Kütahya-Eskişehir Battles: 105 Years On

The Kütahya-Eskişehir battles, a pivotal confrontation during the Turkish War of Independence, commenced on July 10, 1921, marking 105 years since this critical engagement. At this time, the Greek army was preparing a major offensive, while the Turkish forces were concentrated in four groups along the İnönü-Kütahya-Döğer line. Additional Turkish units were positioned near Geyve and around Menderes.

The Greek offensive began with the 3rd Greek Corps advancing from the Bursa region on July 8, leading to the start of the Kütahya-Eskişehir battles on July 10. The Greek army moved in five columns towards the 170 km Turkish front between Söğüt and Afyon. General Trikopis's Northern Divisions Group was tasked with engaging Turkish units at İnönü to hold them in place, while General Polimenakos's 3rd Corps advanced north of Kütahya. Colonel Çiroyanis's 9th Division aimed for Kütahya itself.

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The Greek army was preparing a major offensive, while the Turkish forces were concentrated in four groups along the İnönü-Kütahya-Döğer line.

Intense fighting erupted, with two Greek divisions crossing the Adranos River on July 13 and advancing towards Tavşanlı. On the same day, the Greek forces captured the Genceköprü, Ören, and Gümüşköprü line northwest of Kütahya. Afyon was recaptured by the Greeks on July 13, and Bilecik fell on July 15. The Greek forces inflicted heavy losses on the Turkish 12th Corps, forcing a retreat east of Afyon, and concentrated their attacks along the Altıntaş-Seyitgazi axis.

On July 16, fierce clashes occurred near Kütahya, leading to a breach in the front and the death of Lieutenant Colonel Nâzım Bey, commander of the 4th Division. Kütahya fell on July 17. Following the collapse of the left flank, Western Front Commander İsmet Pasha issued the initial order for retreat, which continued for the next three days. Despite being significantly outnumbered in terms of personnel, rifles, machine guns, and artillery, the Turkish army's objective in these battles was to endure, break the enemy's offensive, avoid being crushed, and gain time to defeat the enemy with a comparable force. Although a decisive victory was not achieved, the Western Front Command succeeded in withdrawing all its units behind the Sakarya River without losing any to the enemy.

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The Turkish army's objective in these battles was to endure, break the enemy's offensive, avoid being crushed, and gain time to defeat the enemy with a comparable force.