The Turks declared to the world their permanent presence in Anatolia with the Great Offensive

The Great Offensive and the Battle of the Commander-in-Chief, which began on August 26 and concluded with the August 30 Victory by the Turkish army under the command of Mustafa Kemal Pasha, went down in history as one of the greatest heroic epics in world history.

TTK President Özgen made an assessment to an Anadolu Agency (AA) reporter regarding the importance of the Great Offensive and Commander-in-Chief Field Battle on the 103rd anniversary of these victories.

Özgen, stating that the Great Offensive and the Battle of the Commander-in-Chief were a turning point in Turkish history, said, "The Great Offensive of August 26th and the battles of August 30th are offensives, they are battles, but what we must underline here is that the Great Offensive tore the garment that the imperialist powers wanted to dress the Turks in. It was a blow to the mentality that wanted to send the Turks first from Europe and then from Anatolia to Central Asia."

Özgen said that the Turkish nation rose to its feet in unity and solidarity at a time when it was thought "it was over" thanks to the leadership of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha and the trust placed in him.

Özgen noted that this resistance foiled the plan to expel the Turks from Anatolia, known as the "Eastern Question," and that Anatolia was declared to the entire world as an eternal homeland for the Turks. He added that after the Great Offensive, a process began that led to the Treaty of Lausanne, which was the forerunner and harbinger of the establishment of the modern Republic.

Özgen stated that the Treaty of Sevres, a document that did not recognize the right to life for Turks, further strengthened the Turkish nation's offensive.

Prof. Dr. Yüksel Özgen noted the following:

Just as the Battle of Manzikert opened the doors of this region to us and offered us a new horizon and the opportunity to build a new civilization, the Great Offensive and the August 30 Victories declared to the entire world that the Turks are permanent in Anatolia, that we will remain, and that our will will continue forever.

Özgen, emphasizing the importance of passing down the Great Offensive to younger generations 103 years later, said, "We will leave this homeland to our youth. They will pass it on to future generations. This national memory, the victories we are proud of, must be passed on to our youth."

Özgen emphasized that TTK strives to convey national memory to young people not only on August 30th but always through academic activities, symposiums, panels, exhibitions and published books.

Özgen also provided information about the projects to be implemented by the Turkish Historical Society within the scope of August 30 Victory Day, reminding that they are continuing the "A History Book for Every Home" project they had previously initiated, and said that this year, for the first time, the society will meet with citizens in Afyon with its mobile book sales truck and eight authors.

Özgen, noting that they chose this date specifically, said, "There will be a big festival in Afyon during Victory Week. We will be meeting and supporting our citizens' interest in history."

Prof. Dr. Özgen stated that a panel of prominent historians will be held in Afyon to commemorate August 30th, adding, "Our journey to connect with our citizens will continue in the coming period. The Turkish Historical Society's mobile bookstore and authors will meet with our citizens in almost every province in Türkiye."

TTK President Prof. Dr. Özgen stated that Turkish society has a great interest in history and noted the following:

Our nation's interest in history is encouraging. We want to nourish this interest in our society with accurate and academic knowledge, and we want to increase interest and awareness in history. We are increasing our activities at universities, especially for our youth, once they reopen. Our library openings at universities continue. We will continue to bring our writers and young people together more frequently as part of our reader-writer gatherings.

Özgen stated that they will continue to serve the community in terms of transmitting national memory and culture through posts and documentaries made on the institution's social media accounts.