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On Aug. 30, Türkiye observes the 104th anniversary of Victory Day, the culmination of a military campaign that ended foreign occupation and paved the way for the founding of the republic.
The date is dedicated to the Turkish Armed Forces and stands as one of the country's most significant national commemorations, marked annually with ceremonies, official messages and tributes to those who fought.
The roots of Victory Day trace back to the Battle of Dumlupinar, fought from Aug. 26 to Aug. 30, 1922, in what is now Kutahya province in western Türkiye. Turkish forces confronted the invading Greek army in a decisive engagement that would determine the course of the War of Independence.
Over five days of fighting, Turkish troops pushed back Greek forces in western Anatolia, delivering a defeat that broke the momentum of the occupation. The battle became the turning point that led directly to the withdrawal of foreign armies from Turkish soil.
By the close of 1922, all foreign forces had been expelled from the territories that would soon form the Republic of Türkiye. The victory at Dumlupinar is remembered as the moment that secured the nation's path toward full independence.
One year later, in 1923, those territories were formally established as the Republic of Türkiye, with the Aug. 30 victory recognized as a foundational chapter in the country's modern history and commemorated annually since.
More than a century later, senior Turkish officials continue to mark the anniversary with public messages. Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus described Aug. 30 as the moment the Turkish nation declared it would never accept captivity, saying the country's duty today is to carry that legacy into the future.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan congratulated the nation on Victory Day, commemorating Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, his comrades-in-arms, martyrs and veterans in a message shared on social media.
Communications Director Burhanettin Duran called the victory one of the strongest expressions of the Turkish nation's unshakable will, adding that Türkiye continues on its path as a country with growing regional and global influence.
Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said the victory demonstrated Türkiye's determination to live freely and independently, while Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu linked the 1922 triumph to the nation's historical presence in Anatolia dating back to 1071.
Trade Minister Omer Bolat described Aug. 30 as an exceptional day when the independence struggle was crowned with victory. Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu called it a great victory written through the nation's love of independence and freedom.
Several other ministers, including Mehmet Fatih Kacir, Ibrahim Yumakli, Yusuf Tekin, Alparslan Bayraktar, Vedat Isikhan, Mahinur Ozdemir Goktas and Osman Askin Bak, issued their own messages honoring the legacy of the War of Independence and commemorating Ataturk, his comrades and the heroes of the National Struggle.
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