Milli Mücadele Başlarken Batı Anadolu’da “Kuvâ-yi Milliye”

The occupations that began after the Armistice of Mudros, along with the massacres in Eastern and Southern Anatolia, led to the death and displacement of many Turks. On May 15, 1919, with the occupation of Izmir, acts of killing, burning, destruction, and rape increased. The state authority remained unresponsive and accepted the developments, including demonstrations and excesses against Turkishness and the invasion of Anatolia. These events, which led to new developments in national awareness and security considerations within the Anatolian Turkish community, gave rise to the organizations “Kuvâ-yi Milliye” and “Müdafaa-i Hukuk”, marking the beginning of the “Armed Resistance Period” of the National Struggle. Kuvâ-yi Milliye means “National Forces.”This study will examine the emergence, purpose, structural characteristics, organization, frontlines formed, significant battles undertaken, and the relationship with congresses held in the region by the “Kuva-yi Milliye”, which was formed by the people without any instructions from any place in response to the developments in “Western Anatolia” at the beginning of the National Struggle. It will also cover the eventual disbandment of this movement.Much has been written and said about this topic. Some of it is positive, while some of it is negative due to the structural and legal characteristics of the Kuva-yi Milliye. The aim is to recall this formation, which holds a place in the history of the Turkish War of Independence and has been fading into oblivion.