The role of Cerkez Ethem in the Turkish War of Independence

With the Mondros Armistice Treaty, on October 30, 1918, the Ottoman State is considered to have accepted the defeat of the First World War. The Armistice of Mondros is not the end of a state that ruled over two worlds like the Ottoman Empire for 600 years, but it is also the result of the destruction of a nation, Turkishness. The Anatolian people, who were left vulnerable with the Mondros Armistice Treaty, formed the national resistance organization Kuvâ-yi Milliye to defend themselves. The occupation of Izmir by the Greeks on 15 May 1919 caused the people of Anatolia and especially the region to accelerate their organization. One of the important ones among the irregular public organizations is Kuvâ- yi Seyyâre, founded under the leadership of Cerkez Ethem. Kuvâ-yi Seyyâre provided great benefit in actions against invasions and in suppressing local rebellions and contributed to the strengthening of the central authority. The spread of external powers in Anatolia region that started with the occupation of Izmir continued with the progress of the Greeks to the interior of the Aegean Region. The Kuvâ-yi Milliye organization was formed in Western Anatolia against the occupations. Rauf Orbay went to Bandırma and asked for his support by meeting with Çerkez Ethem and his brothers in order to advance the Kuvâ-yi Milliye organization and expel the Greeks from their homeland. Cerkez Ethem, who participated in the National Struggle, stopped progress of the Greek and successfully suppressed the internal revolts in the country. Cerkez Ethem provided time for the organization of the new and regular Turkish army established in Anatolia. In this way, Cerkez Ethem made an important contribution to the Turkish War of Independence.