What is the 30th of August holiday in Turkey

In our country on May 9 - the Victory Day of the Soviet troops over fascist Germany - is dear and close to everyone. On this memorable date a lot of events are held, designed to revive the events of those days in memory, to honor the memory of the dead. In Turkey, too, there is such a day, hotly revered by its citizens, and its history is as interesting and heroic.

Public Holidays in Turkey

In addition to traditional religious holidays such as Ramadan and Kurban Bairam, there are no less honored state in this country. So, on January 1, the Turks celebrate the New Year, and on February 8 - Day of grandfathers and grandmothers; April 23 - Children's Day, every second Sunday in May the Turkish people revere mothers. Date of memory of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (the founder of the modern Turkish state) and the Day of Youth and Sports - May 19. And on October 29 - a celebration dedicated to the proclamation of the state by the republic. Finally, on August 30, Victory Day in Turkey is celebrated. Let's talk more about its history.

History: the beginning of the war

Then the Ottoman Empire was one of the participants of the First World War on the side of Italy, Germany and Austria-Hungary. However, the difficult economic and political internal situation forced the state to conclude a truce with the Entente countries.

The result of this agreement was the loss of the territories of Arabia, Syria, Palestine, Armenia and Mesopotamia by the empire. In addition, the Entente promised Greece that the latter would take possession of the western lands of Asia Minor and Eastern Thrace, which were the residence of the Greeks, but which were then under the rule of the Ottoman Empire.

Soon the troops of Greece, Armenia and the Entente countries invaded the territory of the future Turkey. It should be noted that this war was fought for the sake of high ideals - the restoration of "Greater Greece", that is, the increase of its territories to the size of the Byzantine Empire - this was the basis of the political ideas of the Greek people since the thirties of the XIX century.

In mid-May 1919, the Greek army landed near Smyrna (Asia Minor), and the Turks resisted it. Thus began the war for Turkish independence, which in Soviet history was called the Kemalist Revolution, led by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

The troops of the enemy occupied the country from several areas:

• The Greeks advanced in the west;
• Italian troops landed in Antalya;
• In the south-east was the army of the French;
• In the east - the united army of Armenia and the British interventionists.

I must say that the invaders during their offensive actively exported from the territory of the Ottoman state ancient artifacts, made archaeological excavations. Therefore, many valuable works of ancient Greek art can now be seen not in their historical homeland, but in British or German museums.

However, the liberation movement under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal gained strength. In contrast to the power of the Sultan, in April 1920, the Great National Assembly was formed. The positive role was also played by the fact that the armies of France and Italy were gradually withdrawn from the country, therefore the main battles took place between the troops of Greece and Ataturk.

In March 1921, an agreement was concluded on "Cooperation and Friendship" between Turkey and the USSR, presupposing gratuitous deliveries of the necessary weapons and financial assistance to the Turks from Soviet Russia.

The Battle of Dumlupinar is the End of the War of Independence of Turkey

August 26, 1922 the battle began at Dumlupinar, which ended on the 30th of the same month. During the battle, the Greeks suffered a major defeat: some of their troops died, some were captured. Victory Day in Turkey is the last day of this battle. It is a symbol of the liberation of the Turkish people from foreign interventionists. And on August 30 - a holiday in Turkey in memory of this.

After the crushing defeat at Dumpplinar, the remnants of the Greek army stopped at Smyrna. But on September 9, there were already Turkish liberators. In the evening the city was set on fire, civilians were massacred. Different sources say about the different number of deaths on this terrible day - from 20 to 200 thousand. And until now, Turkey and Greece are shifting one another's responsibility for this cruel and senseless massacre.

The result of the war was that the monarchical system in the country was overthrown, and the national liberation movement took power into its own hands and established a republic in Turkey. Also in 1923, a peace treaty was signed, according to which Turkey was recognized as an independent state, and the Entente refused its claims to the Turkish lands.

Modern independent Turkey

Today Turkey is a unitary state, a semi-presidential republic (parliamentary and presidential norms of government are combined). Her Constitution (the third since 1924) has three unchanging provisions:

1. The Turkish state is a republic.
2. It is a secular, democratic, legal state.
3. A nation, a country, a state is an indivisible whole.

The head of state is the president with broad powers. And the legislative power, as well as at the very beginning of the movement for independence, is represented by the Grand National Turkish Assembly.

How to spend a holiday in Turkey on August 30

Zafer Bayrami - Victory Day - a great national celebration and an official day off in the country. On this day, military parades, concerts and relevant ceremonies are held. Generally, August 30 is a holiday in Turkey, when the Janischarian march plays, which is a connecting symbol of the memory of the country's military victories. People lay flowers at the mausoleum of Atatürk. National flags and portraits of Mustafa Kemal are hung everywhere.

The Turks honor their history and the soldiers-liberators who gave independence to the state, therefore August 30 is a holiday in Turkey, significant and respected by its citizens.