İstiklâl Harbi”ne Yönelik TBMM ’de Ortaya Konulan Algı (1920 1923) ve ”İstiklâl Harbi” Adının Kullanılması

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History is not just the knowledge of past events. History is virtually the comprehension of the fact that our future is buit on our past through what we do today. On this basis, Turkish National Struggle starting with the occupation of İzmir (Smyrna) on 15 May 1919 and ending with the Treaty of Lausanne on 24 July 1923 was an important historical period. “Kurtuluş Savaşı” (War of Liberation/Emancipation) does not fully correspond to the notions of “İstiklâl Harbi” (War of Independence) or “Millî Mücadele” (National Struggle) between 1919 and 1923. Every country can experience a war of liberation but the case of Turkey after the Armistice of Mudros was quite different. Turks did not lose their freedom completely and did not experience any state of captivity or colonisation. Turkish National Struggle was not set out for liberation from captivity, but for not getting under captivity. Therefore, Turkish National Anthem is called “İstiklal Marşı” (Independence March) and the medal awarded to war veterans of Turkish National Struggle is called “İstiklal Madalyası” (War of Independence Medal). Istiklal means “one’s being on his own, not being tied to anything or anybody” in Turkish. The name of the struggle with an armed resistance to found the national state is naturally “İstiklal Harbi”.