Edirne During the National Struggle

Edirne that was the gateway of the Ottoman Empire opening to Europe, has been in the interest of many states due to its geopolitical location. It was occupied twice over by the Russian in the 19th century, and by the Bulgarian and then the Greek in the 20th century. Upon the dangerous situation that reappeared in Thrace after World War I, the notables of Edirne came together and established the Trakya Pasaeli Association for Defence of National Rights. While the civil branch of the struggle in the region was carried out by the Association, the military branch was led by the First Army Corps under the command of Cafer Tayyar Pasha. Trakya Paşaeli Newspaper that was the publication organ of the society, played an important role in making the voices of the civilians popular. Both wings were in contact with the national operation that was launched under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Pasha in Anatolia. Attempts by the association to obtain support from the Istanbul government were unsuccessful. The official occupation of Istanbul severed Thrace's connection with Anatolia. The Association decided to develop resistance against the resolutions of the San Remo Conference (18-26 April 1920), which left all of Thrace to Greece. The defense against the Greek offensive in Thrace lasted only about a week. Some of the army corps and society members went to Bulgaria and tried to support Anatolia by continuing their armed and civil resistance. Edirne was occupied by the Greek on 25 July 1920. The people of Edirne went through very difficult times under the Greek occupation government. While everyday life was turned upside down, Edirne was tried to be turned into a Greek city. The evacuation of the Greeks from Thrace began with the Armistice of Mudanya. The process of handing over Thrace to Türkiye was completed with the ceding of Karaağaç to Türkiye with the Treaty of Lausanne.

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