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From 18 March 1915 to the alphabet reform: Mudros, Samsun, Sivas, the Assembly, Sakarya, the Great Offensive, Lausanne and 29 October 1923, in ten stops.

Every date in this timeline is taken from the sourced chronology of the article we link to.

DateEventArticle
1878Built as Trocadero in Paisley, Scotland.The SS Bandırma and May 19, 1919: The Voyage to Samsun
1883Passed to Greek ownership and was renamed Kymi.The SS Bandırma and May 19, 1919: The Voyage to Samsun
1891Sank in an accident and was refloated.The SS Bandırma and May 19, 1919: The Voyage to Samsun
1892The Sivas idadi (secondary school) building, where the congress would later meet, was built.The Sivas Congress: Rejecting Foreign Mandate in 1919
1894Passed to İdare-i Mahsusa and was renamed Panderma.The SS Bandırma and May 19, 1919: The Voyage to Samsun
28 October 1910Began service as the mail steamer Bandırma.The SS Bandırma and May 19, 1919: The Voyage to Samsun
18 October 1912The Treaty of Ouchy is signed; it is also called the Treaty of Lausanne.The Treaty of Lausanne: What It Decided for Modern Turkey
19 February 1915Large-scale naval bombardments of the Dardanelles entrance forts begin.The Gallipoli Campaign: How ‘Çanakkale Is Impassable’ Came True
8 March 1915Nusret lays 26 mines in Erenköy Bay.The Gallipoli Campaign: How ‘Çanakkale Is Impassable’ Came True
18 March 1915The Entente fleet's attempt to pass the strait fails with heavy ship losses.The Gallipoli Campaign: How ‘Çanakkale Is Impassable’ Came True
25 April 1915The main land campaign opens with landings at Arıburnu, Seddülbahir and Kumkale.The Gallipoli Campaign: How ‘Çanakkale Is Impassable’ Came True
24 May 1915Truce at Arıburnu to bury the dead.The Gallipoli Campaign: How ‘Çanakkale Is Impassable’ Came True
1 June 1915Mustafa Kemal is promoted to colonel.The Gallipoli Campaign: How ‘Çanakkale Is Impassable’ Came True
6 August 1915Entente forces land at Suvla Bay.The Gallipoli Campaign: How ‘Çanakkale Is Impassable’ Came True
8 August 1915Mustafa Kemal is appointed commander of the Anafartalar Group.The Gallipoli Campaign: How ‘Çanakkale Is Impassable’ Came True
10 August 1915Mustafa Kemal leads the Conkbayırı assault.The Gallipoli Campaign: How ‘Çanakkale Is Impassable’ Came True
19–20 December 1915Evacuation of Entente troops from Arıburnu and Anafartalar is completed.The Gallipoli Campaign: How ‘Çanakkale Is Impassable’ Came True
8–9 January 1916Evacuation of Seddülbahir ends the campaign.The Gallipoli Campaign: How ‘Çanakkale Is Impassable’ Came True
29 September 1918Bulgaria's armistice raises the danger of an attack on Istanbul through the Balkans.The Armistice of Mudros: The De Facto End of the Ottoman Empire
14 October 1918The Ahmet İzzet Pasha government is formed.The Armistice of Mudros: The De Facto End of the Ottoman Empire
27 October 1918Armistice talks begin at Mudros.The Armistice of Mudros: The De Facto End of the Ottoman Empire
30 October 1918The 25-article Armistice of Mudros is signed aboard HMS Agamemnon.The Armistice of Mudros: The De Facto End of the Ottoman Empire
31 October 1918, noonThe time set for the end of hostilities arrives.The Armistice of Mudros: The De Facto End of the Ottoman Empire
31 October 1918Mustafa Kemal Pasha takes over the Yıldırım Army Group at Adana.The Armistice of Mudros: The De Facto End of the Ottoman Empire
2 November 1918Rauf Bey claims that independence has been protected.The Armistice of Mudros: The De Facto End of the Ottoman Empire
13 November 1918The Allied fleet arrives off Istanbul. The de facto occupation of the capital begins.The Armistice of Mudros: The De Facto End of the Ottoman Empire
16 May 1919Left Istanbul for Samsun with Mustafa Kemal Pasha and his party.The SS Bandırma and May 19, 1919: The Voyage to Samsun
17 May 1919Called at İnebolu.The SS Bandırma and May 19, 1919: The Voyage to Samsun
18 May 1919Stopped at Sinop Port, then continued toward Samsun.The SS Bandırma and May 19, 1919: The Voyage to Samsun
19 May 1919Reached Samsun.The SS Bandırma and May 19, 1919: The Voyage to Samsun
22 June 1919The Amasya Circular announced a national congress in Sivas.The Sivas Congress: Rejecting Foreign Mandate in 1919
2 September 1919Mustafa Kemal Pasha arrived in Sivas.The Sivas Congress: Rejecting Foreign Mandate in 1919
4 September 1919The congress opened and Mustafa Kemal Pasha was elected chairman.The Sivas Congress: Rejecting Foreign Mandate in 1919
8–9 September 1919Delegates debated an American mandate.The Sivas Congress: Rejecting Foreign Mandate in 1919
11 September 1919The congress published its final declaration.The Sivas Congress: Rejecting Foreign Mandate in 1919
12 September 1919The decisions were announced at a meeting open to the public.The Sivas Congress: Rejecting Foreign Mandate in 1919
14 September 1919The first issue of the İrade-i Milliye newspaper appeared.The Sivas Congress: Rejecting Foreign Mandate in 1919
18 December 1919The building's period as the Representative Committee's headquarters ended.The Sivas Congress: Rejecting Foreign Mandate in 1919
March 19, 1920Mustafa Kemal Pasha published the election declaration for an assembly to meet in Ankara.National Sovereignty and Children’s Day: April 23, 1920 Story
April 21, 1920A circular announced the opening date.National Sovereignty and Children’s Day: April 23, 1920 Story
April 23, 1920The Grand National Assembly opened in Ankara.National Sovereignty and Children’s Day: April 23, 1920 Story
10 August 1920The Treaty of Sèvres is signed.The Treaty of Lausanne: What It Decided for Modern Turkey
April 23, 1921Law No. 112 declared April 23 a national holiday.National Sovereignty and Children’s Day: April 23, 1920 Story
May 2, 1921The law was published in the Ceride-i Resmiye.National Sovereignty and Children’s Day: April 23, 1920 Story
5 August 1921Mustafa Kemal Pasha is appointed commander-in-chief for three months.Battle of Sakarya: Turning Point of the War of Independence
7–8 August 1921The Tekâlif-i Milliye Orders are issued.Battle of Sakarya: Turning Point of the War of Independence
23 August 1921The Battle of Sakarya begins with the Greek attack.Battle of Sakarya: Turning Point of the War of Independence
26 August 1921Mustafa Kemal Pasha gives the order based on defending the whole area, not a single line (MSB account).Battle of Sakarya: Turning Point of the War of Independence
2 September 1921Greek units take all of Çaldağı.Battle of Sakarya: Turning Point of the War of Independence
9 September 1921Mustafa Kemal Pasha moves his headquarters to Karapınar.Battle of Sakarya: Turning Point of the War of Independence
10 September 1921The Turkish counterattack retakes Duatepe.Battle of Sakarya: Turning Point of the War of Independence
12–13 September 1921The Greek withdrawal is completed overnight, and the battle ends.Battle of Sakarya: Turning Point of the War of Independence
19 September 1921Mustafa Kemal Pasha receives the title of Gazi and the rank of marshal.Battle of Sakarya: Turning Point of the War of Independence
20 October 1921The Ankara Agreement is signed with France.Battle of Sakarya: Turning Point of the War of Independence
28 July 1922Commanders gathered in Akşehir under the excuse of a football match.The Great Offensive and August 30: How the War Was Won
6 August 1922The armies received a secret order to prepare for the attack.The Great Offensive and August 30: How the War Was Won
24 August 1922Headquarters moved from Akşehir to Şuhut.The Great Offensive and August 30: How the War Was Won
26 August 1922The Great Offensive began with artillery fire directed from Kocatepe.The Great Offensive and August 30: How the War Was Won
27 August 1922Afyonkarahisar was freed.The Great Offensive and August 30: How the War Was Won
30 August 1922The Battle of the Commander-in-Chief was won.The Great Offensive and August 30: How the War Was Won
1 September 1922Mustafa Kemal Pasha ordered the advance toward the Mediterranean.The Great Offensive and August 30: How the War Was Won
2 September 1922General Trikupis was captured in Uşak.The Great Offensive and August 30: How the War Was Won
9 September 1922The Turkish army entered İzmir.The Great Offensive and August 30: How the War Was Won
18 September 1922The pursuit ended with the recapture of Erdek and Biga.The Great Offensive and August 30: How the War Was Won
11 October 1922The Armistice of Mudanya was signed.The Great Offensive and August 30: How the War Was Won
1 November 1922The decision to abolish the sultanate is taken.The Armistice of Mudros: The De Facto End of the Ottoman Empire
1 November 1922The sultanate was abolished.Atatürk’s Reforms: Alphabet, Dress, Calendar and Surname Law
20 November 1922The Lausanne Conference opens.The Treaty of Lausanne: What It Decided for Modern Turkey
1923April 23 celebrations took place in Istanbul's Gülhane Park.National Sovereignty and Children’s Day: April 23, 1920 Story
30 January 1923The convention on the exchange of Greek and Turkish populations is signed.The Treaty of Lausanne: What It Decided for Modern Turkey
4 February 1923The Lausanne talks break off.The Treaty of Lausanne: What It Decided for Modern Turkey
23 April 1923The Lausanne talks resume.The Treaty of Lausanne: What It Decided for Modern Turkey
24 July 1923The Lausanne Peace Treaty is signed.The Treaty of Lausanne: What It Decided for Modern Turkey
23 August 1923The Grand National Assembly of Turkey ratifies the treaty.The Treaty of Lausanne: What It Decided for Modern Turkey
October 27, 1923The Fethi Okyar government resigned.The Proclamation of the Republic, October 29, 1923 Explained
Evening of October 28, 1923At a dinner in Çankaya, Mustafa Kemal told his friends the republic would be proclaimed the next day.The Proclamation of the Republic, October 29, 1923 Explained
Before the voteMustafa Kemal and İsmet Pasha prepared the draft constitutional amendment together.The Proclamation of the Republic, October 29, 1923 Explained
October 29, 1923The Halk Fırkası (People's Party) group accepted the amendment. It then went to the Assembly floor.The Proclamation of the Republic, October 29, 1923 Explained
October 29, 1923, 20.30Law 364 was accepted and the republic was proclaimed.The Proclamation of the Republic, October 29, 1923 Explained
Evening of October 29, 1923Mustafa Kemal was elected the first president by all 158 deputies who voted.The Proclamation of the Republic, October 29, 1923 Explained
29 October 1923The Republic was proclaimed.Atatürk’s Reforms: Alphabet, Dress, Calendar and Surname Law
October 30, 1923İsmet İnönü formed the first government of the republic.The Proclamation of the Republic, October 29, 1923 Explained
3 March 1924The caliphate was abolished.Atatürk’s Reforms: Alphabet, Dress, Calendar and Surname Law
6 August 1924The treaty enters into force.The Treaty of Lausanne: What It Decided for Modern Turkey
April 19, 1925The law making October 29 a national holiday was accepted.The Proclamation of the Republic, October 29, 1923 Explained
27 August 1925Mustafa Kemal addressed the public in a hat at the İnebolu Türk Ocağı.Atatürk’s Reforms: Alphabet, Dress, Calendar and Surname Law
5 November 1925The original ship was ordered sold as scrap.The SS Bandırma and May 19, 1919: The Voyage to Samsun
25 November 1925Law no. 671, the Hat Law, was adopted.Atatürk’s Reforms: Alphabet, Dress, Calendar and Surname Law
26 December 1925The clock law (no. 697) and the calendar law (no. 698) were adopted.Atatürk’s Reforms: Alphabet, Dress, Calendar and Surname Law
1 January 1926The Gregorian year numbering set by the calendar law came into use.Atatürk’s Reforms: Alphabet, Dress, Calendar and Surname Law
April 23, 1927Large Children's Day celebrations were held under Atatürk's patronage.National Sovereignty and Children’s Day: April 23, 1920 Story
20 May 1928Law no. 1288 on international numerals was adopted.Atatürk’s Reforms: Alphabet, Dress, Calendar and Surname Law
9 August 1928The move to new Turkish letters was announced at Sarayburnu.Atatürk’s Reforms: Alphabet, Dress, Calendar and Surname Law
1 November 1928The Letter Law (no. 1353) was adopted.Atatürk’s Reforms: Alphabet, Dress, Calendar and Surname Law
3 November 1928The Letter Law was published in the Official Gazette.Atatürk’s Reforms: Alphabet, Dress, Calendar and Surname Law
1 December 1928New letters became compulsory in Turkish newspapers, magazines, signs and notices.Atatürk’s Reforms: Alphabet, Dress, Calendar and Surname Law
1 January 1929New letters became compulsory in books printed in Turkish.Atatürk’s Reforms: Alphabet, Dress, Calendar and Surname Law
April 23–29, 1929The celebrations grew into Children's Week.National Sovereignty and Children’s Day: April 23, 1920 Story
April 23, 1933Atatürk received children in his office.National Sovereignty and Children’s Day: April 23, 1920 Story
October 29, 1933The tenth anniversary was celebrated, and Atatürk delivered his Tenth Year Speech.The Proclamation of the Republic, October 29, 1923 Explained
21 June 1934The Surname Law (no. 2525) was adopted.Atatürk’s Reforms: Alphabet, Dress, Calendar and Surname Law
24 November 1934Mustafa Kemal received the surname Atatürk.Atatürk’s Reforms: Alphabet, Dress, Calendar and Surname Law
26 November 1934The law abolishing social titles was adopted.Atatürk’s Reforms: Alphabet, Dress, Calendar and Surname Law
3 December 1934The clothing law no. 2596 was adopted.Atatürk’s Reforms: Alphabet, Dress, Calendar and Surname Law
May 27, 1935The holiday was set as one and a half days.National Sovereignty and Children’s Day: April 23, 1920 Story
20 July 1936The Montreux Convention is signed, replacing the Lausanne Straits Convention.The Treaty of Lausanne: What It Decided for Modern Turkey
5 February 1937Secularism entered the Constitution.Atatürk’s Reforms: Alphabet, Dress, Calendar and Surname Law
April 23, 1961The First Assembly building opened to visitors as a museum.National Sovereignty and Children’s Day: April 23, 1920 Story
1979TRT held the first international April 23 Children's Festival.National Sovereignty and Children’s Day: April 23, 1920 Story
July 7, 1979Bedrettin Tuncel proposed a UNESCO World Children's Day in Geneva.National Sovereignty and Children’s Day: April 23, 1920 Story
1981The name National Sovereignty and Children's Day gained legal status.National Sovereignty and Children’s Day: April 23, 1920 Story
1983An amendment was prepared to widen the scope of the celebration and the holiday.National Sovereignty and Children’s Day: April 23, 1920 Story
19 December 1990The building opened as the Atatürk Congress and Ethnography Museum.The Sivas Congress: Rejecting Foreign Mandate in 1919
23 October 2018It was reorganized as the Atatürk and Congress Museum.The Sivas Congress: Rejecting Foreign Mandate in 1919
April 23, 2026The 106th anniversary of the opening was marked.National Sovereignty and Children’s Day: April 23, 1920 Story
12 July 2026The museum ship was moved from Doğupark in Canik to İstiklal Meydanı Kurtuluş Yolu in İlkadım.The SS Bandırma and May 19, 1919: The Voyage to Samsun

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