Unsung Stories of Sacrifice: Early Years of the Turkish Republic (1920-1926)

There are two versions of history in Turkey today: the official and the unofficial. Available material in English on Turkish history and politics reflect mostly Orientalist and official points of views. The official version appears not only to contradict much of the existing evidence but also to reinforce misinterpretations of the Republican era. Here is an attempt, albeit a modest one, to present the unofficial version of history through the profiles of people who took part in the War of Independence between 1919 and 1923. Even though they played a dynamic role during the turbulent period of Turkish history - giving voice to the beliefs and sentiments of the static majority - they were condemned to death. Their strength of character and conviction imbued with their influence over the masses was an explosive cocktail which struck terror in the hearts of the new ruling elite. The rise of secular Turkey from the funeral pyre of the Ottomans and the resulting transformation of Turkish society occurred against a background of chaos and despair. The value system and a way of life embodying a certain set of beliefs and ethics which the people had chosen for themselves were discarded by the new guardians of the State. And anyone who disagreed with the prescription for this new life was a disposable item.