Victory Day is an official and national holiday celebrated on August 30 every year in Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus[2] to commemorate the Great Offensive that ended in victory under Atatürk’s command in Dumlupınar on August 30, 1922.
After the successful conclusion of the Great Offensive, also known as the Battle of the Commander-in-Chief because it was held under the command of Atatürk, the Greek armies were followed to İzmir; With the liberation of Izmir on September 9, 1922, Turkish lands were liberated from the Greek occupation. Although the occupation troops left the country’s borders later, August 30 symbolically represents the day the country’s territory was taken back. Celebrated for the first time as the Victory of the Commander-in-Chief in Afyon in 1924, 30 August has been celebrated as the Victory Day in Turkey since 1926.
The Great Offensive was a clandestine operation planned and planned to enable the Turkish army to deliver the final and decisive blow to the invading forces during the War of Independence and to throw them out of Anatolia. Atatürk, who was given the authority of the Commander-in-Chief for the fourth time in the session of the Turkish Grand National Assembly on 20 July 1922, took the decision to attack in June and carried out the preparations in secret. The Great Offensive started in Afyon on the night of the 26th to the 27th of August, and ended with the victory of the Turkish army, with the destruction of the enemy units besieged around Aslıhan in the Battle of Dumlupınar, which was personally led by Mustafa Kemal Pasha.
It was celebrated as the Victory of the Commander-in-Chief on August 30 for the first time in 1924, near the Çal Village in Dumlupınar, with a ceremony attended by President Atatürk. The most important reason for waiting two years to celebrate the victory was that 1923 was extremely busy for the new Turkey, both nationally and internationally.[3]
At the first ceremony held in Çal village, Atatürk emphasized the importance of keeping the national spirit alive and laid the foundation of the Unknown Soldier Monument together with his wife Latife Hanım.[4]
The Victory of the Commander-in-Chief has been celebrated as Victory Day since 1926. In the Victory Day Law adopted on April 1, 1926, it is stated that August 30, the day of the Battle of the Commander-in-Chief, is the Victory Day of the army and navy of the Republic, and that this feast day will be celebrated by the land, navy and air forces on every anniversary. In the same year, a circular issued by Recep Peker, the Minister of Defense at the time, stated in detail what to do during the festive ceremonies. However, until the mid-1930s, the Great Victory celebration or commemoration ceremony, which took place at a high level like the first ceremony, was not held.[3] Due to the fact that the Air Force has an important place in the defense of the country, the Aircraft Society has named the date of August 30 as “Aircraft Day”.
Celebrations for the Victory Day began in a more comprehensive and participatory manner, especially since the 1960s.[3] August 30 was the day when military schools held their graduation ceremonies in Turkey; In addition, all officer and non-commissioned officer rank changes are valid on this date. Victory Day was celebrated for many years as a holiday where the Chief of the General Staff accepted congratulations; This situation has changed since 2011, when President Abdullah Gül hosted the celebrations as Commander-in-Chief.[5]
August 30 is a public holiday in Turkey. Celebrations and ceremonies held in the capital Ankara and outside Ankara on Victory Day are regulated by the “Regulation on Ceremonies and Celebrations to be held on National and Official Holidays and Local Liberation Days, Atatürk Days and Historical Days”. According to this regulation, which was renewed in 2012[6]:
Victory Day ceremonies are carried out by the General Directorate of Protocol of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in coordination with the General Staff.
The ceremonies start at 07.00 on 30 August and end at 24.00. At 12:00, a twenty-one ball is fired in the capital.
The President visits Anıtkabir and lays a wreath; In the presidency, congratulations are accepted, the feast of the participants and the people is celebrated. The Victory Day reception is given by the President.
Outside the capital, a wreath is laid on the Atatürk monument or bust by the civil administrator, the garrison commander and the mayor. In his office, the local authority accepts congratulations together with the garrison commander and the mayor. The feast of the participants and the people is celebrated, and the flag is hoisted together with the National Anthem. The parade is greeted by the local governor, garrison commander and mayor from the tribune of honor. The Victory Day reception is given by the governor.
In 2015, due to the terrorist incidents, the celebrations were carried out only in the form of laying wreaths and accepting congratulations; other festival, concert, entertainment and celebration activities were not carried out.[7]
