The Turkish Ministry of Defence today published a provocative video post marking the anniversary of the launch of Mustafa Kemal’s forces against the Greek Army in Asia Minor- a campaign that culminated in the Asia Minor Catastrophe and the burning of Smyrna.
In its social media post, described as a Turkish Defence Ministry video tribute, the day is portrayed as “the ground of the Commander-in-Chief’s battle,” which in reality was characterised by chaotic retreat and violence.
“The earth trembled from the footsteps of the Turk; hope united with freedom,” the post declares, accompanied by a stylised video.
⚔️ Başkumandanlık Meydan Muharebesi’nin zeminini oluşturan bugün, düşmanın düzensiz bir şekilde kaçmaya başladığı, Türk ordusunun tam saha baskı uyguladığı kritik bir aşamadır.
— T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) August 28, 2025
Bugün, süvarilerimizin ⚡ yıldırım gibi ilerlediği düşmana soluk aldırmayan hamlelerin günüydü.… pic.twitter.com/CbTTdI1mJG
Full text of the Turkish Defence Ministry post
“Today marks the ground of the Commander-in-Chief’s battle — the moment when the enemy began to retreat in disorder and the Turkish army applied suffocating pressure on all fronts.
It was the day of manoeuvres that gave the enemy no breath, as our cavalry ⚡ advanced like lightning.
The earth trembled from the footsteps of the Turk; hope united with freedom.
Mustafa Kemal Pasha had his eyes fixed on the horizon. For on that horizon shone not only a victory, but the rebirth of an entire nation. There was no turning back, for victory was dawning in full.”
Historical sensitivities
The Asia Minor Catastrophe of 1922 marked one of the darkest chapters of Greek history, with mass displacement, massacres, and the destruction of Smyrna. Today, Turkey’s framing of the event as a glorious rebirth is seen in Greece as a deliberate provocation that ignores the suffering of hundreds of thousands of Greek civilians.
The publication of the Turkish Defence Ministry video is expected to spark strong reactions in Athens, particularly given the sensitive anniversary and ongoing tensions in Greek-Turkish relations.
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