First Battle of Inönü
Encyclopedia
The First Battle of İnönü took place between 9 and 11 January 1921 near İnönü in present-day Eskişehir Province
, Turkey
during the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922)
, part of Turkish War of Independence
. This was the first battle for the Army of the Grand National Assembly that was newly built standing army
(Düzenli ordu) in place of irregular troops
.
began to move from their base in Bursa in the direction of Eskişehir
in early January 1921. The battle began with a Greek assault on the positions of Miralay (Colonel
) İsmet Bey
's troops near the railway station of İnönü on January 9, 1921 and fighting continued until dark. On January 10, Greek Islands division began moving along the Kovalca-Akpınar line, and İzmir division was moving on Yeniköy-Teke-Hayriye direction and additional forces were moving on Söğüt-Gündüzbey line. Additionally Çerkes Ethem
turned against the new central government in Ankara
, refusing to join his forces with the regular army established under the command of İsmet İnönü
. Newly reconstituted Turkish army had to put down his rebellion while also fighting the Greek
s.
The better-equipped Greeks taking advantage of the fog pushed back the Turks around the railroad protected by the 11. division and took the dominant hill called Metristepe where fighting continued till 2pm.
Ferik
Fevzi Pasha
, following the recommendation of commander of the Western Front Miralay İsmet Bey, gave the order to pull back to Beşkardeşdağı-Zemzemiye-Oklubalı line and moved the headquarters to Çukurhisar.
After capturing the Akpınar-Kovalca line, Greeks stopped the attack and dug in. Upon observing the Turkish positions being reinforced with 61. division, they realized that Turks were determined to hold there and not fall back any further. Not feeling quite ready to withstand on the battlefield, Greeks vacated the İnönü vicinity and pulled back on January 11. The Turks were unable to pursuit the Greeks not only because of exhaustion and lack of supplies but also because of the need to suppress Çerkes Ethem
as well as the Green Army.
on January 20, 1921. Internationally, the Turkish revolutionaries proved themselves as a military force. The prestige gained in the aftermath of the battle helped revolutionaries to initiate a new round of negotiations with the Soviet Russians
which ended with the Treaty of Moscow
on March 16, 1921.
The second round of this small scale encounter, Second Battle of İnönü
was to be replayed within a month in the same area, after the London Conference
failed to reconcile the differences between the two sides.
Eskisehir Province
Eskişehir Province is a province in northwestern Turkey. Its adjacent provinces are Bilecik to the northwest, Kütahya to the west, Afyon to the southwest, Konya to the south, Ankara to the east, and Bolu to the north. The provincial capital is Eskişehir. Most of the province is laid down in...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
during the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922)
Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922)
The Greco–Turkish War of 1919–1922, known as the Western Front of the Turkish War of Independence in Turkey and the Asia Minor Campaign or the Asia Minor Catastrophe in Greece, was a series of military events occurring during the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire after World War I between May...
, part of Turkish War of Independence
Turkish War of Independence
The Turkish War of Independence was a war of independence waged by Turkish nationalists against the Allies, after the country was partitioned by the Allies following the Ottoman Empire's defeat in World War I...
. This was the first battle for the Army of the Grand National Assembly that was newly built standing army
Standing army
A standing army is a professional permanent army. It is composed of full-time career soldiers and is not disbanded during times of peace. It differs from army reserves, who are activated only during wars or natural disasters...
(Düzenli ordu) in place of irregular troops
Irregular military
Irregular military refers to any non-standard military. Being defined by exclusion, there is significant variance in what comes under the term. It can refer to the type of military organization, or to the type of tactics used....
.
Battle
A Greek reconnaissance force under General Anastasios PapoulasAnastasios Papoulas
Anastasios Papoulas was a Greek general and commander-in-chief during the Greco-Turkish War of 1919-1922.- Life :Born in Missolonghi in 1859, Anastasios Papoulas entered politics in his early twenties eventually becoming a close friend and confidant of King Constantine. He was appointed commander...
began to move from their base in Bursa in the direction of Eskişehir
Eskisehir
Eskişehir is a city in northwestern Turkey and the capital of the Eskişehir Province. According to the 2009 census, the population of the city is 631,905. The city is located on the banks of the Porsuk River, 792 m above sea level, where it overlooks the fertile Phrygian Valley. In the nearby...
in early January 1921. The battle began with a Greek assault on the positions of Miralay (Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
) İsmet Bey
Ismet Inönü
Mustafa İsmet İnönü was a Turkish Army General, Prime Minister and the second President of Turkey. In 1938, the Republican People's Party gave him the title of "Milli Şef" .-Family and early life:...
's troops near the railway station of İnönü on January 9, 1921 and fighting continued until dark. On January 10, Greek Islands division began moving along the Kovalca-Akpınar line, and İzmir division was moving on Yeniköy-Teke-Hayriye direction and additional forces were moving on Söğüt-Gündüzbey line. Additionally Çerkes Ethem
Çerkes Ethem
Çerkes Ethem was a Turkish militia leader of Circassian origin who initially gained fame for fighting against the Allied powers invading Anatolia in the aftermath of the World War I and afterwards during the Turkish War of Independence....
turned against the new central government in Ankara
Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million....
, refusing to join his forces with the regular army established under the command of İsmet İnönü
Ismet Inönü
Mustafa İsmet İnönü was a Turkish Army General, Prime Minister and the second President of Turkey. In 1938, the Republican People's Party gave him the title of "Milli Şef" .-Family and early life:...
. Newly reconstituted Turkish army had to put down his rebellion while also fighting the Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
s.
The better-equipped Greeks taking advantage of the fog pushed back the Turks around the railroad protected by the 11. division and took the dominant hill called Metristepe where fighting continued till 2pm.
Ferik
Ferik
Ferik is a town in the Armavir Province of Armenia. The town is named in honor of poet and revolutionary Ferik Polatbekov.- References :*...
Fevzi Pasha
Fevzi Çakmak
Mustafa Fevzi Çakmak was a Turkish soldier , politician. Minister of War of the Ottoman Empire, National Defence Minister, Prime minister of Ankara government, the second Chief of the General Staff of the Army of the Grand National Assembly and the first Chief of the General Staff of the Republic of...
, following the recommendation of commander of the Western Front Miralay İsmet Bey, gave the order to pull back to Beşkardeşdağı-Zemzemiye-Oklubalı line and moved the headquarters to Çukurhisar.
After capturing the Akpınar-Kovalca line, Greeks stopped the attack and dug in. Upon observing the Turkish positions being reinforced with 61. division, they realized that Turks were determined to hold there and not fall back any further. Not feeling quite ready to withstand on the battlefield, Greeks vacated the İnönü vicinity and pulled back on January 11. The Turks were unable to pursuit the Greeks not only because of exhaustion and lack of supplies but also because of the need to suppress Çerkes Ethem
Çerkes Ethem
Çerkes Ethem was a Turkish militia leader of Circassian origin who initially gained fame for fighting against the Allied powers invading Anatolia in the aftermath of the World War I and afterwards during the Turkish War of Independence....
as well as the Green Army.
Results
Politically, the battle was significant as the arguments among the Turkish revolutionaries were concluded in the favor of the institution of a centralized control of the Army of the Grand National Assembly. As a result of his performance at İnönü, Colonel İsmet was made a general. Also, the prestige gained in the aftermath of the battle helped the revolutionaries to announce the first Teşkilât-ı EsasiyeTurkish Constitution of 1921
The Constitution of 1921 was the fundamental law of Turkey for a brief period from 1921 to 1924. The first constitution of the modern Turkish state, it was ratified by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey in January 1921. It was a simple document consisting of only 23 short articles...
on January 20, 1921. Internationally, the Turkish revolutionaries proved themselves as a military force. The prestige gained in the aftermath of the battle helped revolutionaries to initiate a new round of negotiations with the Soviet Russians
Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic
The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic , commonly referred to as Soviet Russia, Bolshevik Russia, or simply Russia, was the largest, most populous and economically developed republic in the former Soviet Union....
which ended with the Treaty of Moscow
Treaty of Moscow
The Treaty of Moscow may refer to:*Treaty of Moscow , a treaty of non-aggression between Soviet Russia and Georgia*Soviet–Lithuanian Peace Treaty also known as Moscow Peace Treaty, a treaty between the Soviet Russia and Lithuania...
on March 16, 1921.
The second round of this small scale encounter, Second Battle of İnönü
Second Battle of Inönü
The Second Battle of İnönü was fought between 26 and 31 March 1921 near İnönü in present-day Eskişehir Province, Turkey during the Greco-Turkish War , part of Turkish War of Independence...
was to be replayed within a month in the same area, after the London Conference
London Conference
The London Conference could refer to several conferences:* London Conference of 1832* London Conference of 1838–39* London Conference of 1852* London Conference of 1866* London Conference of 1881 * London Conference of 1908...
failed to reconcile the differences between the two sides.