Denizli During the National Struggle

As soon as the news of the occupation of Izmir was heard in Denizli in the early hours ofthe morning of May 15, 1919; Denizli Governor, Recruitment District President, Mayor,Denizli Mufti and some people from the notables came together to try to create a spiritof national resistance in Denizli against the occupations. A big rally was held in Denizli that day, and then the national organization started immediately. Measures were taken against the spread of the Greek occupation in the direction of Denizli to the homeland. Ina short time, national organizations were established in Denizli and its districts, whichlater became Association for Defense of National Rights. With the support of these organizations and the military and civil authorities in the region, militia volunteer forceswere formed. On the other hand, logistic support activities for the defense of the front were accelerated. So much so that the Greek advance on the front established in the west of Denizli was largely stopped. At the time when all kinds of sacrifices were made for the defense of the homeland in Denizli Sanjak, the counter-propaganda and activities ofsome minorities and opposition groups against the National Struggle, especially those of the Hürriyet and Entente Party, were not lacking. But despite all these difficulties, the people of Denizli took their place in the defense of the homeland with all their material and moral strength until the end of the National Struggle. As far as can be determined from the available data, more than five hundred Denizli people were martyred in the National Struggle.

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