Burdur During the National Struggle

In the secret agreements made during the World War I, the South-West Anatolia region was promised to the Italians. After the Armistice of Mudros, Italian occupations began in line with this promise. The Italians, who landed in Antalya on March 28, 1919, set out on a series of expeditions to expand their occupation zone towards Burdur without delay. The Italian officers who came to Burdur for this purpose claimed that they had come here to "make investments", "develop the people" and so on. In fact, as a requirement of the Italian occupation method, they wanted to prevent the national reaction of the people and hide their occupation intentions behind the so-called concepts of "love", "help". They wanted to hide their invasion intentions behind the concepts. While Vasfi and the Mayor of Burdur were under the influence of these propagandas, Burdur Recruitment Region President Miralay İsmail Hakkı, Burdur Mufti, 68th Regiment Commander and some notables from the nobles knew that the real intention of the Italians was “invasion”. However, despite all the opposition, the Italians could not be prevented from officially occupying Burdur on 28 March 1919. After the replacement of the Mutasarrıf (Governor) and the Mayor against the National Struggle, there were very important developments in Burdur in resisting the occupations and in the national organization. In a short time, the Burdur National Committee, which would later be called as one of the Association for Defence of National Rights, was established. Burdur women also showed national sensitivity and established the Burdur Defense of Rights Women’s Association. While there were political organizations in this way in Burdur, aid was given to the front in the west of Denizli, which was struggling against the Greek occupation. Many Burdur volunteers from the center, districts and villages of Burdur rushed to the front and bought a significant amount of food, clothing, etc. in-kind donations. Meanwhile, the Red Crescent Hospital opened in Burdur provided very important services in meeting the health services of the front. All these efforts for the success of the National Struggle were not easy. As in all sides, the opponents of the National Struggle in Burdur were not idle. In addition, banditry activities in the region had a negative impact on the National Struggle. Despite all these difficulties, the people of Burdur did their best to defend the homeland.

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