The Republic Day of Turkey, also known as the Anniversary of the Republic, is celebrated on October 29th. This date marks the day when the Republic of Turkey was officially established in 1923 after the Turkish War of Independence. Today is the 100th anniversary of the Turkish Republic.
The Republic Day of Turkey holds great importance for the Turkish people, as it represents their struggle for independence and the formation of a secular, democratic and modern country. The Turkish War of Independence was a four-year-long struggle that involved the entire Turkish nation against foreign invaders and rebels who were threatening the newly-established Turkish government. The war ended with a victory for the Turkish forces on August 30th 1922, and the establishment of a secular, democratic and modern Turkish Republic on October 29th, 1923.
Today, the Republic Day of Turkey is celebrated with pride across the country. In Ankara, the capital city of Turkey, the main ceremony is held at Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founding father of modern Turkey. Atatürk was born in 1881 in Thessaloniki. Atatürk grew up in a family with military traditions and early on developed a passion for the study of military history. After completing his education in Istanbul and in European military schools, he joined the Ottoman Army and quickly rose through the ranks to become a general during the First World War. Atatürk played a critical role in the Turkish fight for independence during the Turkish War of Independence, which led to the establishment of the Republic of Turkey in 1923.
Atatürk’s vision for the new Turkey was deeply intertwined with his vision of national independence and sovereignty. He believed that the Turkish people had the right to determine their own destiny and to live in peace and security without foreign interference. His determination to protect Turkish sovereignty and independence led him to make several bold moves, including the adoption of Turkish as the official language of the country and the reform of the Turkish alphabet to replace the Arabic script with the Latin script.
If the Republic Day was not marked, it is likely that Turkey would not have become the secular, democratic and modern nation-state that it is today. The Republic Day marked the end of the Ottoman Empire and the beginning of a new chapter in Turkish history.
