Battle of Inönü
The Battle of Inönü, fought in early 1921 during the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922), was a significant military engagement that marked the first major victory for the Turkish nationalist forces against the Greek army. The conflict arose as the Greek third army corps advanced towards the strategic location of Konia, aiming to move towards Ankara, the national capital. This initial advance in January faced strong Turkish resistance, prompting the Greeks to retreat temporarily. A renewed Greek offensive began in late March, but they encountered fierce opposition from Turkish forces led by Ismet Pasha at the Inönü River. Despite heavy fighting over two days, the Turkish lines held firm, resulting in the Greeks being pushed back to Brusa. This battle not only reinforced Turkish control of Anatolia but also led to Ismet Pasha adopting the surname Inönü in recognition of his success, furthering his political prominence as the second president of Turkey after Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The battle serves as a pivotal moment in the larger context of the establishment of national identity and sovereignty for Turkey.
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Battle of Inönü
Type of action: Ground battle in Greco-Turkish War
Date: March 28-30, 1921
Location: Inönü river, Anatolia, twenty miles west of Eskisehir
Combatants: 50,000 Greeks vs. 50,000 Turks
Principal commanders:Greek, General Anastasios Papoulas (1859–1935); Turkish, Ismet Pasha (1884–1973)
Result: Turks stopped Greek advance toward Konia and Ankara
Konia, near the Inönü River, stood as an important objective on the way to the Turkish nationalist capital at Ankara during the Greco-Turkish War of 1919–1922. The Greek third army corps advanced toward this objective in January, 1921. However, they ran into stiff Turkish resistance and returned to Brusa to await the spring. The second advance began on March 28. Although other Greek armies were able to advance, the third army ran into stiff opposition of the Turks led by Ismet Pasha at the Inönü River. After two days of heavy fighting, the Turkish lines held, and they drove the Greeks, under General Anastasios Papoulas, back to Brusa.
Significance
The Battle of Inönü was the first Turkish victory in their war with Greece to establish control of Anatolia. Ismet Pasha later took the surname Inönü in honor of his victory and served as the second president of the republic after Atatürk.
Bibliography
Erhan, Cagri. Greek Occupation of Izmir and Adjoining Territories: Report of the Inter-Allied Commission of Inquiry (May-September, 1919). Ankara: SAM, 1999.
Kinross, Lord, and Patrick Balfour. Atatürk: The Rebirth of a Nation. London: Phoenix, 1995.
Logoglu, O. Faruk. Ismet Inonu and the Making of Modern Turkey. Ankara: Inonu Vakfi, 1991.
Pallis, Alexander Anastasius. Greece’s Anatolian Venture—And After: A Survey of the Diplomatic and Political Aspects of the Greek Expedition to Asia Minor (1915–1922). London: Methuen, 1937.
Smith, Michael Llewellyn. Ionian Vision: Greece in Asia Minor, 1919–1922. London: C. Hurst, 1998.