Haberler

The Longest Year of the Republic: 1923

As part of the celebration program, Prof. Dr. Zafer Toprak, a distinguished speaker, emphasized that the period from May 19, 1919, to April 23, 1920, and ultimately to the founding of the Republic in 1923, constituted an unprecedentedly long and transformative era in Turkish history.

In his presentation, Prof. Dr. Zafer Toprak described 1923 as "the longest year of the 20th century", metaphorically speaking. He highlighted its significance, stating:
"As you know, the Great Offensive of 1922 secured a decisive victory. Military success had been achieved, but what followed was the process of building a new Turkey. This reconstruction phase was envisioned from the autumn of 1922 onwards. In fact, one of the key milestones of this period was the abolition of the Sultanate on November 1, 1922."

Prof. Dr. Toprak also underlined that, after more than a decade of wars, the newly established Republic inherited the ruins of the Ottoman Empire. He stressed that a strong and independent economy was essential for building a sovereign state, which is why the 1923 İzmir Economic Congress 1s was convened before the official proclamation of the Republic. He explained that the rapid mobilization of the country was inevitable for comprehensive national development and noted that, to support this goal, Türkiye İş Bankası, Sanayi ve Maadin Bankası, and later the first national insurance company, Anadolu Sigorta, were established.

Highlighting the importance of the Treaty of Lausanne in both the founding and ongoing development of the Republic, Prof. Dr. Toprak stated:
"One of the most crucial events of 1923 was Lausanne. In fact, Lausanne became the backbone of Turkish foreign policy from that point onward. For the first time, Turkey signed an international treaty with Western countries under equal conditions, marking a highly significant achievement."

His speech underscored the pivotal role of 1923 in shaping the Republic of Turkey and its future trajectory.