This chronology of the Turkish War of Independence (also known as Turkish war of liberation) is a timeline of events during the Turkish War of Independence (1919–1923). The timeline also includes the background events starting with the end of the First World War. The events are classified according to the campaigns and parties involved. Pictures are included for the significant events.
Legend LegendGroups Members Main Article Turkish National Movement Turkish War of Independence Mustafa Kemal Pasha Ottoman Empire/Istanbul government Joint actions by Allies of World War I Britain United Kingdom during the Turkish War of Independence GreeceGreco-Turkish War ArmeniaTurkish–Armenian War FranceFranco-Turkish War ItalyRussiaGeorgiaTurkish–Georgian WarUnited StatesUnited States during the Turkish War of IndependenceSeparatist movements/revoltsRevolts during the Turkish War of IndependenceSocialists Armistices, peace conferences, and treaties International events/OtherAftermath of World War I
1918 DateEvent30 Oct 1918Signing of the Armistice of Mudros between Turkey, represented by Hüseyin Rauf Bey and Britain, represented by Somerset Gough-Calthorpe. Turkey withdraws from the Great War. Among the many stipulations, the Ottoman Empire must: I) Open the Straits to Allied shipping, guarantee access to the Black Sea, and provide for Allied occupation of the fortresses along the Dardanelles and BosphorusV) Foresee immediate demobilisation the army, except where necessary to preserve orderVII) Give the Allies "the right to occupy any strategic points in the event of any situation arising which threatens the security of the Allies"XI) Immediately withdraw all troops from Northwest Persia and the CaucasusXV) Provide for Allied control over railroadsXVI) Surrender all garrisons in Hejaz, Asir, Yemen, Syria and Mesopotamia. Withdraw all troops from Cilicia except those which maintain order.
The Ottoman general staff was not required to be dissolved and the role of the Ottoman dynasty was not touched. The agreement was made without consultation between Britain and its allies.30 Oct 1918Lord Balfour announces that the Agreement of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne is void, to much protest by the Italians, which will soon support the Ottoman Empire in resistance to Allied settlements31 Oct 1918Mustafa Kemal Pasha takes over command of the Yildirim Army Group (on the Syrian front) from Otto Liman von Sanders.1 Nov 1918Last congress of the Committee of Union and Progress gathers in Istanbul, the party dissolves itself. It is reorganized into the Renewal Party, the Ottoman Liberal People's Party splits off. The Karakol society is founded in this period on the orders of Talat Pasha to safe guard Turkish interests in the defeated Ottoman Empire2 Nov 1918Enver Pasha, Talat Pasha, Cemal Pasha and others leading names of the CUP leave Constantinople/Istanbul 5 Nov 19181918 United States midterm elections see the Republican Party win a majority in the United States Senate. President Woodrow Wilson has to contend with isolationist control over the upper house despite his internationalist tendencies7 Nov 1918British troops occupy Mosul, in violation of the armistice.8 Nov 1918Grand vizier Ahmed Izzet Pasha and his government resigns9 Nov 1918British troops occupy Alexandretta/İskenderun after Mustafa Kemal Pasha reluctantly permits them to do so. British forces occupy both sides of the Dardanelles9 Nov 1918Conclusion of the German revolution: Germany declares itself a republic11 Nov 1918A new Ottoman government is formed under the Grand Vizier Ahmed Tevfik Pasha12 Nov 1918 A French brigade enters Istanbul to begin the Allied occupation of the city and its immediate dependencies (the two opposite peninsulas). A fleet consisting of British, French, Italian and Greek ships deploy additional troops the next day.13 Nov 1918Mustafa Kemal Pasha arrives at Haydarpasha Station from Adana after the dissolution of Yildirim Army Group on 7 November. Along with Hüseyin Rauf, Ali Fethi, and Ismail Canbulat, they attempt to convince parliament not to confirm Tevfik Pasha as Grand Vizier14 Nov 1918Joint French-Greek troops cross the Maritsa/Meriç River and occupy the town of Uzunköprü in Eastern Thrace as well as the railway axis until the train station of Hadımköy near Çatalca on the outskirts of Istanbul.14 Nov 1918First Kars Congress organized by representatives of the Turkish-Muslim majority population in Kars region to figure out what to do with the retreat of Ottoman forces.15 Nov 1918Ottoman troops withdraw from Baku, which will be occupied by British troops in the following days, and also evacuate Mosul, to be occupied by the British after the armistice.18 Nov 1918Ottoman troops withdraw from Tabriz.19 Nov 1918Ottoman Parliament holds a vote to confirm Tevfik Pasha as Grand Vizier. Fearing a new election, most MPs of the Renewal Party -which holds a majority, though distrusts Tevfik- votes their confidence in his cabinet. Mehmed VI trusts Tevfik to guard the interests of the royal family over the state.23 Nov 1918Establishment of the "Mazhar Commission" by the Ottoman government, to investigate war crimes against Ottoman Christians during World War I28 Nov 1918Kâzım Karabekir Pasha arrives at Istanbul from Kars.30 Nov 1918Second Kars Congress. Muslim population expresses opposition to incorporation into Georgia or ArmeniaDec 1918Establishment of the Republic of Aras1 Dec 1918The first "Association for Defence of National Rights" [Müdafaa-i Hukuk Cemiyeti] is founded by Muslims in İzmir to protest a possible Greek annexation of the city, and is followed by similar associations for Thrace and the Eastern Provinces in the following days2 Dec 1918Tevfik Pasha reimposes press censorship after criticism against his premiership4 Dec 1918Foundation of the Wilsonian Principles Society by ex-Unionists and liberals alike. They request the United States to administer the Ottoman Empire as a Mandate the next day, to no avail. The organization shuts down in a couple months, but the mandate question in the Ottoman Empire continues6 Dec 1918British troops based in Syria occupy Kilis7 Dec 1918French troops occupy Antioch/Antakya7 Dec 1918Armenian–Georgian War over Lori. Britain brokers a ceasefire by the end of the month11 Dec 1918Kölemen Abdullah Pasha resigns as War Minister, after opposition from Great War veterans. He is replaced by Cevat Çobanli Pasha, Mustafa Fevzi Pasha becomes chief of the general staff12 Dec 1918Special courts-martials are opened in the War Ministry to try Enver and Cemal Pasha14 Dec 1918Tevfik Pasha inaugurates the Special Military War Tribunal to prosecute members of the CUP accused of war crimes. Several high ranking CUP members are arrested.17 Dec 1918 French navy deploys troops in Mersina/Mersin to occupy the important port city19 Dec 1918 French troops occupy Tarsus and Ceyhan and face the first exchanges of fire in Dörtyol in one of the opening acts of the Franco-Turkish War20 Dec 1918French troops occupy Adana, Cilicia's largest city21 Dec 1918Dissolution of the Ottoman Chamber of Deputies, though not the Senate, by the sultan Mehmed VI Vahdeddin, when the chamber attempted to censure Tevfik Pasha. He resigns anyway. This put an end to its third term that was previously dominated by Unionists since 1914. Elections are not called, but promised for next year.21 Dec 1918"Adana Association for Defense of National Rights" is founded.23 Dec 1918French troops occupy Osmaniye and İslahiye to eventually secure control over the Cilician Gates on 27 December. At the same time, British troops occupy Batum.23 Dec 1918Ottoman government issues a general amnesty except those suspected of war crimes. Many politicians arrested by the CUP since 1913 are rehabilitated30 Dec 1918Government decree to confiscate assets of a number of CUP adjacent enterprises30 Dec 1918Founding of the Society for the Rise of Kurdistan30 Dec 1918Following his visit to Paris in November to present Greece's territorial claims to the to be opened Paris Peace Conference, Eleftherios Venizelos reasserts these claims in a memorandum addressed to the British Prime Minister, David Lloyd George. They encompass much of Western Anatolia, and the area around the Sea of Marmara.
1919