The Occupation of Istanbul (1918-1923)
A comprehensive account of Istanbul's five-year occupation by Allied forces during the transition from Ottoman Empire to Turkish Republic.
The Occupation of Istanbul (1918-1923)
The focus of this work is Istanbul under Allied occupation. Between the years of 1918 and 1923, occupied Istanbul together with the War of Independence determined the structure of the new government established after the Ottoman Empire and lasting till today.
Historical Context
The occupation of Istanbul occurs following the First World War. The aim of the First World War and the occupation focused on dismembering the Ottoman Empire and thus ending the Eastern Question.
For 5 years, the capital of one of the biggest empires in the history of mankind was occupied by a combination of international armies and their highest-ranked commanders. From 1918 to 1923, the palace of one of the greatest royal families in the history of mankind was under threat by the cannons of the occupying navies of multiple countries.
Sociological Perspective
Sociology is about becoming conscious of society and history. Studying the turning point of a change reaching till today and the basis of this change helps us make more efficient evaluations regarding the choices made during this critical period.
This period witnessed unprecedented political maneuvering: the Istanbul government versus the Ankara government, the Sultanate versus the nationalist movement, and traditional power structures versus emerging modern governance.
Publication Details
Publisher: Doğu Kitabevi (Eastern Publishing House)
Publication Date: October 2011
ISBN: 605620426X
Significance
The Occupation of Istanbul is not well known, it is not talked about, it is always passed over with an unspoken silence. This work contributes to understanding how occupation, resistance, and diplomatic maneuvering shaped the modern Middle East and demonstrates how a city can be simultaneously the seat of a dying empire and the staging ground for a new nation's birth.