Manisa During the National Struggle

Saruhan/Manisa was one of the four sanjaks of Aydın Province during the National Struggle. It consisted of eleven districts together with its center. Its total population in1919 was 438,372. Approximately 88% of this population was Muslim and 12% wasnon-Muslim. Manisa came under the threat of occupation with the Armistice of Mondros.It was occupied on May 25, 1919, ten days after the occupation of Izmir. On May 29,Turgutlu was occupied. The Greeks also occupied Akhisar, but withdrew after five days. Soon after, the Kuvâ-yı Milliye fronts formed on the Akhisar-Soma and Salihli-Alaşehirlines. The Greek advance was halted by these fronts for nearly a year. After reinforcing their forces in the occupied area, the Greeks launched a new advance on June 20, 1920.Akhisar on June 22, Salihli on June 23, Alaşehir, Soma and Kırkağaç on June 24, Kula on June 28, Eşme on June 29, Gördes on July 15 and Demirci on July 21. Among the seaccidents, Gördes and Demirci were occupied four times. The Akıncı detachments in the region constantly distrupted the Greek army. Therefore, the Greeks had to retreat from time to time. The Greek army was defeated on August 30, 1922. It retreated towards Izmir, burning and destroying the places it passed through. The first center of Saruhan Sanjak liberated by Turkish troops was Eşme on September 3, 1922. On September 8, Manisa and finally on September 13, Soma came under the control of Turkish troops.

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