Abstract:

Izmir, one of the most important cities of the Turks, was occupied by Greece on May 15, 1919. Izmir was liberated from occupation on September 9, 1922, as a result of military struggles of the Turkish army against Greeks. Turkish press followed developments during the National Struggle closely, and assumed an important mission by conveying the details on the front to the public. The newspapers of the period reflected the process leading to liberation of Izmir in the best possible way. The press increased morale and motivation of Turkish people with the news they published from the beginning of Great Offensive to liberation of İzmir on September 9, 1922. With entry of Turkish soldiers to İzmir important developments in the city were reflected in the newspapers of this period. With liberation of Izmir, Turkish newspapers announced the public that the National Struggle had achieved an absolute victory. In this study, reflections of the activities of Turkish army in the Turkish press will be examined, especially those in the era starting from Great Offensive and extending to liberation of Izmir from the occupation. The main source of this study is the Turkish newspapers of 1922.

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