“Peace at Home, Peace in the World”

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was born in 1881 in a three-story pink house located on Islahhane Street in the Kocakasım neighborhood of Thessaloniki. His father was Ali Rıza Efendi, and his mother was Zübeyde Hanım. On his father’s side, his grandfather Hafız Ahmet Efendi came from the Kocacık Yörüks, a Turkish nomadic group settled in Macedonia during the 14th–15th centuries from Konya and Aydın. His mother, Zübeyde Hanım, was from a longstanding Turkish family that had settled in the town of Langaza near Thessaloniki. Ali Rıza Efendi, who served as a militia officer, clerk, and timber trader, married Zübeyde Hanım in 1871. Of Atatürk’s five siblings, four died at a young age, and only Makbule (Atadan) lived until 1956.

When young Mustafa reached school age, he first attended Hafız Mehmet Efendi’s neighborhood school, then transferred to the modern Şemsi Efendi School at his father’s request. Around this time, his father passed away (1888). After staying for a time with his uncle at Rapla Farm, he returned to Thessaloniki and completed his schooling. He enrolled at Thessaloniki Civil Secondary School but soon transferred to the Military Secondary School in 1893. It was here that his math teacher Mustafa Bey added “Kemal” to his name. Between 1896–1899, he studied at the Monastir Military High School and then continued at the War Academy in Istanbul. He graduated as a lieutenant in 1902 and completed the Staff College on January 11, 1905, with the rank of captain.

From 1905 to 1907, he served in the 5th Army in Damascus. In 1907, he was promoted to senior captain and assigned to the 3rd Army in Monastir. On April 19, 1909, he served as Chief of Staff in the Action Army that entered Istanbul. In 1910, he was sent to France and participated in the Picardie Maneuvers. In 1911, he began working for the General Staff in Istanbul.

When Italy attacked Tripoli in 1911, Mustafa Kemal, along with a group of comrades, was deployed to the Tobruk and Derna regions. He won the Battle of Tobruk against the Italians on December 22, 1911, and was appointed Commander of Derna on March 6, 1912.

With the outbreak of the Balkan Wars in October 1912, Mustafa Kemal joined the campaign with troops from Gallipoli and Bolayır, contributing significantly to the recapture of Edirne and Dimetoka. In 1913, he was appointed Military Attaché in Sofia, and during his service there, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1914. His assignment ended in January 1915, by which time World War I had begun, drawing the Ottoman Empire into the conflict. Mustafa Kemal was assigned to establish the 19th Division in Tekirdağ.

During World War I, which began in 1914, Mustafa Kemal became a legendary figure at Gallipoli, forcing the Allied powers to acknowledge, “Çanakkale is impassable!” On March 18, 1915, the Allied naval forces suffered heavy losses in their attempt to force the Dardanelles, prompting a land invasion of the Gallipoli Peninsula. On April 25, 1915, troops landed at Arıburnu, only to be halted at Conkbayırı by the 19th Division under Mustafa Kemal’s command. For this success, he was promoted to colonel. When the British launched another major offensive on August 6–7, 1915, Mustafa Kemal, now commanding the Anafartalar Group, led the victory at the Battle of Anafartalar on August 9–10. He followed this with victories at Kireçtepe on August 17 and the Second Anafartalar Battle on August 21. With about 253,000 Turkish soldiers martyred, the nation held its ground. His famous order to his troops—“I do not order you to attack; I order you to die!”—changed the course of the war.

After the Gallipoli Campaign, Mustafa Kemal served in Edirne and Diyarbakır in 1916. On April 1, 1916, he was promoted to major general. He led successful campaigns to recapture Muş and Bitlis from Russian forces. After brief assignments in Damascus and Aleppo, he returned to Istanbul in 1917 and accompanied Crown Prince Vahdettin on a military study tour to Germany. Following this trip, he fell ill and went to Vienna and Karlsbad for treatment. On August 15, 1918, he returned to Aleppo as commander of the 7th Army, where he conducted successful defensive operations against British forces. On October 31, 1918, the day after the signing of the Armistice of Mudros, he was appointed Commander of the Yıldırım Armies Group. After its dissolution, he returned to Istanbul on November 13, 1918, and began work at the Ministry of War.

With the Allied occupation of Ottoman lands after the armistice, Mustafa Kemal was appointed Inspector of the 9th Army and arrived in Samsun on May 19, 1919. In his circular from Amasya on June 22, 1919, he declared that “the nation’s independence will be saved by the determination and resolve of the nation itself” and called for the Sivas Congress. He organized the Erzurum Congress (July 23 – August 7, 1919) and the Sivas Congress (September 4–11, 1919), determining the path to national liberation. He was welcomed with great enthusiasm in Ankara on December 27, 1919. The opening of the Grand National Assembly on April 23, 1920, marked a key milestone in the foundation of the Republic of Turkey. Mustafa Kemal was elected Speaker of the Assembly and Head of Government. The Assembly passed and implemented the necessary laws for the success of the War of Independence.

The Turkish War of Independence began on May 15, 1919, with the occupation of İzmir by the Greeks and the first shots fired in resistance. Initially, the war was waged by irregular militias called Kuvâ-yi Milliye. Later, the Grand National Assembly formed a regular army and unified the militias and army into a single force, ultimately achieving victory.

Major stages of the War of Independence under Mustafa Kemal’s leadership include:

  • Liberation of Sarıkamış (Sept 20, 1920), Kars (Oct 30, 1920), and Gümrü (Nov 7, 1920)

  • Defense of Çukurova, Gaziantep, Kahramanmaraş, and Şanlıurfa (1919–1921)

  • First Battle of İnönü (Jan 6–10, 1921)

  • Second Battle of İnönü (March 23–April 1, 1921)

  • Battle of Sakarya (Aug 23–Sept 13, 1921)

  • Great Offensive and Battle of Dumlupınar (Aug 26–Sept 9, 1922)

Following the Sakarya Victory, on September 19, 1921, the Grand National Assembly awarded Mustafa Kemal the rank of Field Marshal and the title of Gazi. The War of Independence officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne on July 24, 1923. This treaty nullified the Treaty of Sèvres, which had carved up Ottoman lands, and cleared the path for establishing a new Turkish state based on national unity.

The opening of the Grand National Assembly on April 23, 1920, heralded the birth of the Republic. The Assembly’s successful leadership in the War of Independence accelerated the founding of the new Turkish state. On November 1, 1922, the caliphate and sultanate were separated, and the sultanate was abolished, ending Ottoman rule. On October 13, 1923, the Republic was officially adopted, and Mustafa Kemal was unanimously elected the first President. The first government was formed by İsmet İnönü on October 30, 1923. The Republic of Turkey began its journey with the principles of “Sovereignty unconditionally belongs to the nation” and “Peace at home, peace in the world.”

To elevate Turkey to the level of contemporary civilizations, Atatürk led a series of revolutions, categorized as follows:

1. Political Reforms:

  • Abolition of the Sultanate (Nov 1, 1922)

  • Proclamation of the Republic (Oct 29, 1923)

  • Abolition of the Caliphate (March 3, 1924)

2. Social Reforms:

  • Granting equal rights to women (1926–1934)

  • Hat and dress reform (Nov 25, 1925)

  • Closure of dervish lodges and tombs (Nov 30, 1925)

  • Surname Law (June 21, 1934)

  • Abolition of titles and ranks (Nov 26, 1934)

  • Adoption of international time, calendar, and measurement systems (1925–1931)

3. Legal Reforms:

  • Abolition of the Mecelle (1924–1937)

  • Introduction of the Turkish Civil Code and other laws to establish a secular legal system (1924–1937)

4. Educational and Cultural Reforms:

  • Unification of education (March 3, 1924)

  • Adoption of the new Turkish alphabet (Nov 1, 1928)

  • Founding of the Turkish Language and History Institutions (1931–1932)

  • Reorganization of higher education (May 31, 1933)

  • Advancements in fine arts

5. Economic Reforms:

  • Abolition of tithe taxes

  • Promotion of agriculture

  • Establishment of model farms

  • Enactment of the Law on the Encouragement of Industry and founding of industrial enterprises

  • Implementation of the First and Second Development Plans (1933–1937) and infrastructure improvements

Under the Surname Law, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey granted Mustafa Kemal the surname “Atatürk” on November 24, 1934.

Atatürk was elected President of the Grand National Assembly on April 24, 1920, and again on August 13, 1923. This position was equivalent to Head of State and Government. After the proclamation of the Republic in 1923, he became the first President and was re-elected in 1927, 1931, and 1935.

He frequently traveled around the country to oversee government affairs firsthand and gave direct orders to address problems. As President, he hosted foreign heads of state, prime ministers, ministers, and military commanders. He delivered his famous Great Speech on October 15–20, 1927, recounting the War of Independence and the foundation of the Republic, and his 10th Year Speech on October 29, 1933.

In his private life, Atatürk lived modestly. He married Latife Hanım on January 29, 1923, and the marriage lasted until August 5, 1925. He adopted several children, including Afet (İnan), Sabiha (Gökçen), Fikriye, Ülkü, Nebile, Rukiye, Zehra, and a shepherd boy named Mustafa. He also supported two boys named Abdurrahim and İhsan. In 1937, he donated his farms to the state and some properties to the municipalities of Ankara and Bursa. He left portions of his inheritance to his sister, adopted children, and the Turkish Language and History Institutions.

He loved reading, music, dancing, horseback riding, and swimming. He had a deep interest in Zeybek dances, wrestling, and Rumelian folk songs. He enjoyed playing backgammon and billiards, and cherished his horse, Sakarya, and his dog, Fox. He had a vast personal library and often hosted scholars, artists, and statesmen at dinner to discuss national issues. He paid great attention to cleanliness, neatness, and nature, frequently visiting Atatürk Forest Farm and personally participating in the work.

Atatürk was proficient in French and German. He passed away from cirrhosis on November 10, 1938, at 9:05 a.m. at Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul. His body was placed in the Ethnography Museum of Ankara on November 21, 1938, and later transferred to his permanent resting place in Anıtkabir with a grand ceremony on November 10, 1953.