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| 1919–22 |
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| THE GREEK-TURKISH WAR. Greek forces landed at Izmir on May 15, 1919. Like the Italians, the Greeks had colonial ambitions in Anatolia and wished to incorporate most of western Asia Minor into the Greek state. The Greek army soon became the tool of the British cabinet under Lloyd George, who wanted to force the Turks into accepting the Treaty of Sèvres. | 1 |
| The first Greek offensive began in June 1920. The Greeks defeated Turkish forces at Alashehir (June 24) and took Bursa (July 9) and Edirne (July 25). A second offensive was launched in March 1921 but was brought to a halt by the Turkish victory at Inönü. The Greeks attacked again in July 1921 and captured Eskishehir (July 17), but their drive into the interior stalled at the Sakarya River (Aug. 24). Attempts to mediate a Greek-Turkish settlement broke down in March 1922. | 2 |
| The decisive Turkish counteroffensive commenced on Aug. 18. Turkish forces liberated Afyun (Aug. 30) and Bursa (Sept. 5). Greek resistance rapidly disintegrated into a disorderly retreat to the coast. On Sept. 9, Turkish troops occupied Izmir and completed the reconquest of Anatolia. The Greek-Turkish armistice concluding the war was signed on Oct. 14, 1922. | 3 |
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| 1919, May 19 |
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| Arrival of MUSTAFA KEMAL (who later took the name ATATÜRK) at the port of Samsun on the Black Sea. The sultan had appointed him inspector of the Ottoman Third Army in Anatolia for the purpose of eventually disbanding it. Instead, Kemal quietly defied his superiors and set about reorganizing his troops to resist the Western forces occupying parts of Turkey. The sultan officially dismissed him on July 8, and three days later he was declared an outlaw. | 4 |
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| July 23–Aug. 17 |
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| In Erzurum, a congress of delegates organized by the Association for the Defense of Rights of Eastern Anatolia, under nationalist leadership, proclaimed an original version of what later became the National Pact. The nationalists vowed to resist the partition and foreign occupation of Anatolia. The nationalist resolve was reiterated at the Congress of Sivas, convened on Sept. 4. | 5 |
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| Oct |
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| Nationalist victory in elections for the Ottoman Parliament. The sultan's new cabinet (formed Oct. 5), under Ali Riza, adopted a policy of reconciliation with the nationalists. | 6 |
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