Date 9 September 1922 | ||
 | ||
Similar Occupation of Smyrna, Great Offensive, Battle of Dumlupınar, Greco‑Turkish War, Battle of Sakarya | ||
The Liberation of İzmir (Turkish: İzmir'in Kurtuluşu) was the final phase of the Great Offensive and last conflict of the Turkish Independence War. After the Turkish Army inflicted heavy losses on the Greek Army at Dumlupınar, on 30 August 1922, Greek forces were constantly retreating towards İzmir as the Turkish Army's westward advance continued. On the eve of Turkish arrival, Greek forces left the city, and on 8 September, at ten o' clock in the morning, the Greek administration ceased to exist in İzmir. On 9 September 1922, the Turkish Army entered İzmir from the east (Kemalpaşa).
As clearly evident, "Liberation of İzmir", the term used in Turkey both at the time and up to the present, reflects the Turkish point of view, while the Greek losers of the war would not share in regarding it as a liberation.
Legacy
9 September is considered a local holiday commemorating the Liberation of İzmir in the Province of Izmir, Turkey. Dokuz Eylül University (9 September University) is named in honor of the event. Mustafa Kemal (later Atatürk) who founded the Republican People's Party chose 9 September 1923 as the establishment date of his party as a reminder of the capture of İzmir.