A “superlative [and] exhaustively researched” biography of “one of the most complex and controversial figures in twentieth-century world history” (Library Journal). Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was virtually unknown until 1919, when he took the lead in thwarting the victorious Allies’ plan to partition the Turkish core of the Ottoman Empire. He divided the Allies, defeated the last Sultan, and secured the territory of the Turkish national state, becoming the first president of the new republic in 1923, fast creating his own legend. This revealing portrait of Atatürk throws light on matters of great importance today—resurgent nationalism, religious fundamentalism, and the reality of democracy. “One of the world’s most respected specialists on Turkey.” —The New York Times “Mango gives this man, one of the least-known nation-builders of the last century, full treatment, from his earliest days to his ascension to power and his death, from cirrhosis at the age of 57. Few leaders have so modernized an ancient society, instituting radical changes in dress, religion, government, education—even the alphabet . . . Mango’s admiration for Ataturk doesn’t keep him from displaying the dictator’s arrogance, ruthlessness and authoritarianism; his Turkish expertise enables him to flesh out Ataturk’s complex life via sources he translated himself . . . a rounded, finely detailed portrait.” —Publishers Weekly “Thanks to Andrew Mango’s new biography, the best in the English language, a man both demonized and idolized appears to us in three dimensions.” —The Washington Post “A superb biography.” —Dallas Morning News “The best concise account I have ever seen of the decline of the Ottoman Empire. The narrative is gripping.” —Geoffrey Lewis, author of Modern Turkey

Mustafa Kemal was one of the 20th century's greatest combat commanders. Born in Salonika to a middle–class family, this book follows the life of a great commander who served in the Italo–Turkish War of 1911–12 and the Balkan Wars of 1912-13 before taking command of the 19th Division based in Gallipoli during World War l. His sterling service led to his promotion to corps command during the fighting against the Russians in the Caucasus. Following the end of the war he took command of the nationalist forces struggling against the occupation of Turkey, and managed to defeat Greek forces that sought to occupy Smyrna, thus preserving Turkey's territorial integrity. Labelled as the 'Man of Destiny' by Winston Churchill, his services in Gallipoli and the War of Independence were pivotal to the success of his armies. After leading the nationalist army to victory, he established the modern Turkish Republic and became Turkey's first ever president taking the name Atatürk, meaning Father of the Turks, as his own.

A biography of the founder of modern Turkey that chronicles the ideas that shaped him When Mustafa Kemal Atatürk became the first president of Turkey in 1923, he set about transforming his country into a secular republic where nationalism sanctified by science—and by the personality cult Atatürk created around himself—would reign supreme as the new religion. This book provides the first in-depth look at the intellectual life of the Turkish Republic's founder. In doing so, it frames him within the historical context of the turbulent age in which he lived, and explores the uneasy transition from the late Ottoman imperial order to the modern Turkish state through his life and ideas. Shedding light on one of the most complex and enigmatic statesmen of the modern era, M. Sükrü Hanioglu takes readers from Atatürk's youth as a Muslim boy in the volatile ethnic cauldron of Macedonia, to his education in nonreligious and military schools, to his embrace of Turkish nationalism and the modernizing Young Turks movement. Who was this figure who sought glory as an ambitious young officer in World War I, defied the victorious Allies intent on partitioning the Turkish heartland, and defeated the last sultan? Hanioglu charts Atatürk's intellectual and ideological development at every stage of his life, demonstrating how he was profoundly influenced by the new ideas that were circulating in the sprawling Ottoman realm. He shows how Atatürk drew on a unique mix of scientism, materialism, social Darwinism, positivism, and other theories to fashion a grand utopian framework on which to build his new nation. Now with a new preface, this book provides the first in-depth look at the intellectual life of the Turkish Republic's founder.

Biography of the first president and founder of the Turkish Republic.

Early in his career, Hitler took inspiration from Mussolini—this fact is widely known. But an equally important role model for Hitler has been neglected: Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey, who inspired Hitler to remake Germany along nationalist, secular, totalitarian, and ethnically exclusive lines. Stefan Ihrig tells this compelling story.

MUSTAPHA KEMAL ATATURK, the great Turkish dictator, is a figure of great significance to the modern world. He did in Turkey what, in effect, Nasser and the other present-day “strong men” are trying to do in their countries, and he is their model and ideal. In fact, Nasser said of this book specifically “This has been the most important book in my life.” Besides being of great historical importance, this book, first published in 1933, is also a fascinating study of an extremely complex and controversial figure, in which an iron self-discipline and a sudden capacity for self-abandonment existed side by side and indeed reinforced each other. Richly illustrated with maps and drawings. “This has been the most important book in my life”—Gamal Abdel Nasser

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Respected as a military genius by the whole world, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk is the only leader of the 20th century, who founded a country that left an indelible mark on the history of all nations. He not only loved teaching and learning but also enlightened our youth, and figuratively became the HEADMASTER of our nation with his faith and enthusiasm for education.By making sure to visit schools and talk to students in places he went, Ataturk was a significant influence on our children, on our country and our future. To raise contemporary and promising generations, I described Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the only leader of this century, through stories with a style that our children can understand and enjoy.We need to input bright ideas to grow bright minds. Reading books contributes to achieving enlightenment, self-confidence, and personal development. Never forget that the best present we can give to our children is a book, and the best teaching is Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.SEMRA ATASOY

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was a Muslim visionary, revolutionary statesman, and founder of the Republic of Turkey. The West knows him best as the leading Ottoman officer in World War I's Battle of Gallipoli—a defeat for the Allies, and the Ottoman empire's greatest victory. Gaining fame as an exemplary military officer, he went on to lead his people in the Turkish War of Independence, abolishing the Ottoman Sultanate, emancipating women, and adopting western dress. Deeply influenced by the Enlightenment, Atatürk sought to transform the empire into a modern and secular nation-state, and during his presidency, embarked upon a program of impressive political, economic, and cultural reforms. Militarily and politically he excelled at all levels of conflict, from the tactical, through the operational, to the strategic, and into the rarified realm of grand strategy. His ability to integrate the immediate with the ultimate serves as an important lesson for leaders engaged in the twenty-first century's great military struggles. He became the only leader in history to successfully turn a Muslim nation into a Western parliamentary democracy and secular state, leaving behind a legacy of modernization and military and political leadership.

With the collapse of the Ottoman Empire after World War I came the emergence of new nations, chief among them was Turkey. It was the creation of one man, Mustafa Kemal, who dragged his country from the Middle Ages to teh 20th century, and in defeating Western imperialists inspired the cause of the East. Lord Kinross writes of the intrigues of empires, the brutalities of civil war, personal courage - showing the reader Ataturk, the incarnation of glory - as well as of Kemal's youthful ambition, and his problems with his wife.