Victory Day (Turkish: Zafer Bayramı), also known as Turkish Armed Forces Day (Turkish: Türk Silahlı Kuvvetleri Günü),[1] is a public holiday in Turkey commemorating the decisive victory in the Battle of Dumlupınar, on 30 August 1922. It is also observed by Northern Cyprus.[2]
| Victory Day | |
|---|---|
 Soldiers of the Turkish Armed Forces during the Victory Day parade, 30 August 2007. | |
| Official name | Zafer Bayramı (Turkish) |
| Also called | Turkish Armed Forces Day The Thirtieth of August |
| Observed by |  Turkey Northern Cyprus |
| Type | National |
| Significance | The day in 1922 that the Battle of Dumlupınar was won by the Turkish army |
| Celebrations | Military parades, aerobatics demonstrations, concerts, events at military schools |
| Date | 30 August |
| Next time | 30 August 2025 |
| Frequency | annual |
Background
editThe holiday commemorates the decisive victory in the Battle of Dumlupınar, the last battle in the Greco-Turkish War, on 30 August 1922.[3] Following the battle, Greek military presence in Anatolia ended.[3] Victory Day has been celebrated as an official holiday since 1926, and was first celebrated on 30 August 1923.[4]
Customs
editVictory Day is celebrated across Turkey and in Northern Cyprus and is a celebration of the Turkish Armed Forces.[1][2] The main celebration is held at Anıtkabir in Ankara, where the President of Turkey leads officials in laying wreaths and then delivers the keynote address.[4][5]
One of the big commemorative events is also held at the War Academy in Istanbul, with all military promotions made on this day, while parades are held in major cities across the country with Ankara also hosting a national parade in honor of the holiday, currently small scaled, previously the national parade, in the presence of the President, was one of the biggest in Eurasia.[6][7][8] August 30 is also the traditional the day of graduation ceremonies of military schools in Turkey - however the actual date in recent years has been before the 30th.[9] The Turkish Stars performs an airshow over Dumlupınar.[10] In the evening, holiday concerts are held in major cities to honor the men and women of the Armed Forces.[11][12] President of Turkey, acting as the Commander-in-chief, hosts an event at the Presidential Complex.[13]
Celebration gallery
edit-
A Turkish soldier on a BA-3/6 during a military parade in Ankara (1935) -
Victory Day celebrations in North Nicosia, Northern Cyprus (2006) -
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan greets people during a parade (2014)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Büyük Zafer'in 97. yıl dönümü kutlanıyor" (in Turkish). Anadolu Agency. August 30, 2019. Archived from the original on September 22, 2019. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
- ^ a b "2019'da 14'ü resmi, 119 gün tatil var". Kıbrıs Gazetesi (in Turkish). December 17, 2018. Archived from the original on August 29, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
- ^ a b "Türk milletinin şanlı tarihinin dönüm noktası: 30 Ağustos" (in Turkish). Anadolu Agency. August 29, 2019. Archived from the original on August 30, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
- ^ a b "Turkey marks Victory Day as Erdoğan vows resistance against 'increasing threats'". Hürriyet Daily News (in Turkish). August 30, 2018. Archived from the original on August 29, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
- ^ "Devletin zirvesi 30 Ağustos töreni için Anıtkabir'de..." Sabah (in Turkish). August 30, 2018. Archived from the original on August 31, 2018. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
- ^ "30 Ağustos Zafer Bayramı Ve Türk Silahlı Kuvvetleri Günü". Milliyet (in Turkish). August 29, 2018. Archived from the original on August 29, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
- ^ "Zafer Bayramı'nın 97. yıl dönümü kutlamaları". BirGün (in Turkish). August 30, 2019. Archived from the original on August 29, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
- ^ Tunç, Süleyman (August 30, 2019). "Başkentte 30 Ağustos Kortej Yürüyüşü" (in Turkish). Anadolu Agency. Archived from the original on August 8, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
- ^ "Erdoğan Harp Okulları Diploma Töreni'nde konuştu". Aydınlık (in Turkish). August 31, 2019. Archived from the original on August 29, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
- ^ "Türk Yıldızları'ndan nefes kesen gösteri!" (in Turkish). İhlas Haber Ajansı. August 30, 2019. Archived from the original on August 29, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
- ^ "30 Ağustos Zafer Bayramı coşkusu". Sabah (in Turkish). September 2, 2018. Archived from the original on August 29, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
- ^ "Forum Mersin'de 30 Ağustos Zafer Bayramı konseri". Haberturk.com (in Turkish). September 3, 2019. Archived from the original on August 29, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
- ^ "Cumhurbaşkanlığı Külliyesi'nde 30 Ağustos Zafer Bayramı resepsiyonu" (in Turkish). TRT Haber. August 30, 2019. Archived from the original on August 29, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
External links
edit
Media related to Victory Day at Wikimedia Commons
