Turkey commemorates 105 years since the decisive Battle of Sakarya

On the 105th anniversary of the Battle of Sakarya, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan issued a message honoring the 1921 victory that stopped the Greek push toward Ankara. Led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Turkish troops defended a front stretching roughly 100 kilometres along the Sakarya River, inflicting comparable losses on the Greek army and compelling its withdrawal. The clash, which saw about 14,000 Turkish soldiers fall, marked a decisive halt to Greece’s Megali Idea ambitions and set the stage for subsequent Turkish successes, including the Battle of Dumlupınar.

Erdoğan emphasized the battle’s lasting significance for Turkey’s sovereignty and the collective resolve of its people. He also prayed for the martyrs of the war and reaffirmed commitment to defending the nation’s borders.