Geographical and Strategic Importance of the Çukurova Region and its Surroundings and the Reasons of its Occupation

Çukurova, located in the middle of the Taurus Mountains and the Mediterranean Region, is a geographical term that refers to Adana and its surroundings. Adana is bordered by Kayseri to the north, Kahramanmaraş and Gaziantep to the east, Niğde and İçel to the west, and Hatay to the southeast. Adana and its surroundings have coasts, important ports such as Mersin and Iskenderun, and large and fertile plains in the interior. From these fertile plains and parts of the Taurus Mountains, there are roads to these ports and inland. The reasons such as the proximity of the region to Syria and Egypt, and the cultivation of industrial products such as cotton and citrus, caused England and France to be interested in these regions and enter into competition. After the First World War, Çukurova and its surroundings were occupied first by England and then by France. A repatriation decree was issued for Armenians who had previously been sent to other regions. Meanwhile, some Armenians who had joined the "Eastern Armenian Legion" came to occupy their homeland wearing French uniforms. The French decided to keep the Armenians in Adana, Antep, Maraş and Urfa, regardless of their hometown, so that they could form a majority in their occupation areas. This view was also shared by the British General Allenby. In this way, England would assume the protection of the Armenians in Çukurova, and thus gain their intimacy. However, the simultaneous dispatch and resettlement of thousands of people would have strained the occupation armies. According to the Armistice of Mudros signed with the Allies, Turkish troops in Northern Syria and Çukurova would be disbanded and the Turkish army would withdraw to Ulukışla. Mustafa Kemal Pasha, seeing that this would leave the Turkish people in the region completely defenseless, advised the Turkish leaders to prepare for the resistance.

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