Turkish forces entering Bursa on 11 September
1922, led by Army Corps Commander Şükrü Naili
Paşa.
"Within two days all the local Greek and Armenian homes were
vacated, while the Greek soldiers played hide-and-seek. The sound
of cannon fire was approaching Bursa and Greek pressure on Moslem
villages reached its peak, as homes were broken into and women tied
up and pressured to produce money."
"It was dangerous to be out on the street anymore, with local Greek,
Armenian and Caucasus roughs, carrying their daggers in their belts,
patrolling every corner. Even a glance at them would prompt them
to grab the onlooker, tie him up and drag him away. The markets were
half-open, half-closed. Greek soldiers took what they wanted without
paying."
Işıklar Mektebi
"When (Greek) cannon were positioned at the Işıklar Mektebi (the
then-former Ottoman military high school), concern about lives and
property was amplified and the prospect that this historic city might
burn to the ground gained currency. On the night the effort (by
Turkish forces) to re-take the city began this anxiety became all too
real."
"As dawn broke, intermittent cannon and rifle firings could be heard
coming from the plain. Some Greek villages were in flames, as fires
burned in Tepecik, Köprübaşı, Hasanağa and Samanlı villages. The
fires spread to Moslem villages, as well. In the morning, gangs
entered the city to burn neighborhoods and rob homes."
"Finally, the cannon fell silent and rifle fire ceased. Nevertheless,
the attendant anxiety remained as we wondered what our hoped-for
liberators were doing. When night fell, the city was calm but it was a
fearful calm, as everyone listened for the firing to start anew. Again,
dawn came but this time it was the dawn of salvation for us."
"Our (Turkish) forward units approached Işıklar Mektebi and were
met by a rain of Greek shrapnel. The two cannon positioned at the
train station fired continuously and were answered in kind. Explosions
generated by a 20-30-man group of the 'Püskülsüz' (a pro-Turkish
band) could be heard."
"Between four-thirty and five o'clock, the firing caused the gunpowder
depot near the station to explode, damaging some shacks and homes
close by. The resulting fire lasted for half an hour and countless gun
shells exploded, shaking Bursa and prompting the sobs of those who
had never known war up close."
"Neighbors knocked on doors to check on friends. This situation
continued beyond 'ikindi' (the late afternoon prayer). At this point,
our forces entered the city and fighting began at Demirtaş train
station, spreading toward Işıklar Mektebi. (Turkish) cavalry,
'Püskülsüz' and other swashbucklers descended from the mountain
to Maksem quarter, shouting 'Allah! Allah!'."
Greek Army units in front of 'Ulu Cami' in 1922.
"To the villagers, they commanded 'whoever has a Mauser (rifle) grab
it and follow us!" and their men were scattered into all the
neighborhoods up to the 'Ulu Cami' (Great Mosque)." The few Greek
sellers in front of the 'Ulu Cami' were shot and those who tried to flee
were killed by a bomb that exploded on the Setbaş Irgandı Bridge."
"After street fighting that lasted for another half an hour, Bursa began
to rejoice on this Sunday, 11 September. (Turkish) Army Corps
Commander Şükrü Naili Paşa and his entourage entered the city. A
delegation of 'ulema' (Moslem clergy) said prayers in the Çınar and
İstikbal quarters. A parade led by the cavalry and followed by the
infantry and lancers, preceded Şükrü Naili Paşa, who was accompanied
by Saruhan Member of Parliament Reşad Bey and 'Vakit' newspaper's
front correspondant."
Greek Army activity click here for the ninth
of a ten-part TNT series about the Greek
Army's activities in Eskişehir and Bursa, in
particular, at this time.
//END of PART TWO/FINAL//
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