Turkey celebrates Victory Day, commemorating end of War of Independence
TM
ANKARA, TURKEY - AUGUST 30: A child girl at the Ataturk's mausoleum Anitkabir during celebrations marking the 95th Anniversary of Turkey’s Victory Day which commemorates decisive battle in country's 1919-1922 Independence War in Ankara, Turkey on August 30, 2017. AFP
Turkey on Wednesday celebrated Victory Day, marking the 95th anniversary of the Aug. 30, 1922 victory of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk over the Greek military, with parades and other programs across the country.
People visited the mausoleum of Turkey’s founder Atatürk in Ankara on Wednesday along with their children.
A special airshow by and parade were held in Ankara to mark the day.
After an amendment to the relevant law, the official reception to mark Victory Day is now hosted at the presidential palace, instead of General Staff Headquarters.
Victory Day marks the Turkish victory over Greek forces at the Battle of Dumlupınar, the final battle of the War of Independence in 1922.
The victory under Atatürk over the Greek military on Aug. 30, 1922 was the last large engagement between the two armies in Turkey’s War of Independence. The war began with the Greek invasion of İzmir in May 1919 after the end of World War I, with tacit support from the Allied countries in the war, especially Great Britain.
BURSA, TURKEY – AUGUST 30: Citizens attend the celebrations to mark the 95th Anniversary of Turkey’s Victory Day which commemorates decisive battle in country’s 1919-1922 Independence War, at Ataturk Street in Bursa, Turkey on August 30, 2017. AFPANKARA, TURKEY – AUGUST 30: A youth wearing Ataturk t-shirt takes selfie as people visit the Ataturk’s mausoleum Anitkabir to celebrate the 95th Anniversary of Turkey’s Victory Day which commemorates decisive battle in country’s 1919-1922 Independence War in Ankara, Turkey on August 30, 2017. AFPTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (C) and Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim (3rd R) attend a ceremony marking the 95th anniversary of Victory Day, commemorating a decisive battle in the Turkish War of Independence, at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in Ankara on August 30, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / ADEM ALTAN
