· Turkey was called ‘stick man of Europe’.
· The disintegration of Ottoman Empire began in the 19th century and was completed after turkey’s defeat in the First World War.
· The allies wanted to establish their domination over turkey itself and to give away parts of turkey to Greece animal.
· The treatment meted out to turkey by the allies had led to a mass upsurge in India directed against Britain. This upsurge is known as the philately movement.
· The nationalist movement in turkey was organized to prevent the domination of the country by the allied powers and the annexation of parts of turkey agreed to the terms dictated by the allied powers.
· However, even before the treaty was signed by the sultan, a national government had been established under the leadership of Mustafa kemal pasha with its headquarter in Ankara.
· Following the treaty with the sultan, turkey had been invaded by Greece.
· The Turks under kemal’s leader ship were able to repel the invasion and the allies were forced to repudiate the earlier treaty. The allied troops were withdrawn from turkksish territory and the areas which were to be annexed by European countries remained in turkey. Thus, turkey was able to win her complete independence.
· The success of the Turks in winning the complete independence of their country was followed by a programmed to modernize turkey and to end the influence of backward – looking feedback elements.
· Turkey was proclaimed a republic in Oct.29, 1923 and kemal became the first president of turkey. He ruled the new republic for 15 years (1923 – 38). The Turkish sultan had carried the title of caliph (Halifax); the new government abolished the institution of caliph (khalifa) in 1942. Education was taken out of the hands of the religious leaders. Religion was separated from the state.
· Mustafa kemal pasha is known as the ‘founder of modern turkey’ and ‘Ataturk’ (the father of the Turks).