⛴️ From Gallipoli to Samsun

Hello! In this episode we will follow Mustafa Kemal’s journey from 1915 to 1919 on a map. Our road starts at Çanakkale, also called Gallipoli, and ends in Ankara.

In 1915 there were very hard days at Gallipoli. The Dardanelles, the narrow strait there, was very important. Mustafa Kemal served as a commander at Anafartalar and tried to protect the homeland.

After the war, foreign soldiers entered some parts of the country. This is called an occupation. People were very sad, but they did not lose hope.

On 16 May 1919, Mustafa Kemal left Istanbul on the steamship Bandırma. The ship sailed across the Black Sea towards Samsun.

On 19 May 1919, Mustafa Kemal landed at Samsun. Today we celebrate this day as the Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day, on 19 May.

On 22 June 1919, an important letter was sent from Amasya to many parts of the country. It is called the Amasya Circular. A circular is an official letter that is sent to many places.

Then people came together to talk and decide as a group. Meetings like this are called congresses. The Erzurum Congress was held on 23 July 1919, and the Sivas Congress on 4 September 1919.

On 27 December 1919, Mustafa Kemal came to Ankara. A new chapter was beginning in Ankara.

Let’s follow the route again: Samsun, Amasya, Erzurum, Sivas and Ankara. Every stop has a date. Samsun, 19 May. Amasya, 22 June. Erzurum, 23 July. Sivas, 4 September. And Ankara, 27 December.

Summary: after Gallipoli, Mustafa Kemal landed at Samsun from the steamship Bandırma. He passed through Amasya, Erzurum and Sivas and came to Ankara. Now try it in Mustafa Kemal’s Journey!