Igdir’s Contribution to the National Struggle: The Independence Medalists of Igdir

One of the most signifyant signs of the Turkish National Struggle for Independence is the independence medal, which had been legislated by the Turkish Grand National Assembly on 29 November 1920 and went into effect with the article 66 through the publication in the official register. Independence medals were granted from 15 May to 9 September 1922 to those who prove their heroism either in the military front or behind the front line. Within this period, 95.261 people were awarded with independence medal. Without any distinction Mustafa Kemal Atatürk awarded those with one type of medal who battled at the front line and to those who contributed to the war through non-activity supply service behind the front line. When the South-West Government (Cenubigarbi) was established in the Three Cities (Elviye-i Selase) after the end of the First World War, Igdır seemed to be within the borders of this government. Igdır was under military occupation until 1920. Through the efforts of Igdır’s folk, who fought for the independence until 1920, Igdır was annexed into the lands of Anatolia on 14 October 1920 after the pro-east movement led by Kazım Karabekir Pasha. From Igdır’s folk, who undertook crucial duties both for the rescue of their vicinity and for the defense of the country, 270 people contributing to the Turkish National Struggle for Independence deserved to be granted with independence medals. These people mainly served in the east and southeastern frontline and in the west front line where intense combats were experienced. Igdır’s total centrum population was 3716 in the 1927 census. Women constituted the 1391 of this population and men’s number was 2325. In the villages, women constituted the 5330 of the population, while men’s number was 5606, which corresponded to 10.936 in total population. With the various subdistricts, the total population of the province was 25.209, which was composed of 11.825 women and 13.384 men. It is noteworthy that how significant the participation into the the Turkish National Struggle for Independence was when the total number of the population of Igdır’s centrum: 3716 is taken into the consideration.

Keywords

The Independence Medal, the Turkish National Struggle for Independence, Igdır, the Turkish Grand Nat