30th of August Victory Day

Following the defeat of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I, Turkey was occupied by allied forces. This led to the start of the Turkish War of Independence in 1919, with the Turkish forces led by General Mustafa Kemal ATATÜRK. The battle of Dumlupınar took place in KOCATEPE - Afyon province in western Turkey. Although foreign forces didn't leave Turkish soil until the autumn of 1922, August 30th is accepted as the date of the Turkish army’s victory. The Turkish Republic was proclaimed on October 29th 1923, in the new capital of Ankara. Atatürk was elected as the first President. Victory Day was first celebrated on August 30th 1923, becoming a national holiday in 1935.