XX. social, economic and political situation of Pozantı in the early century (1900-1922)

The Pozantı region and valley, known as the Cilician gates, have been the center of attention of civilizations in every period of history. The region, which is the entrance gate of Çukurova from the north, has always preserved its strategic position. It has been defined as an important gateway and route in history. Ancient civilizations almost struggled with each other to own the region. The strategic region on the transition route from the Central Anatolia Region to the Mediterranean Region has become even more important with the implementation of the Berlin-Baghdad Railway Project. During the First World War, it was one of the fields that many states followed with interest, made plans to seize, and invested in their own interests. During the First World War, in which the Ottoman state participated, the passages and shipments made from the Pozantı region were important enough to affect the fate of Çukurova and the southern fronts. The construction sites of railway construction companies and the fact that one of the prisoner camps established in the geography of the Ottoman state at that time was established in the Pozantı-Belemedik area has revealed important results in terms of the history of the region and the country in terms of demographic, social and political results. As a result of the enemy occupation of Çukurova and Pozantı region, the struggle for independence reached as a result of the outstanding struggles of the Kuvayi Milliye Heroes, whose names should be written in gold letters in the history books, especially Mustafa Kemal Pasha, the liberation of the region from occupation are the glorious traces of our recent history. After the liberation on May 25, 1920, the Pozantı Congress, which was held with the participation of Mustafa Kemal Pasha who is the head of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, is one of the important stages of the national liberation. We see that Mustafa Kemal Pasha, who planted the seeds of National Liberation in Adana, where he was after the signing of the Armistice of Mudros on October 30, 1918, expressed that the idea of national liberation first emerged in Adana during his visit to Adana years later. Mustafa Kemal Pasha's attempts to save Pozantı from the French occupation and the liberation achieved thanks to the superior struggle of the people of the region are important in terms of setting an example for other occupied countries of Anatolia.