ABB’s commemoration events for the 103rd anniversary of the Sakarya Battlefield began with a visit to Anıtkabir.

The commemoration events for the 103rd anniversary of the Sakarya Battlefield, described as the longest battlefield in the world, began with a visit to Anıtkabir attended by Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Mansur Yavaş. Before the visit, Yavaş provided information about the commemoration events and program at a meeting held at the Ankara City Council, stating, “This victory, which symbolizes our struggle and resurrection, must never be forgotten. Just like Çanakkale, we want the Sakarya Battlefield to be announced and told to the whole world. We want to declare the impact of our righteousness to the entire world.”

The Ankara Metropolitan Municipality has completed its preparations to commemorate the anniversary of the Sakarya Battlefield, an example of the independence struggle, in a manner befitting its 103rd year and to honor the martyrs.

The 103rd anniversary of the Sakarya Battlefield, considered a turning point in the War of Independence, will be commemorated through events organized jointly by the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, Haymana Municipality, Polatlı Municipality, and the Ankara City Council.

The events began with a visit to Anıtkabir

The commemoration events for the battle, which lasted for 22 days and nights and resulted in victory for the Turkish army under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, started with a visit to Anıtkabir.

The visit, which began on the Lion’s Road and ended with a wreath-laying at Atatürk’s mausoleum, was attended by Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Mansur Yavaş, Polatlı Mayor Mürsel Yıldızkaya, Haymana Mayor Levent Koç, Ankara City Council (AKK) President Halil İbrahim Yılmaz, along with protocol members and guests.

“It symbolizes a victory forged with determination and resolve”

After laying a wreath at the mausoleum and observing a moment of silence, Yavaş and his companions proceeded to the Misak-ı Milli Tower. There, Yavaş signed the Anıtkabir Special Book, stating:

“Great Atatürk, today we are here to commemorate the 103rd anniversary of the Sakarya Battlefield, which marks a turning point in the Turkish nation’s struggle for independence, with pride and enthusiasm. This victory is not just a military achievement; it is the declaration of our nation’s will for freedom and independence to the whole world. Sakarya Battlefield is a testament to the unwavering resistance of the Turkish nation in the sacred lands defended at the cost of our heroes’ lives. The epic written on this land reminds us not only of the pages of history but also of humanity’s highest values. This victory, obtained through love for the homeland, self-sacrifice, and unity, is a fire, a hope that lives in the spirit of every individual of our nation. This victory, realized under the leadership of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, is the brightest example of the rebirth of the Turkish nation and the creation of a nation from nothing. Today, this battle, which we commemorate with great pride and gratitude, also reminds us of our responsibilities; it emphasizes the importance of working to elevate our country to the level of contemporary civilizations and to keep our national values alive.

On the 103rd anniversary of the Sakarya Battlefield, we commemorate all our martyrs, especially the Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, with mercy and gratitude; we once again reaffirm our belief that we will continue to keep the memories of our heroes alive and strengthen the unity and integrity of our nation more and more each day. Great Atatürk, with the awareness that this glorious victory in our homeland’s struggle for independence was achieved with the determination and faith of our nation, I once again express our gratitude and respect to you, your comrades, all our martyrs, and veterans. May your souls be at peace, may your place be heaven.”

“The symbol of resurrection, the Sakarya Battlefield must never be forgotten”

A promotion for the “Last Stop Ankara-Last Fortress Haymana” events, which will be held for 22 days in memory of the Sakarya Battlefield, was also conducted.

The promotional meeting, which began with the screening of a short film titled “Last Stop Ankara-Last Fortress Haymana” at the Ankara City Council Reception Hall, featured remarks from Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Mansur Yavaş, who stated, “We have national holidays and religious holidays where we celebrate our collective joy, but we also have some unique commemorations and celebrations. One of these is Atatürk’s arrival in Ankara, another is Ankara’s becoming the capital, and one of the most important is the Sakarya Battlefield, which marks the beginning of our liberation. Unfortunately, there were politicians and administrators who did not know that the largest battlefield, referred to as Melhame-i Kübra, took place in Ankara. Therefore, we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Sakarya Battlefield with great enthusiasm. We ensured that people learn that this war took place in Ankara, both in Ankara and across Turkey.”

Stressing that the Sakarya Battlefield is a symbol of a resurrection that must not be forgotten, Yavaş continued his statements: “This victory, which symbolizes our struggle and this resurrection, had to be remembered. For this reason, the Haymana Municipality and Polatlı Municipality were holding separate commemorations. Since 2019, we have been supporting these two municipalities to ensure that the commemoration is conducted in a manner befitting its significance. God willing, we will expand this even more. We are currently preparing to celebrate this meaningful day on a much broader scale, with municipalities coming together along a liberation route from Afyon to Akşehir and Sivrihisar.”

“We want to announce the Sakarya Battlefield to the whole world like the Çanakkale Victory”

Emphasizing the importance of the Sakarya Battlefield for the entire country, Mansur Yavaş stated, “With Gordion entering the UNESCO World Heritage List, we want to explain to foreign tourists what happened in Sakarya, and we want the Sakarya Battlefield to be announced and told to the whole world like Çanakkale. We want to declare the impact of our righteousness to the entire world. We will strive to pay our debt to those who entrusted this country to us and gave their lives for this country by not forgetting them.”

“It is our duty to explain that the war took place in this region”

Yavaş also emphasized the need to identify the graves of martyrs in the Haymana and Polatlı regions, continuing: “Many farmers in Haymana and Polatlı are not cultivating a portion of their lands. They are stacking stones there because they suspect that there have been martyr graves for centuries. Out of respect, they leave that place empty. There are still many people like Şenol Erdoğan Bey, a veteran, who work on this war. God willing, by identifying the graves of our martyrs and establishing their locations, we will ensure that their graves do not disappear, and we will pay our respects and pray for them. We plan to open all those places to visitors from all over Turkey and even abroad. We need to make it clear and highlight that this war took place in this region. This is our debt to our martyrs.”

“Ankara is the name of existence and courage against captivity”

Haymana Mayor Levent Koç stated that it is important to convey that the land from which the retreat after the Siege of Vienna ended and which was re-attacked is Ankara. Koç added, “We could not convey that the last fortresses of the Sakarya Battlefield were Polatlı and Haymana. I express my gratitude to Mr. Mayor. Since his arrival, he has not neglected the historical aspect of Ankara and has always kept it at the forefront. He has always expressed that Ankara is essentially a ‘last fortress,’ especially in Haymana and Polatlı.”

Polatlı Mayor Mürsel Yıldızkaya expressed that the Sakarya Victory is receiving great interest and has started strongly, stating, “For the first time, an Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor is starting the first day of the Sakarya Battlefield in the spiritual presence of our Great Leader at Anıtkabir. We are aware of the responsibility that history gives us; we take pride in being the host of this great victory. During our term, we have worked hard to give this historic struggle and this great success the value it deserves, and we are currently continuing to do so.”

Ankara City Council President Halil İbrahim Yılmaz began his speech by saying, “Sakarya is Polatlı, Sakarya is Haymana, Sakarya is Ankara. Stop, stance, and interruption” and continued with the following statements:

“The Sakarya Battlefield means ‘Stop.’ The Sakarya Battlefield means ‘Stance’ because it is recorded in history that the Supreme Commander Mustafa Kemal Atatürk said, ‘There is no line of defense; there is a line of defense. That line is the whole homeland.’ While it became the subject of poems, Ankara was forgotten, and it was assumed to be Adapazarı. It was necessary to re-announce the city from which this cry was made to the world, and under the leadership of our Metropolitan Mayor, it was declared to the world from Sakarya Village, Türbe Tepe, and every battlefield that ‘the center of this resurrection is Ankara’ since the 100th anniversary of this resurrection. Through the Sakarya Battlefield, it was valuable to declare Ankara as the capital of oppressed nations around the world. This great struggle, which lasted for 22 days and 22 nights, is not only the cry of Ankara or the Turkish nation but of all oppressed nations in the world to rise again. Here today, under the leadership of our Mayor, in Afyon tomorrow, and then in İzmir, we can only pass on the cry of the liberation struggle across Turkey to future generations if Ankara shows its will. Because Ankara is the name of existence and courage against captivity.”