SIGNIFICANCE OF MAY 19


The Ottoman Empire was defeated in World War I along with its allies. Many parts of Anatolia, including the capital, Istanbul, were occupied by the enemy. Realizing that it was impossible to liberate Istanbul, occupied as it was by the naval forces of foreign countries, Mustafa Kemal Pasha decided to move on to Anatolia. The ship, the 'Bandırma' transported Ataturk and his entourage to Samsun, the best landing point on the Black Sea coast under the circumstances, and they landed there on 19 May 1919, after a five-day voyage. On the day Mustafa Kemal left for Samsun, Izmir was occupied by Greek forces and the Greeks began to invade Western Anatolia.

Mustafa Kemal proceeded to Amasya from Samsun and later to Erzurum in Eastern Anatolia, resigned from his official post and started making preparations for the Erzurum and Sivas Congresses. He then went to Ankara where he convened the Turkish Grand National Assembly on 23 April 1920. After fierce fighting with the invading enemy forces, Anatolia was liberated in September, 1922, and the Republic of Turkey was proclaimed on 29 October 1923.

Atatürk dedicated 19 May, the first stage of the War of Independence, to the youth and ever since then, it has been celebrated as "Youth and Sports Day" wherever Turks reside.

Bayramınız kutlu olsun!

GENÇLİK MARŞI (DAĞ BAŞINI DUMAN ALMIŞ

Dağ başını duman almış
Gümüş dere durmaz akar
Güneş ufuktan şimdi doğar
Yürüyelim arkadaşlar

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Sert adımlarla her yer inlesin

Bu gök, deniz nerede var
Nerede bu dağlar taşlar
Bu ağaçlar güzel kuşlar
Yürüyelim arkadaşlar

Sesimizi yer, gök, su dinlesin
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Dağlar taşlar güzel kuşlar
Ya bu insanlar insanlar
Güneş ufuktan bir gün doğar
Yürüyelim arkadaşlar

Sesimizi yer, gök, su dinlesin
Sert adımlarla her yer inlesin