The first military victory of the War of Independence
During Turkey’s National War of Independence, the Greeks made a move over Bursa and Uşak on 6 January 1920 in order to test the strength of the Turkish line of defense, which they regarded as the most serious obstacle in their way. Meanwhile, then-commander of the Western Front Colonel İsmet Bey was in Gediz, fully focused on Çerkez Ethem. Once the Greek forward-operating began, İsmet Bey decided to meet the Greek forces in the environs of İnönü. The Greek infantry power fire was three times stronger than the Turkish side and had the upper hand in artillery fire as well.
On January 10th, the toughest day of combat, Turkish soldiers, most of which reached the battlefield by forced march, uncompromisingly defended their territory. The value of this resistance is infinitely higher considering the weakness of their equipment. On that day, the Turkish forces attained the first significant military success of the National War of Independence. After high combat, not only was the Greek progression halted, but the Greek troops were forced to retreat on January 11th. Although the Greek side claims to have retreated despite having won the battle, it is inconceivable for the Greeks to have refrained from striking a fatal blow on the Turkish army, which was nothing more than a nucleus at the time. Even by the admission of Greek military historians, the Kuvayi Milliye (National Forces) was no longer a militia of irregular gangs, but comprised of true soldiers.
The telegraph Mustafa Kemal Pasha sent to İsmet Bey to congratulate the victory of the First Battle of İnönü reads as follows:
I hope to God that this triumph is the propitious beginning of the absolute victory that shall completely free our lands from enemy invasion.
