A Panel on "Bandırma in the War of Independence from Bandırma Ferry to the Last Bullet" was Organized by Our University

A panel on "Bandırma in the War of Independence from Bandırma Ferry to the Last Bullet" was organized by our university. It was moderated by our Rector Prof. Dr. Süleyman Özdemir and Milli Savunma University faculty member Prof. Dr. Bünyamin Kocaoğlu, Balıkesir University faculty member Prof. Dr. Zeki Çevik, and our faculty member of History Department Assoc. Dr. Cemile Şahin attended as the speaker. In the panel, which was broadcast live on our university's Youtube channel, very important information was shared that will shed light on what happened in Bandırma and our region during the years of the War of Independence.

Our Rector Prof. Dr. Süleyman Özdemir, stating the meaning and importance of the day, made important posts about the liberation of Bandırma from the enemy occupation and the date of 17 September, which is also a source of the name of our University. Every year our university starts its education period on September 17th and that every year, Bandırma and its Environment Symposium is organized by our university on this date. However, this tradition was broken due to the covid-19 epidemic this year. Our rector said that they wanted to organize an event again on this important date and therefore they came together with our esteemed teachers on the occasion of this panel.

Prof. Dr. Bünyamin Kocaoğlu, who took place right after our Rector Prof. Dr. Süleyman Özdemir who was the moderator of the panel and stated: “National struggle is a very important period and a very difficult period. It is a continuation of a war. I would like to underline this. It was very difficult to say that we will save this come and help to a nation that has been fighting since Tripoli, to a nation that has been fighting for 7 years. This can only be said to a nation that will understand. Our national struggle is unique in the world. We cannot find a nation that has shown its life in this Middle East geography. Therefore, the most sacred aspect of the national struggle is the courage of the nation. The national struggle was not won with great technologies; it was won with faith; it was won with faith. Anyone who knows our nation and knows that we accept their land and homeland as honour knows this. And this spirit, this culture continues. A treacherous coup attempt was also made on July 15. However, this state survives even under the most difficult conditions. We survived on July 15th. This geography is also very important for the Islam. That is why I remember with gratitude all our martyrs and veterans, especially Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who have put their lives through difficult times throughout history and who have helped us to live comfortably in our homeland today.”

Prof. Dr. Zeki Çevik who was the second speaker of the panel also stated: “Our national struggle is an event that sets an example to the whole world and will continue to be. All other states that fought alongside us in the First World War have submitted to the agreements made. Not a single Turkish nation has bowed to this. At that time, we had a population of 7-8 million people, mostly women, children and the elderly. The worst part is that most of our readers do not believe that we will win, they are desperate for victory. It's really hard to win in such a situation. Defence of the law is the soul of this struggle. Its main structure and its scaffold are the decisions taken in congresses and its striking power is the ‘Kuvayi Milliye’.”. He also stated the importance of Balıkesir and Bandırma in that period and talked about the telegram stating that Izmir was occupied on May 16, 1919, reached Balıkesir. The people had a meeting after listening to the telegram crying and that they were preparing for the national struggle. He stated that the Greeks committed great cruelty in Bandırma and its surroundings. Much blood was shed, 90% of Bandırma was burned by Armenians and Greeks, and 8 villages were destroyed. Despite all the difficulties, the enemy was not given the opportunity and in fact the last enemy poured into the sea from Bandırma, not Izmir, Çevik stated. He also mentioned that our nation is always brave enough to put itself forward to fight the enemy and that we have seen this courage once again on July 15. He finished by expressing his to our martyrs and veterans, especially Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

As the final speaker Assoc. Dr. Cemile Şahin, our faculty member and president of the Department of History of the Republic of Turkey took the floor and stated: "I would like to explain why Bandırma is a region that attracts such attention in terms of the Greek occupation forces. There are reasons that make Bandırma particularly attractive in terms of geopolitics. As it is known, it is located in Marmara, so it has transportation possibilities to Istanbul, Bursa and Çanakkale and also has a natural port. These have made Bandırma an attractive place throughout history. It has a very important position for the Greeks. Because it acts as a bridgehead. That's why they wanted to take over this area. Being a region where they can advance to Anatolia is one of the reasons why it gains importance. These reasons have brought heavy loads to this region throughout history. It is the place that paid the heaviest prices during the War of Independence. It also has a Cosmo politically important structure. Non-Muslims living in the region joined the Armenian and Greek-Greek forces, and some of them joined them by forming a gang. That is why the enemy got stronger in this region and great struggles were fought. For many years struggling with challenges to learn from the mistakes made in the past as a nation, I always wish to continue together as a powerful Turkey. I want to end my words by saying that Allah will not let us live those days again."

Those who cannot find the opportunity to watch our panel, where extremely valuable information is shared, live, can watch the video of our university's YouTube channel.

 

Click to watch the panel.