Battle of the Sakarya - Revision history

Irlandos at 14:34, July 28, 2006

2006-07-28T14:34:03Z

Irlandos: /* Active stage */

2006-07-28T14:31:19Z

Active stage

Irlandos at 14:26, July 28, 2006

2006-07-28T14:26:36Z

New page

The '''Battle of Sakarya''' or the '''[[Battle of Sangarios]]''' in [[1921]] was an important engagement in the [[Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922)]]. The battle was fought during [[August 23]] - [[September 13]], [[1922]], close to the banks of River Sakarya in the immediate vicinity of Polatlı, which is today a district of the Turkish capital Ankara.

==Active stage==
In June [[1921]], the [[Greece|Greek]] army advanced to the River Sakarya, less than 100 km west of Ankara. On [[July 28]], the decision to seek out and destroy the Turkish Army was taken. General [[Anastasios Papoulas]] planned convergent thrusts, eastwards across the Sakarya and northwards against the Turkish lines on the Ilica, a shallow tributary of the Sakarya. On [[August 23]], [[1921]], the Greeks attacked and broke through the Ilica line. Before them rose the Haymana plateau, 3000 feet high, dotted with higher hills, the chief of which were Mangal Dagi in the South and Chal Dagi in the centre. The Greeks took Mangal Dagi against weak Turkish opposition, much to Kemal's fury. In the face of Greek progress, Kemal ordered that no unit was to fall back even if neighbouring units did. Fevzi Pasha, the Turkish Chief General Staff, decided to hold on around Chal Dagi and brought in reinforcements. The shortening of the Turkish defensive line also helped.

The Greeks took Chal Dagi after fierce fighting on [[September 2]], 1921. According to some sources Kemal fell into depression, but was prevented from issuing an order to retreat because of Fevzi; Kemal himself claimed he was unconcerned. Unknown to him, Papoulas was also considering retreat, disheartened by the heavy losses despite the important successes. He ordered retreat from [[September 4]], after taking permission by the Greek government to act as he considered best. The Turks counter-attacked and took Chal Dagi on [[September 8]], but were unable to pursue the enemy as their violent counter-attack was crushed by the Greek 7th division. The twenty-one day battle of attrition officially ended on [[September 13]], 1921. The Greeks retreated in good order and still hoped to defend their base at [[Smyrna]]. They appealed to the Allies for help, but early in 1922, Britain, France and Italy decided that the [[Treaty of Sevres]] could not be enforced and should be revised.

{{Credit wikipedia}}

[[Category:1921]]
[[Category:Battles of Greece|Sakarya 1921]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:34, July 28, 2006
Line 1:		Line 1:
−	The '''Battle of Sakarya''' or the '''[[Battle of Sangarios]]''' in [[1921]] was an important engagement in the [[Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922)]]. The battle was fought during [[August 23]] - [[September 13]], [[~~1922~~]], close to the banks of River Sakarya in the immediate vicinity of Polatlı, which is today a district of the Turkish capital Ankara.	+	The '''Battle of Sakarya''' or the '''[[Battle of Sangarios]]''' in [[1921]] was an important engagement in the [[Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922)]]. The battle was fought during [[August 23]] - [[September 13]], [[1921]], close to the banks of River Sakarya in the immediate vicinity of Polatlı, which is today a district of the Turkish capital Ankara.

	==Active stage==		==Active stage==

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:31, July 28, 2006
Line 4:		Line 4:
	In June [[1921]], the [[Greece\|Greek]] army advanced to the River Sakarya, less than 100 km west of Ankara. On [[July 28]], the decision to seek out and destroy the Turkish Army was taken. General [[Anastasios Papoulas]] planned convergent thrusts, eastwards across the Sakarya and northwards against the Turkish lines on the Ilica, a shallow tributary of the Sakarya. On [[August 23]], [[1921]], the Greeks attacked and broke through the Ilica line. Before them rose the Haymana plateau, 3000 feet high, dotted with higher hills, the chief of which were Mangal Dagi in the South and Chal Dagi in the centre. The Greeks took Mangal Dagi against weak Turkish opposition, much to Kemal's fury. In the face of Greek progress, Kemal ordered that no unit was to fall back even if neighbouring units did. Fevzi Pasha, the Turkish Chief General Staff, decided to hold on around Chal Dagi and brought in reinforcements. The shortening of the Turkish defensive line also helped.		In June [[1921]], the [[Greece\|Greek]] army advanced to the River Sakarya, less than 100 km west of Ankara. On [[July 28]], the decision to seek out and destroy the Turkish Army was taken. General [[Anastasios Papoulas]] planned convergent thrusts, eastwards across the Sakarya and northwards against the Turkish lines on the Ilica, a shallow tributary of the Sakarya. On [[August 23]], [[1921]], the Greeks attacked and broke through the Ilica line. Before them rose the Haymana plateau, 3000 feet high, dotted with higher hills, the chief of which were Mangal Dagi in the South and Chal Dagi in the centre. The Greeks took Mangal Dagi against weak Turkish opposition, much to Kemal's fury. In the face of Greek progress, Kemal ordered that no unit was to fall back even if neighbouring units did. Fevzi Pasha, the Turkish Chief General Staff, decided to hold on around Chal Dagi and brought in reinforcements. The shortening of the Turkish defensive line also helped.

−	The Greeks took Chal Dagi after fierce fighting on [[September 2]], 1921. According to some sources Kemal fell into depression, but was prevented from issuing an order to retreat because of Fevzi; Kemal himself claimed he was unconcerned. Unknown to him, Papoulas was also considering retreat, disheartened by the heavy losses despite the important successes. He ordered retreat from [[September 4]], after taking permission by the Greek government to act as he considered best. The Turks counter-attacked and took Chal Dagi on [[September 8]], but were unable to pursue the enemy as their violent counter-attack was crushed by the Greek 7th division. The twenty-one day battle of attrition officially ended on [[September 13]], 1921. The Greeks retreated in good order and still hoped to defend their base at [[Smyrna]]. They appealed to the Allies for help, but early in 1922, Britain, France and Italy decided that the [[Treaty of Sevres]] could not be enforced and should be revised.	+	The Greeks took Chal Dagi after fierce fighting on [[September 2]], 1921. According to some sources Kemal fell into depression, but was prevented from issuing an order to retreat because of Fevzi; Kemal himself claimed he was unconcerned. Unknown to him, Papoulas was also considering retreat, disheartened by the heavy losses despite the important successes. He ordered retreat from [[September 4]], after taking permission by the Greek government to act as he considered best. The Turks counter-attacked and took Chal Dagi on [[September 8]], but were unable to pursue the enemy as their violent counter-attack was crushed by the Greek 7th division. The twenty-one day battle of attrition officially ended on [[September 13]], 1921.
		+
		+	==Results==
		+	The battle of Sakarya cost the Greeks 3,677 dead, 18,869 wounded and 354 missing.
		+	It cost the Turks 3,250 dead, 13,800 wounded and 5,070 missing.
		+
		+	The Greeks retreated in good order and still hoped to defend their base at [[Smyrna]]. They appealed to the Allies for help, but early in 1922, Britain, France and Italy decided that the [[Treaty of Sevres]] could not be enforced and should be revised.