“Sometimes Centennial Journeys Begin with a Step” Seminar Held
“Sometimes Centennial Journeys Begin with a Step” Seminar Held at Bulanık Vocational School on May 13, 2025. The seminar was given by Dr. Lecturer Muhammed Elçin Necef.
Necef; One of the important events in the history of the Republic of Turkey is undoubtedly Atatürk’s arrival in Samsun, and therefore Atatürk’s journey starting from Istanbul on May 16-19, 1919 symbolizes a period of liberation. The speaker, who touched on the Armistice of Mudros, said; After the Armistice was signed on October 30, 1918, the Allied Powers began to put their plans to share the lands of the Ottoman Empire into practice.
With the signing of the armistice, the Ottoman Empire practically collapsed, and the sultan and the government had to submit to all kinds of pressure and oppression by the Allied Powers. Mustafa Kemal Pasha's Armistice; this Armistice contained very vague expressions, it was understood that the British had some hidden intentions in writing the articles. In his telegram on November 5, 1918, he warned, "I would like to state very seriously and sincerely that unless measures are taken to eliminate artificial perceptions and delusions within the context of the Armistice conditions, if we disband the Armies and bow to everything the British say, it will not be possible to prevent the British ambitions." Thereupon, Mustafa Kemal Pasha was finally given his active command duty and was assigned to the Ministry of War and called to Istanbul. However, although this submissive and docile management approach suited the Allied Powers, the authority of the orders from Istanbul did not really extend to the interior of Anatolia in terms of the implementation of the Armistice. This situation greatly disturbed the British and the French. For this reason, they warn Vahdetinden to send inspectors to the regions in question in order to suppress the rebellions that emerged in Anatolia. It was exactly at such a time that Mustafa Kemal was assigned as the 3rd Army Inspector. As soon as Mustafa Kemal was assigned to this duty, he began preparations and set off for Samsun on Friday, May 16. The journey ended on Monday, May 18.
The scene Atatürk saw when he arrived in Samsun was not very bright. Because there were British occupation forces in the city. Ponticists were roaming the streets. The people were in no position to protect themselves. Atatürk thought about these problems all the time during their stay at Hıntıka Palas, which has now been turned into a museum; the sleepless nights he spent on the journey had not ended; now, the sleepless nights were starting here. However, as long as he and those who thought like him had this determination, no obstacle was insurmountable.
In conclusion; This journey that we tried to briefly convey was a turning point for the Turkish Nation and the beginning of liberation. He dedicated May 19 to the Turkish youth because of the importance of May 19, 1919, the day he stepped onto Anatolian soil in Samsun to start the National Struggle. As we mentioned at the beginning of our article, the concept of youth generally describes innovation in ideas.
