United Kingdom during the Turkish War of Independence

BelligerentsTurkish National Movement

Supported by:

• Iraqi Turkmens
• Soviet Russia(from 1921)
• Italy(from May 1919)
• France(from October 1921)
• Kingdom of Kurdistan(only in Mosul with Turks)

British Empire

• United Kingdom
• British Raj
• "Watani" Arab volunteers
• Iraq Levies
• Australia
• New Zealand

States simultaneously at war with the Turks:

• Greece(until September 1922)
• France(until October 1921)
  List

  • French Morocco
  • French Tunisia
  • French West Africa
  • French Algeria
  • French Armenian Legion
• Armenia(until December 1920)
• Ottoman Empire
• Georgia(in 1921)

Supported by:

• United States
• Southern Russia Armed Forces

---

Rebellions supported by the British:

• Revolt of Ahmet Anzavur
• Kuva-yi Inzibatiye
• Koçgiri rebellion
• Çapanoğlu uprising
• Milli uprising
• Pontic rebellion
• Revenge Regiment uprising
• Konya rebellion
• Çopur Musa rebellion

Commanders and leadersMustafa Kemal Pasha
Ali Fuat Pasha
Şefik Özdemir Bey
Sheikh Mahmud Barzanji
Mahmut BeyDavid Lloyd George
Charles Harrington
George Milne
Faisal ibn Hussein
Major NoelStrength

28,000 soldiers in Constantinople

---

: Remmants of the 13th army corps (initially)

6,700 (creation of the regular army, December 1920)

~10,000 (1922)

27,419 in Constantinople

• 50 artillery
• 36 planes
• 16 warships
• 2 brigade came after the Chanak Crisis

Total in Constantinople: ~38,000

---

30,000–40,000 in Anatolia

---

:

20,000–30,000 (initially)

During the Turkish War of Independence, the United Kingdom sought to undermine and contain the Turkish National Movement. London hoped the defeated Ottoman Empire would play a subservient role in its new Middle Eastern order drawn up over several diplomatic agreements during World War I, culminating with the Treaty of Sèvres. Another goal of the British was to prosecute Ottoman war criminals, whom they believed Constantinople/Istanbul was not taking seriously.

In addition to diplomatic initiatives against the Istanbul and Ankara governments, British Empire forces directly fought the Nationalist Forces on the Al Jazira front and in scattered actions among Anatolian occupation garrisons. They also provided support for Greece in the Greco-Turkish War and to the Istanbul government. At the end of the conflict, the United Kingdom almost declared war against the Ankara government during the Chanak Crisis. Its conclusion led to the Allies abandoning Constantinople to Ankara forces and the fall of the David Lloyd George cabinet.