Isparta During the National Struggle

In the days following the Armistice of Mudros, the people of Isparta were in great anxiety, as was the case throughout the country. About 5 months after the armistice, the Italians’landing of soldiers in Antalya on March 28 and their efforts to spread their occupation in the direction of Burdur-Isparta was met with a reaction in Isparta. In addition to this danger from the south, the Greek occupation of Izmir on May 15 made the people of Isparta agitated. On the same day and in the following days, the occupation of İzmir and the Italian occupations were protested in various ways and rallies were held in Isparta and almost all its districts. In Isparta, Hafız İbrahim (Demiralay), the mayor, the head of the Military Branch, and prominent people from the notables led these protests and the national resistance. In the districts, mayors, muftis, heads of military branches and prominent members of the public took the lead. The national reflex that emerged in Isparta Sanjak turned into an organization in a short time. National societies were established in Isparta and its districts, which would later be called Association forDefence of National Rights. With the encouragement and effort of these societies and some military and local administrators in the region, militia volunteer forces were formed. The Demiralay militia, which we can count at the head of these volunteer forces,displayed great heroism against the invading Greek army on the front west of Denizli.The people of Isparta, together with all its districts, did their best to meet the needs of the front, such as food and clothing, as well as personnel support. These sensitivity and sacrifices in the defense of the homeland were not made under easy conditions. Despite the pressures of Konya Governor Cemal and Isparta Governor Talat, the counter propaganda of some minority groups and supporters of the Freedom and Entente Party, and the negative effects of the Delibaş Revolt that spread throughout the region, all Isparta people made their moral and material sacrifice in defense of the homeland until the end of the National Struggle. According to the available data, the tags of nearly three hundred Ispartans who were martyred in the War of Independence were reached. Undoubtedly, it is highly probable that the number of martyrs will increase in the future with the opening of Vefayâta Mahsus Incident Books (Death Records Books) and other related sources belonging to Isparta and its districts for research.

Click to cite.

Note: You can access the citation text via the ‘Actions’ tab in Crossref.