Treaty of Sèvres

Once, a grand plan was prepared for our country, but due to the courage of the Turkish nation, it was never realized. It was called the Treaty of Sèvres. It was signed on August 10, 1920, approximately a hundred years ago from today. Why was this treaty so significant, and why does it now remain only as a memory in history books? Let us embark together on a journey through the thrilling pages of history!

The First World War had ended, and the victorious powers sought to divide the territories of the Ottoman Empire like a cake among themselves. These powers included countries such as Britain, France, Italy, and Japan. The Treaty of Sèvres was the written form of this division plan.

However, those who drafted this plan had overlooked one crucial thing: the Turkish nation’s deep devotion to its independence. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his companions had already begun preparations in Anatolia to resist this unjust plan.

^{Visual representing the countries in the Treaty of Sèvres (Generated by artificial intelligence)}

The terms of the treaty were so severe that they were unacceptable to the Turkish nation. They intended to leave us only a tiny portion in the center of Anatolia. Our army would be limited to a very small number of soldiers, and we would have no tanks or aircraft.

Moreover, they planned to take control of our seas and straits. They even sought to control our nation’s finances and revenues. In short, this treaty was designed to prevent the Turkish nation from living freely.

Although the authorities in Istanbul were prepared to sign this document, the people of Anatolia and the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM) categorically rejected it. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk called this treaty a great “assassination attempt” against the Turkish nation.

Atatürk launched a great struggle with the slogan “Independence or death!” Our people stood united, our soldiers fought heroically, and through the War of Independence, these plans were rendered null and void. The Turkish nation showed the entire world that it alone would determine its own future.

^{Visual representing the signing of the Treaty of Sèvres (Generated by artificial intelligence)}

After our nation won the victory, the Treaty of Sèvres remained nothing more than a piece of paper and was never implemented. For this reason, historians refer to it as a “stillborn treaty.”

In its place, the Treaty of Lausanne was signed, establishing today’s borders of our country and proclaiming our independence to the world. The dark days that Sèvres sought to impose gave way to the bright light of the free Republic of Türkiye.

^{Visual representing the significance of the Treaties of Sèvres and Lausanne (Generated by artificial intelligence)}