1 to 18 September 1922
The pursuit to İzmir
On 1 September Mustafa Kemal issues the order: "Armies, your first objective is the Mediterranean. Forward." The army advances about three hundred kilometres in nine days, through towns that the retreating Greek army has burned. Turkish cavalry enters İzmir on 9 September 1922, and Mustafa Kemal arrives the next day.
Turkish cavalry entering İzmir, 9 September 1922Wikimedia Commons, Umberto gs, Public domain (Türk süvari birliklerinin İzmire girişi.jpg)
Mustafa Kemal Pasha in İzmir the day after the city was retaken, 10 September 1922Wikimedia Commons, Genelkurmay ATASE Daire Başkanlığı (Foto Film Merkezi Komutanlığı), Public domain (Mustafa Kemal Pasha in Izmir (September 10, 1922).jpg)
A fire that starts on 13 September destroys the Greek, Armenian and European quarters of the city. By 18 September the last Greek units have left Anatolia.
The fire of İzmir seen from an Italian ship, 14 September 1922Wikimedia Commons, Unknown author, Public domain (Great Fire of Smyrna.jpg)
Sources
- Andrew Mango, Atatürk (1999).
- Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Nutuk (1927).
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