Yesterday was the 107th anniversary of the Sivas Congress, where the Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk launched the National Independence Struggle. Sivas Congress; It went down in history as the place where the Turkish nation decided to fight for independence after the start of imperialist occupations in Anatolia with the Armistice of Mudros signed between the Ottoman Empire and the imperialist Western states after World War I.
MUSTAFA KEMAL; BECOME THE HOPE OF THE NATION
Reactions against the occupation began quickly in the Turkish nation. The attitude of the Turkish nation towards the occupations was the words of Mustafa Kemal Pasha, who saw the navy of the imperialist states anchored in the port while coming to Istanbul on November 13, 1918, after the armistice: "They will go as they came."
TURKISH NATION IS BEGINNING TO ORGANIZE
The Turkish nation was reacting to the occupations. Especially, Hasan Tahsin (Osman Nevrez) firing the first bullet at the invading Greek army during the occupation of Izmir on May 15, 1919 was the historical symbol of this reaction. The occupation of Izmir triggered an awakening in the Turkish nation, and the occupation was protested with rallies all over the country. The Turkish nation was beginning to organize under the Kuvayi Milliye and Defense Law Societies.
MUSTAFA KEMAL IS GOING TO ANATOLIA
Ottoman Sultan Vahdettin and the Istanbul Government; It was acting in a "submissionist" manner against the occupations. Mustafa Kemal Pasha knew that the organization of the Turkish nation should be transformed into a struggle for independence. Mustafa Kemal; His departure to Samsun on the Bandırma ferry on 19 May 1919 as the 9th Army Inspector created an opportunity to initiate this transformation.
THE PROCESS TO SİVAS
Mustafa Kemal Pasha arrived in Samsun; Despite the British troops here; He took action immediately. Mustafa Kemal Pasha went to Havza on May 25, 1919. With this transition, Mustafa Kemal made his first address to the Turkish nation. With the Havza Circular published on May 28, Mustafa Kemal Pasha; He asked the public to continue the protests and the commanders not to disperse their armies.
THE PLACE WHERE THE FUSE OF THE REVOLUTION WAS IGNITED: AMASYA
Mustafa Kemal Pasha, who went to Amasya after the Havza Circular; He met with Refet Bey (Bele), Rauf Bey (Orbay), Ali Fuat Pasha (Cebesoy), and also contacted Kazım Pasha (Karabekir) and Mersinli Cemal Pasha. Mustafa Kemal Pasha along with these names; He published the Amasya Circular, which was also considered the "Declaration of Revolution", emphasizing that the Istanbul Government was dragging the Turkish nation into disaster, saying "The integrity of the country and the independence of the nation are in danger" and "The independence of the nation will be saved with the determination and decision of the nation". In this circular, it was requested that a national congress be held in Sivas and 3 delegates from each province be sent to this congress.
THE PLACE WHERE THE PRINCIPLES OF INDEPENDENCE WERE DETERMINED: ERZURUM
Mustafa Kemal Pasha, who was preparing to go to Sivas, attended the Erzurum Congress on July 23 to discuss the situation of the eastern cities at the request of Kazım Pasha. However, the decisions taken at the Erzurum Congress were on a national scale and the principles of the struggle for independence were determined. In this congress; Decisions were taken: "The homeland is a whole within national borders, it cannot be divided" and "Recognizing Kuvayı Milliye as the sole force and making the national will effective is the basic principle."
FEW DELEGATES PARTICIPATED
A number of delegates below expectations attended the Sivas Congress, whose preparations were continuing under the threats and obstacles of the Grand Vizier Damat Ferit Government and the occupying powers. Although the low number of delegates caused the first problem, the Sivas Congress opened on September 4 with the participation of 20-25 delegates, some of whom "came from the provinces" and some of whom were "appointed in Sivas". Additionally, some of the representatives attended the congress on different days and times. The total number increased to 38 with some delegates coming to the Congress during the week-long meetings.
IT TOOK 1 WEEK
Despite the small number of delegates, the congress lasted a week without any problems, and on September 11, a declaration was published to be published both in Anatolia and the whole world. National decisions were taken at the Sivas Congress. Within the scope of the decisions taken at the Erzurum Congress were brought to a national dimension; “Delegation Representation” was transformed into an administrative institution that was representative of the entire country.
NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE STRUGGLE HAS BEEN STARTED
At the Sivas Congress, the Ottoman borders at the time the Armistice of Mudros was signed were accepted as the borders of the country, which was considered indivisible. The most important decision taken in Sivas was that the Anatolian and Rumelian Anatolian defense law societies were united under the name of "Anatolian and Rumelian Defense Law Society". In addition, the decision "Mandate and protectorate are unacceptable" taken at the Erzurum Congress was repeated at the Sivas Congress and the decision in question was transformed into a national moment. Thus, by bringing independentists from all over the country under one roof, the struggle for independence was enabled to gain a national identity.
MUSTAFA KEMAL RISED TO LEADERSHIP
The process that Mustafa Kemal started from Havza moved to a national dimension with the Sivas Congress. Mustafa Kemal with the Sivas Congress; Despite all the obstacles of the Istanbul Government and the occupation states, he centralized the resistance that started in Anatolia and strengthened his own leadership. Sivas Congress was a congress where the National Independence Struggle was initiated and showed that the hope of the Turkish nation was in Anatolia. The decisions taken at the congress and the unification of advocacy law societies also laid the groundwork for the unitary structure of the Republic to be established as a result of the struggle for independence.
