Victory Day in Turkey commemorates the key Turkish victory against Greek forces in the Battle of Başkumandanlık (August 26-30, 1922). The outcome of the battle determined the overall outcome of the Turkish War of Independence (1919-1923).
Although foreign forces left the country for good in the autumn (or fall) of 1922, Turkish people accept August 30 as the date of the Turkish troops’ overall victory. Victory Day was first celebrated in only a few cities in Turkey – such as Ankara, Izmir and Afyonkarahisar – on August 30, 1923. It became a national holiday in 1935.
We would like to congratulate cordially the Victory Day of Brave Turkish Armed Forces and Turkish People on the anniversary of August 30 Victory. We thankfully commemorate Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his companions in arms with all martyrs and war veteran with God’s mercy.
