HistoryData
war1922

Turkish War of Independence — war fought between the Turkish National Movement and the Entente and their proxies

October 11, 1922

The Turkish War of Independence dismantled the Ottoman Empire, established the Republic of Turkey, and reshaped Anatolia's political and demographic order.

Quick Facts

Year
1922
Category
war

Key Facts

War duration
15 May 1919 – 24 July 1923
Armistice signed
Mudanya Armistice, 11 October 1922
Final treaty
Treaty of Lausanne, 1923
Republic declared
29 October 1923
Muslim population share
Rose from 80% to 98% of Anatolia
Key nationalist leader
Mustafa Kemal Pasha (Atatürk)

By the Numbers

15
War duration
11
Armistice signed
1,923
Final treaty
29
Republic declared

Location

Map of Ankara, TurkeyMap of Ankara, TurkeyAnkara, Turkey

Cause → Event → Consequence

Cause

Following Ottoman defeat in World War I, Allied powers occupied and partitioned Ottoman territory under the Sykes–Picot Agreement and later the Treaty of Sèvres. The Allied-sanctioned Greek occupation of Smyrna in 1919 inflamed sectarian tensions and prompted Ottoman commanders to defy disarmament orders. Mustafa Kemal, dispatched to restore order, instead organized a nationalist resistance government in Ankara that rejected Allied-imposed terms as illegitimate.

Event

The Turkish National Movement fought a multi-front war from 1919 to 1923 against Greek, French, Armenian, and other Allied-backed forces. Key campaigns included the Greco-Turkish War on the Western Front, culminating in the Great Offensive and the recapture of İzmir, as well as the Treaty of Kars following campaigns against Armenia. The Mudanya Armistice of 11 October 1922 ended major hostilities, with the Grand National Assembly recognized as Turkey's legitimate government.

Consequence

The war resulted in the abolition of the Ottoman sultanate and caliphate, the expulsion of Allied forces from Anatolia and eastern Thrace, and the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey on 29 October 1923. The Treaty of Lausanne formalized these gains. A compulsory population exchange between Greece and Turkey followed, and Atatürk's secular nationalist reforms transformed the new state. The historic Christian presence in Anatolia was largely eliminated through massacres, deportations, and ethnic cleansing.

Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis

Side A

1 belligerent

Turkish National Movement (Ankara Government)
Key Commanders

Mustafa Kemal Pasha (Atatürk), İsmet Pasha (İnönü).

Side B

4 belligerents

Kingdom of GreeceFranceRepublic of ArmeniaAllied occupation forces (Britain, Italy)
Outcome
Turkish Nationalist victory; Treaty of Lausanne signed; Republic of Turkey proclaimed 29 October 1923; Allied forces evacuated Anatolia and eastern Thrace.

Timeline Context

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