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Türkiye marked the 19th May Commemoration of Ataturk, Youth and Sports Day with ceremonies and public events that brought together official commemorations, national flags and youth-centered performances across the country.
The Commemoration of Ataturk, Youth and Sports Day connects the dawn of Türkiye’s independence movement with its younger generations, transforming a historic political milestone into a vibrant national day of remembrance.
The anniversary looks back to the period after World War I, when the Armistice of Mudros opened the way for foreign occupations across Anatolia, including Izmir, Adana, Antalya, Konya, Urfa, Antep, Maras, Merzifon and Samsun.
As the British navy anchored off Istanbul on Nov. 13, 1918, Ataturk returned to the city after serving as commander of the Yildirim Armies Group and began taking steps toward national liberation.
In the months before May 19, 1919, British troops had landed in Samsun, while armed Greek groups in the region carried out raids and increased unrest, deepening concern over the area’s future.
Ataturk was appointed inspector of the 9th Army to restore order in the region, and one day after the occupation of Izmir, he left Istanbul aboard the Bandirma ferry.
Ataturk and his companions reached Samsun on May 19 through the Reji Pier, also known as the Tobacco Pier, which had survived wartime bombardments because of the French cigarette factory operating nearby.
After remaining in Samsun for six days, Ataturk moved on to Havza on May 25, making the town a second stop on the road toward the National Struggle.
The first rally of the National Struggle was held in Havza under Ataturk’s instructions, where participants protested the occupation of Izmir and helped carry the movement forward.
After Havza, the independence movement moved through Amasya, Erzurum and Sivas before spreading across the country, eventually leading to the founding of the Republic of Türkiye on Oct. 29, 1923.
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