Battle of the Sakarya
Sakarya River near Polatlı, Ankara Province, Turkey
What happened
The Turkish army under Mustafa Kemal Pasha and İsmet Pasha fought the Greek army under Anastasios Papoulas. In the Greco-Turkish War, the Greek army advanced deep into Anatolia toward Ankara. The Turks dug in on hills east of the Sakarya River along a front about 100 km long. After 21 days of fighting, the Greeks could not break through and retreated.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It is considered the turning point of the Turkish War of Independence. Turkey's Grand National Assembly made Mustafa Kemal a field marshal and gave him the title 'Gazi'.
What came next
A year later, the Turkish army won the decisive Battle of Dumlupınar. The Treaty of Lausanne in 1923 ended the war.
Did you know?
So many officers were lost that the battle is also called the 'Officers' Battle' in Turkey.
Timeline
- 23 August 1921The Battle of the Sakarya begins.
- 13 September 1921The Greek army retreats.
- 1921Mustafa Kemal is made field marshal and 'Gazi'.
- 26 August 1922The Battle of Dumlupınar begins.
- 24 July 1923The Treaty of Lausanne is signed.