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The Second Battle of İnönü describes the battle that were fought on March 1921 near the Turkish village of İnönü during the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922), which marked a turning point in the Turkish war of independence. Prior to the İnönü battles, the Greeks had been victorious, defeating mainly irregular Turkish forces.
[edit] Background
[edit] The battle
The battle began with a Greek assault on the positions of İsmet's troops on March 26, 1921. The better-equipped Greeks pushed back the Turks and took the dominant hill called Metristepe on the 27th. A night counter-attack by the Turks failed to recapture it. On 31st March İsmet attacked again after receiving reinforcements, and recaptured Metristepe. In a continuation battle in April, Refet's forces retook the town of Afyonkarahisar.
[edit] Aftermath
While the battles marked a turning point in the war, following the battles of İnönü there was a stalemate, as the Turks had missed their chance to encircle and destroy the Greek army, which retreated in good order. There were heavy casualties on both sides, and neither side was in a position to advance.
The commander of the Turkish forces at İnönü, İsmet Pasha, who was one of Kemal's closest collaborators, had his name changed to İsmet İnönü by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk himself in memory of the victory at İnönü. He went on to become the second President of Turkey after Kemal.
[edit] References
