On September 9, 1922, Commander-in-Chief Mustafa Kemal Pasha sent the following telegram to the Chairman of the Delegation of Representatives, Rauf Bey: "After breaking the last resistance of the enemy on the eastern ridges of Izmir, our troops entered Izmir victoriously with the defeated enemy today, September 9, 1922. Enemy officers and privates who were banned from boarding ferries are surrendering. I will be in Izmir starting tomorrow afternoon."1
On the same evening, the Commander-in-Chief sent the following congratulatory message to the Turkish army:
"I remember with respect and appreciation the efforts and sacrifices of the armies in reaching their first Mediterranean goal. I sincerely thank and congratulate my dear friends, who are the real creators of the great victory achieved.
"I have full faith that the armies will compete with the same success and sacrifice in achieving the targets they will be given from now on."
CAPTAIN ŞERAFETTİN BEY RAISES THE FLAG AT IZMIR GOVERNORSHIP
While the army was literally flowing to Izmir by the historical order of Commander-in-Chief Mustafa Kemal Pasha, Second Cavalry Division Commander Lieutenant Colonel Zeki assigned the First Cavalry Regiment as the vanguard. The task of entering Izmir was given to Second Division, Fourth Regiment Deputy Commander Captain Şerafettin.
The people gathered in front of the Government House embraced the Cavalry Lieutenant Ali Rıza Bey and Lieutenant Hamdi Bey, who raised the Turkish flag together with Captain Şerafettin, amid enthusiastic applause.
Meanwhile, the cavalry unit under the command of Captain Zeki hoisted the crescent and star flag to Sarıkışla, and the 4th regiment commander, Major Reşat Bey, hoisted the star and crescent flag to Kadifekale.
On September 10, 1922; Seydiköy, on September 11, 1922; Seferhisar was liberated from enemy occupation on 12 September 1922, Urla and Çeşme on 16 September 1922.
COMMANDER-CHIEF MUSTAFA KEMAL PASHA IN IZMIR
On September 10, 1922, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha entered Izmir with Marshal Fevzi Pasha, Western Front Commander İsmet Pasha, and Western Front Chief of Staff Lieutenant Colonel Asım Bey. With this reunion that he and the people of Izmir longed for, not only Izmir was saved, but also the last bullet of the War of Independence was fired. While Gazi was driving his car in Kordon;
He muttered, “It feels like I saw a dream,” and was welcomed with great joy and enthusiasm by the people of Izmir. A large crowd formed between the Government Mansion and the Konak Ferry Pier, and the square was filled to capacity. So;
It could have been thought that "the trees in that square were planted on a background of human heads and faces." Applause,
Voices of "Long live Mustafa Kemal Pasha" were rising to the skies. At one point, while Gazi was greeting the people who showed him crazy love from the balcony of the Government House;
"Success belongs to your nation, not to me," he said.
When Mustafa Kemal Pasha arrived at the Izmir Government House in an open car on September 10, all of Türkiye was experiencing the joy of celebrating this great victory. Congratulatory telegrams were pouring into Izmir from all sides. The repercussions of the victory in foreign countries were great. Indian Muslims, Iranian prime minister, Afghan ambassador, Russian ambassador etc. He was one of those who celebrated this great victory.
CELEBRATION TELEGRAM OF ISTANBUL GOVERNMENT
The great victory was celebrated with enthusiasm not only in Izmir but throughout the country, and many congratulatory telegrams were sent to the chief architect of the victory, Commander-in-Chief Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha. The most interesting of these is the telegram from the Ottoman Government, which issued a death warrant to him 2.5 years ago;
He wrote the following in his telegram addressed as "To His Excellency Mustafa Kemal Pasha, the commander who deserves to be called fearless"; "The superior victory in the liberation of our Anatolia and Izmir, the city of cities, which is a Turkish province, has added a very bright page of bravery to the proud history of the Ottoman Empire. In this regard, the heroism and patriotism shown by your great commander personality and all the notables, chiefs, officers and privates are thanked and glorified with the choice of language. While the victory is celebrated and blessed, the Fatiha is offered to the pure souls of our martyrs, sir. 10 September. 1922”
BRITISH CONSUL REQUESTS GUARANTEE
Salih Bozok wrote the following in his memoirs of the days after the liberation of Izmir; "One day before the fire, we went to the Government House. The British Consul was next to the Governor. The Pasha entered the Governor's room. When I went to give information to His Excellency the Pasha for some business, I heard the following conversation between the Pasha and the British Consul who spoke Turkish: 'What do you want from the Governor?' 'I want guarantees about our citizens.'
‘Were you more confident when the Greeks were here?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Then go to Greece.
'Are you declaring war on England as well?' 'Have peace been made between us and England, you ask whether we have declared war? Besides, are you qualified to talk about such things that you're asking me this? I am the President of the Turkish Grand National Assembly and the Commander-in-Chief of the Turkish Armies. I have the authority to talk about anything. If you have such authority, we can meet. Otherwise, please come in.' Pasha said this and showed the consul the door.
Izmir was saved, but another drama had begun: "Migration"
The Greek soldiers who landed happily 1240 days ago to bring civilization to Izmir and the local Greeks who welcomed them are now gathered at the docks, mad with fear. They watch this scene through binoculars from the giant ships of the imperialist states that dragged them into this bloody adventure. At that time, Turkish cavalry also came and entered the city, and no one listened to any warnings anymore.
Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha is also with his general headquarters behind the army. Gazi, who is now completely sure of the final victory, reads the reports without excitement and adds:
"There were no errors in the equations. His calculations were fundamental and correct. Mathematics, cold mathematics."
Let's come to the 104th anniversary of the liberation of Izmir on September 9, 1922...
At 14:00 on August 30, while Commander-in-Chief Mustafa Kemal Pasha was touring the battlefield after the pitched battle that he personally led from Zafertepe, he saw thousands of enemy corpses piled on top of each other and said the following in the face of this terrible sight:
"This sight may embarrass humanity! But we had to do this for the rightful defense of our homeland. Turks would not attempt such an action in the homeland of other nations."
Seeing a torn and abandoned Greek flag among the war remnants, the Commander-in-Chief gestured with his hand to remove the flag from the ground and said:
"Flag is a sign of independence of a nation. Even if it is an enemy, it must be respected. Raise it and place it on the cannon."
Atatürk, who was able to say "Peace at Home, Peace in the World", led to peace with the neighboring countries of our country with the Balkan Pact and the Sadabat Pact, which he pioneered.
We remember him with respect and longing.
09 September 2026
Ahmet Gurel
