Turkish Women on the Western Front of the National Struggle

Abstract

The Allied Powers and others supported by them tried to eradicate the Turkish presence in Anatolia after the Armistice of Mudros, and then the Turkish nation embarked on a great struggle against them. Among the conflicts in the Eastern, Western and Southern Anatolian regions, what troubled the Turkish nation the most was the Western Front, which witnessed fierce struggles with the Greeks. The fact that the conclusive victory of the National Struggle was reached with the battles on the Western Front reveals this front’s importance. Although the Greek troops virtually turned the region into an inferno and expanded their occupation day by day, the Kuva-yı Millîye dealt heavy blows to the Greek forces in this period. Such successes helped to improve the morale of the people and increase their self-confidence. Turkish women’s heroism in the National Struggle also manifested in every sense on the Western Front. They enjoyed the well-deserved appreciation of Mustafa Kemal Pasha, the leader of the National Struggle. As the Pasha was always aware of women’s importance, he remained in contact with women’s societies during the National Struggle, and appreciated and encouraged women. A general look at the National Struggle shows that Turkish women did their part excellently. They organized protest rallies to show their stance against the occupation, directly worked in the service of the army, and made incredible sacrifices behind the front. Fighting with all their strength on and behind the front, they significantly contributed to the victorious conclusion of the National Struggle. Halide Edip Adıvar, Fatma Seher (Black Fatma), Makbule of Gordes, Saime the Private, Ayşe the Major, and Nezahat the Corporal are the Western Front’s first female heroes that come to mind. Researching the history of these women will contribute to the literature in terms of both understanding Turkish women’s history and also their contributions to the Western Front in the National Struggle. As a matter of fact, the main purpose of the study is to try to prove, with documents and publications, that women, including some at a very young age, also played a part on the Western Front and that they even have a history of heroism. It is to tell how the self-sacrificing Turkish woman was excited for the defence of the homeland, supported the struggle behind the front, coped with various troubles and difficulties, and fought heroically at the front, taking her child with her when necessary. Thus, it is aimed to offer an original study that highlights the local history to reveal the active role of Turkish women in this war, which is a little-known phase of the national independence war.