A History of Europe Key Battles

Conclusion of the Turkish National Struggle 1919-1922. Mustafa Kemal, later known as Ataturk, leads the Turkish Nationalists against the armies of Greece.

The Battle of Sakarya River between the Turks and Greeks is a key battle of European history and shapes of the future of their respective countries.

Picture: Inferno of Smyrna

Music: The Charlston

Turkish National Struggle 1919-1922

The Ottoman Empire emerges defeated from World War One. The Entente Allies impose harsh conditions in the armistice whereby the Ottomans lose most of their territory including parts of Anatolia. However, Mustafa Kemal, later known as Ataturk, raises an army to oppose the Allies

Picture: Mustafa Kemal and Turkish soldiers

As background to the Turkish National Struggle, this episode describes the events in the Caucasus Mountains in World War One, - conflict between Russia, the Ottoman Empire, the Germans, and nationalist groups of Georgians, Armenians and Azerbaijanis.

Separately I talk about Greece's involvement in World War One.

Picture: Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany and Enver Pasha, Minister of War for the Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman Empire in World War One - the fights for the Suez Canal, Gaza, Jerusalem and Arabia between the British and Turks

Picture: General Allenby enters Jerusalem

In 1920 the Polish and Soviet Russian armies clashed in a series of battles across a wide area of eastern Europe including Ukraine and Lithuania.

The Soviets advanced deep into Poland and reached the gates of Warsaw, with the aims of capturing the city and., more widely, exporting their revolution across Europe.

Picture: Polish soldiers in the Battle of Warsaw 1920