Podcasts · The Story of Turkey: From Byzantium to the Ottoman Empire to Today — Fexingo History

Atatürk's Lost Years: From Gallipoli to the War of Independence

24 Sep 2026 · 14 min · S5 E244

We trace the extraordinary arc of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, moving beyond his famous presidency to explore the crucible of World War I and the Turkish War of Independence. After arriving in Anatolia as a reluctant officer at Gallipoli, he transformed into the architect of modern Turkey, leading resistance against Allied occupation forces from 1919 to 1923. This episode examines his strategic brilliance at the Battle of Sakarya and the decisive victory at Dumlupınar, while also delving into the complex political maneuvering required to unify fragmented nationalist movements under the Grand National Assembly in Ankara. We look at how he navigated the collapse of the Ottoman Sultanate, abolished the Caliphate, and laid the groundwork for secular reforms that reshaped the nation’s legal and social fabric. Through intimate details of his leadership style and the harsh realities of guerrilla warfare against Greek, French, and Italian troops, we uncover the personal cost of building a republic from the ashes of an empire. Join us as we revisit the rugged terrain of western Anatolia and the tense halls of Ankara to understand how one man’s vision forged a new state identity.

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