May 19, 2025 – 07:17 • Last Update: May 19, 2025 – 07:27
In a pivotal moment in history that took place 106 years ago, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk set foot in Samsun with the Bandırma Ferry, marking the beginning of the National Liberation Movement. After Izmir was occupied on May 15, 1919, Mustafa Kemal departed from Istanbul to Samsun on the Bandırma Ferry the following day. As Atatürk and his companions stepped ashore in Samsun from the Reji Pier on May 19, the flame of liberation was ignited.
**The Beginning of a Journey**
Following the signing of the Mondros Armistice on October 30, 1918, Izmir fell into the hands of the Greeks, while the French occupied Adana, and the Italians took control of Antalya and Konya. British troops landed in Urfa, Maraş, Antep, Merzifon, and Samsun, with the British navy anchoring off the coast of Istanbul on November 13, 1918.
**From the Frontlines to Istanbul**
Mustafa Kemal, who had spent years defending his homeland on the battlefields, returned to Istanbul on November 3, 1918, from his post as the Commander of the Yıldırım Army Groups. It was during this time that he took action to ensure the liberation of the country.
**A Call to Arms**
The Turkish people, alarmed by the occupation attempts in Samsun and its vicinity, organized themselves to defend against the incursions of the British and other Allied Forces. In response to these developments, the British issued a note to the Istanbul Government on April 21, 1919, urging the calming of tensions in the region.
**The Flame of Liberation**
Appointed as the Inspector of the 9th Army for the maintenance of peace in the region, Mustafa Kemal set sail from Istanbul to Samsun on the Bandırma Ferry on the day following the occupation of Izmir on May 15, 1919. Stepping ashore in Samsun on May 19, Mustafa Kemal and his comrades initiated the spark of liberation that would spread to Amasya, Erzurum, and Sivas in the subsequent days.
**A Journey Through History**
The Bandırma Ferry, meticulously reconstructed as a museum, attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. Zeynel Abidin Diktere, the museum guide, mentioned that the museum welcomes an average of 600,000 visitors each year, with 400,000 visitors in 2024. On May 19, the museum was visited by 15,000 people.
**Honoring the Past**
The Bandırma Ship Museum and the National Struggle Open-Air Museum, built as replicas of the Bandırma Ferry, feature wax sculptures of Mustafa Kemal Pasha and his staff in a meeting. Visitors can explore the room where Mustafa Kemal stayed during his journey, as well as witness reenactments of the ship’s captain, Ismail Hakkı Durusu, second captain Tahsin Kaptan, and the cipher clerk. The Bandırma Ship Museum is open every day from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm.
**Youthful Commemoration**
In celebration of the May 19 Atatürk Commemoration, Youth, and Sports Day, engineering students from universities traveled from Istanbul to Samsun on the TCG Anadolu, Turkey’s largest military ship. During the journey, the students were introduced to the TCG Anadolu Ship and were given a historical overview of the significance of May 19 by academics. The young participants will take part in the festivities today.
As the flame of liberation continues to burn bright, the legacy of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s journey on May 19, 1919, serves as a reminder of the resilience and determination of the Turkish people in the face of adversity.
