Great Smyrna Offensive

Great Offensive
Part of the Greco-Turkish War (1919–22)
Field Marshal Mustafa Kemal at Kocatepe
Date 26 August – 18 September 1922 Location Western Anatolia (Afyon, Dumlupınar, Uşak, İzmir Result Decisive Turkish victory Liberation of İzmir Greek Army withdrawal from Western Anatolia Armistice of Mudanya End of the Turkish War of Independence
Belligerents
Grand National Assembly	Greece
Commanders and leaders
Mustafa Kemal Pasha Fevzi Pasha İsmet Pasha	Aristidis Stergiadis
Strength
98,670 infantry 5,286 cavalry 323 artillery	130,000 infantry 1,300 cavalry 348 artillery
Casualties and losses
2,318 killed, 9,360 wounded, 1,697 missing and 101 prisoners Total: 13,476	By 7 September: 50,000 (35,000 killed and wounded, 15,000 prisoners) Total: 100,000

Decisive Turkish victory

The Great Offensive (Turkish: Büyük Taarruz) was the largest and final military operation of the Turkish War of Independence, fought between the Turkish Armed Forces loyal to the government of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and the Kingdom of Greece, during the Greco-Turkish War. The offensive began on 26 August 1922 with the Battle of Dumlupınar, and Turkish troops reached the sea on 9 September with the recapture of İzmir. It ended on 18 September 1922 with the liberation of Erdek and Biga. The Turks amassed around 104,000 men, the largest number since the beginning of the war, to begin the offensive on 26 August and drive the Greek army of over 200,000 men out of western Anatolia. A pursuit operation began on a 400-kilometre-wide (250-mile) front.

The Turkish units marched for 10 days (from 31 August to 9 September), covering a distance of 300 km (190 mi) while fighting Greek troops. The Turkish army lacked motorized vehicles; its forces consisted of infantry and cavalry units, and logistical support was provided by a supply system based on ox carts. Within two weeks, the Turkish army drove the Greek forces out of Anatolia. From 26 August to 9 September the Turks chased the fleeing Greeks 400 km (250 mi) to İzmir, which was later abandoned by Greek troops. The Greek occupation of Smyrna, which began in May 1919, ended on 9 September 1922 with the liberation of İzmir. The Great Offensive ended on 18 September 1922 with the liberation of Erdek and Biga.

After Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's order issued in the Forces of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, the main part of the Turkish Army began moving toward İzmir and a secondary force began moving from Eskişehir toward Bursa. On 7 September, Aydın, Germencik and Kuşadası were liberated. On 16 September the last Greek troops left Çeşme, and two days later the Greek III Corps left Erdek. The British Chief of Staff expressed his admiration of the Turkish military operation.

...
Wikipedia