. Mustafa Kemal proclaims abolition of Sultanate. 17 November. Flight of Sultan Mehmet VI from Istanbul. 20 November. Opening of Peace Conference at Lausanne.

1923
14 January. Death of Mustafa Kemal's mother, in Izmir. 29 January. Mustafa Kemal marries Latife in Izmir.

4 February. Breakdown of Lausanne Conference. 17 February. Mustafa Kemal opens Economic Congress in Izmir. 23 April. Resumption of Lausanne Conference. 24 July. Treaty of Lausanne signed in Switzerland by Turkey and the Entente powers that fought in World War I. After the conclusion of the Turkish War of Independence, this treaty recognized the Republic of Turkey as a sovereign nation. 9 August. Foundation of People's Party (Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi, CHP). 11 August. Second Grand National Assembly. 2 October. Turkish forces occupy Istanbul, following Allied evacuation. 9 October. Ankara becomes capital of Turkey. 29 October. Proclamation of the Turkish Republic, with Mustafa Kemal as President.

1924
3 March. The Caliphate is abolished, the Ottoman dynasty is exiled, religious schools are closed down, and organized Islam becomes regulated by the state. 8 April. Abolition of religious courts. 17 November. Foundation of Progressive Party.

1925
11 February - 12 April. Revolt in eastern region. 4 March. Law for Maintenance of Public Order gives Government exceptional powers. 3 June. Suppression of Progressive Party. 5 August. Mustafa Kemal divorces Latife.

30 August - 2 September. Mustafa Kemal tours Kastamonu province, announcing abolition of fez, suppression of religious brotherhoods, andclosing of sacred tombs as places of worship.

1926
17 February. Adoption of new Civil Law code. 5 June. Agreement on Mosul. Treaty of Ankara between Turkey, Britain and Irak. 15 June - 13 July. Attempted assassination of Mustafa Kemal in Izmir is uncovered. Trial and execution of ringleaders. 1 - 26 August. Trial and execution of 'Young Turk' leaders and others in Ankara.

1927
1 July. Mustafa Kemal revisits Istanbul. 15 - 20 October. Mustafa Kemal makes historic speech to Congress of People's Party (CHP). 1 November. Third Grand National Assembly. Mustafa Kemal reelected President of the Republic.

1928
3 November. Introduction of Latin alphabet.

1929
1 January. National schools open to teach new alphabet. 4 March. Maintenance of Order Law repealed. 13 May. New commercial law adopted.

1930
12 August. Foundation of Free Party.

17 November. Dissolution of Free Party. 23 December. Religious riot at Menemen. Trials and executions.

1931
15 April. Foundation of Turkish Historical Society. 4 May. Fourth Grand National Assembly. Mustafa Kemal re-elected President of the Republic.

1932
12 July. Foundation of Turkish Linguistic Society. 12 August. Turkey becomes member of League of Nations.

1933 1 February. Disturbances in Bursa over decision to recite the call to prayer in Turkish.
31 May. Istanbul University is established. 29 October. Celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the Turkish Republic.

1934
9 January. First Five-Year Plan for industrial development. 9 February. Balkan Pact concluded between Turkey, Greece, Rumania and Yugoslavia. 24 November. Mustafa Kemal adopts the surname "ATATRK" which is given to him by the Turkish Parliament. 8 December. Women made eligible to vote in Parliamentary elections and to become members of Parliament.

1935
1 March. Fifth Grand National Assembly. Ataturk re-elected President of the Republic.

1936
29 May. Dispute regarding future status of Hatay (Alexandretta) referred to the League of Nations. 20 July. Montreux Convention signed, regulating the Turkish Straits (Bosphorus and Dardanelles). 4 September. Visit of King Edward VIII to Ataturk in Istanbul.

1937
27 January. Autonomy of Hatay agreed between Turkey, France and Syria. 9 July. Saadabad Pact signed, between Turkey, Irak, Iran and Afghanistan.

1938
11 March. Illness of Ataturk is officially announced. 3 July. Franco-Turkish agreement to send French and Turkish troops into Hatay, to supervise elections. 2 September. Grand National Assembly votes nominal Republic of Hatay, with Turks in effective control. 18 September. Second Five Year Plan for industrial development. 10 November. The death of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the leader of the Turkish War of Independence and founder of modern-day Turkey. 11 November. Succession of Ismet Inonu as President of Turkey.

CHRONOLOGY A BRIEF SUMMARY 1876

Accession of Abdulhamit II, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire.

Abdulhamit proclaims Parliamentary Constitution.

1877
Russia invades Ottoman lands. Abdulhamit suspends Constitution and dissolves Ottoman Parliament.

1878
Russian victory confirmed by Treaty of San Stephano.

Treaty of Berlin replaces Treaty of San Stephano on July 13 1878 after Congress ends. 1881 Mustafa Kemal Atatrk is born in Salonika. 1893 The young Mustafa enters the Military Preparatory School in Salonika and is given the second name "Kemal" by his teacher. 1895 Mustafa Kemal enters the Military High School at Manastir. 1899 Mustafa Kemal enters the infantry class of the Military Academy in Istanbul. 1902 Mustafa Kemal graduates from the Military Academy and continues his studies at the General Staff College. January 11, 1905 Mustafa Kemal graduates from the General Staff College with the rank of Staff Captain and is posted to the Fifth Army, based in Damascus. October 1906 Mustafa Kemal and his friends become active in the little known "Fatherland and Freedom" society in Damascus. September 1907 Mustafa Kemal is transferred to the Third Army and travels to Salonika. September 13, 1911 Mustafa Kemal is transferred to the General Staff in Istanbul. January 9, 1912

Mustafa Kemal successfully leads the Tobruk offensive in Libya. November 25, 1912 Mustafa Kemal is appointed Director of Operations (Mediterranean Straits Special Forces). October 27, 1913 Mustafa Kemal is appointed Military Attach in Sofia. March 18, 1915 Allied navy fails to force the Turkish Straits. Mustafa Kemal demonstrates outstanding skills as a soldier and commander throughout the battle at Canakkale. April 25, 1915 Allied troops land at Arburnu (Anzac Cove) along the Dardanelles; Mustafa Kemal plays a major role in stopping their advance. August 9, 1915 Mustafa Kemal is appointed Commander of the Anafartalar Group on the Gallipoli Peninsula. April 1, 1916 Mustafa Kemal is promoted Brigadier-General. August 6-7, 1916 Mustafa Kemal wins Bitlis and Mu back from the enemy. October 31, 1918 Mustafa Kemal becomes Commander, 'Lightning Group' of Armies. April 30, 1919 Mustafa Kemal is appointed Inspector of the 9th Army based in Erzurum and is granted extensive powers. May 16, 1919 Mustafa Kemal leaves Istanbul for Samsun on the Bandrma vessel. May 19, 1919 Mustafa Kemal lands in Samsun, a city located on the Black Sea.. This date marks the beginning of the Turkish national liberation movement, and is an official holiday dedicated to the youth of Turkey.

July 8, 1919 Mustafa Kemal resigns from his post of Inspector of the 3rd Army, and from the army. July 23, 1919 Mustafa Kemal is elected Chairman of the Erzurum Congress. September 4, 1919 Mustafa Kemal is elected Chairman of the Sivas Congress. December 27, 1919 Mustafa Kemal arrives in Ankara with the Excutive Committee. April 23, 1920 Mustafa Kemal opens the Turkish Grand National Assembly in Ankara. May 11, 1920 Mustafa Kemal is condemned to death by the government in Istanbul. August 5, 1921 Mustafa Kemal is appointed Commander-in-Chief by the Grand National Assembly. August 23, 1921 The battle of Sakarya, led by Mustafa Kemal, begins. September 19, 1921 The Grand National Assembly gives Mustafa Kemal the rank of Marshal and the title Gazi (Victor). August 26, 1922 Gazi Mustafa Kemal begins to lead the Great Offensive from the hill of Kocatepe. August 30, 1922 Gazi Mustafa Kemal Paa wins the battle of Dumlupnar. September 10, 1922 Gazi Mustafa Kemal enters Izmir. November 1, 1922

The Grand National Assembly accepts Gazi Mustafa Kemal's proposal to abolish the Sultanate. January 14, 1923 Mustafa Kemal's mother Zbeyde Hanm dies in Izmir. October 29, 1923 Proclamation of the Turkish Republic. Gazi Mustafa Kemal is elected Turkey's First President. August 24, 1924 As part of Turkey's modernization, Gazi Mustafa Kemal wears a hat at Sarayburnu in Istanbul. August 9, 1928 As part of Turkey's reform process, Gazi Mustafa Kemal educates the public on the new Turkish alphabet at Sarayburnu. April 12, 1931 Gazi Mustafa Kemal establishes the Turkish Historical Society. July 12, 1932 Gazi Mustafa Kemal founds the Turkish Linguistic Society. June 16, 1934 The Grand National Assembly passes a law granting Gazi Mustafa Kemal the surname "Atatrk." November 10, 1938 Atatrk died at five past nine in the morning on November 10 in Dolmabahce Palace. Mourning Turkish citizens came to Istanbul to pay their last respects to Atatrk, until November 19, when the coffin in which his body rested, covered by a Turkish flag, was taken in procession to Sarayburnu. After it was placed onto the battleship Yavuz, it was transported to Izmit and later placed on a specially designated train which travelled at a slow speed throughout the country to enable mourners to pay tribute to their leader. Once the coffin arrived in Ankara on November 20, an official funeral was held on November 21. Dignitaries from many countries attended Atatrks state funeral. The coffin was moved in a solemn procession by gun carriage from the Grand National Assembly to the Ethnographic Museum, which had been selected as a temporary resting place until a mausoleum for Atatrk could be constructed.

November 10, 1953 At five past nine on November 10, 1953, Atatrks remains were taken from the Ethnographic Museum in a Turkish flag-draped coffin for burial at Antkabir.

The Causes of World War 1

The 3 main things that caused WW1 were:

The Assasination of Archduke Ferdinand The rise of Nationalism The building up of the Military and Aliances

Beginning of the War On June 28, 1914 Archduke Francis Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria- was assassinated by a Serbian terrorist named Gavrilo Princip. The Archduke's assassination triggered the outbreak of World War 1. On July 28 Austria declard war on Serbia. Because of Austria's alliance with Germany, Serbia try to get help from Russia. In 1914 Russia vowed to stand behind Serbia, but first Russia gained support from France. Germany declared war on Russia on Aug. 1, 1914, in response to Russias mobilization. Two days later Germany declared war on France. The German Army swept into Belgium on its way to France. The invasion of Belgium caused Britian to declare war on Germany on August. Germanys plan for a quick defeat of France while Russia slowly mobilized was called the "Schlieffen Plan". This plan called for two wings of the German army to crush the French army in a pincers movement. A small left wing would defend Germany alongs its frontier with France. A much larger right wing would invade France through Belgium, close in and capture Paris, and them move east. Belgiums army fought bravely but held up the Germans for only a short time. By August 16,1914, the right wing of Germany could begin its pincers motion. It drove back French and British forces in southern Belguim and swept info France. But instead of swinging west around Paris, one part of the right wing pursued retreating French toops toward the Marne River. This maneuver left the Germans exposed to attacks form the rear. World War I alliances The two opposing groups that fought in World War I were the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and Turkey) and the Allies, an alliance that grew from the three members of the Triple Entente (Britain and the British Empire, France, and Russia) to incorporate 27 Allied and Associated powers, including Italy and, towards the end of the war, the USA. Hostilities were precipitated by the murder of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian empire, by a Serbian nationalist. The incident led to unreasonable demands being made upon Serbia by Austria-Hungary and the eventual outbreak of war.