The Law on the Commander-in-Chief (August 5, 1921) was a regulation that determined the course of the War of Independence. The Grand National Assembly of Türkiye appointed Mustafa Kemal Pasha as Commander-in-Chief of the army and delegated certain powers of the Assembly to him for a specific period. This law was drafted in response to the need to regroup the Turkish army under a central command before the Battle of Sakarya. This authority granted to Mustafa Kemal Pasha was initially limited to three months, then extended three times, and finally made indefinite.

The Process Leading to the Enactment of the Law

The Greek Army, supported by the Allied Powers, occupied Afyon and Kütahya in July 1921 and advanced as far as Eskişehir. The Turkish army's withdrawal east of the Sakarya River generated intense criticism in the Turkish Grand National Assembly. The proposal to relocate the government to Kayseri provoked a strong reaction within the Assembly. The prevailing view was that Ankara should not be abandoned and that resistance should be waged to the end. Amidst these developments, the issue of the Commander-in-Chief position came to the forefront in an effort to restore confidence in the army.

The Adoption of the Law and Its Articles

On August 4, 1921, Mustafa Kemal Pasha sent a letter to the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly, stating that he "desired to assume the office of Commander-in-Chief on behalf of the Grand National Assembly." However, he stipulated that this position would require him to effectively exercise all the powers of the Grand National Assembly. The proposal was criticized by some members of parliament for fear of transferring the powers of the Grand National Assembly. However, the difficult circumstances of the country and the trust placed in Mustafa Kemal Pasha influenced the acceptance of this proposal. With Law No. 144, passed on August 5, 1921, Mustafa Kemal Pasha assumed the title of Commander-in-Chief for a three-month term and gained the right to exercise certain powers of the Grand National Assembly. The first three articles of the law contain the following provisions:

• The Grand National Assembly of Türkiye transferred the office of Commander-in-Chief to its own President, Mustafa Kemal Pasha.
• The Commander-in-Chief will effectively exercise the relevant powers of the Grand National Assembly in the strengthening, command, and administration of the army.
• This duty was limited to three months; Parliament could extend it if deemed necessary.

Extensions and Criticisms

The law was extended first on October 31, 1921, a second time on February 4, 1922, and a third time on May 6, 1922. Opposition within Parliament intensified, particularly during the third extension. The extension was rejected in a vote held on May 5, 1922. However, a new vote held the following day secured the necessary majority and approved the extension. On July 20, 1922, the authority granted to Mustafa Kemal Pasha was made indefinite.

Historical Significance

The Commander-in-Chief Law strengthened centralization in the organization of the War of Independence and concentrated the command of the army in a single hand. This regulation enabled Mustafa Kemal Pasha to prepare for victories such as the Battle of Sakarya and the Great Offensive. The law holds an important place in the legal history of the Republican era as one of the examples of the Turkish Grand National Assembly delegating executive authority for a limited period under extraordinary circumstances.