30 Ağustos zafer bayramı

Victory Day in Turkey commemorates the key Turkish victory against Greek
forces in the Battle of Dumlupınar (August 26-30, 1922). The outcome of the
battle, which took place in Kütahya province in western Turkey, determined the
overall outcome of the Turkish War of Independence (1919-1923).
Although foreign forces left the country for good in the autumn (or fall) of
1922, Turkish people accept August 30 as the date of the Turkish troops’
overall victory. Victory Day was first celebrated in only a few cities in
Turkey – such as Ankara, Izmir and Afyonkarahisar – on August 30, 1923. It became
a national holiday in 1935.

Many people in Turkey celebrate Victory Day by attending military parades,
which take place in many big cities throughout the country. Air forces
celebrate the day with demonstration flights. The jets involved in such flights
usually leave a red-and-white trail, symbolizing the Turkish flag.

Residents and shop owners decorate their windows with Turkish flags and
images of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. State officials attend a ceremony at Atatürk's
Mausoleum in Ankara. All promotions in the Turkish Armed Forces take place on
this day, and military schools hold annual graduation ceremonies on August 30.