Tarih Kritik Dergisi

Abstract

A retired US officer and history professor, Erickson’s primary area of specialization lies within the domain of the Ottoman Army, and his scholarly contribution pertaining to the Turkish War of Independence may be regarded as pioneering in its nature. The author explicitly asserts the absence of a comprehensive English-language investigation on the military campaigns and operations during the War of Independence, highlighting a significant lacuna in the existing scholarly literature. Consequently, the author undertook this research endeavor with the explicit purpose of addressing and bridging this critical gap. Furthermore, according to the author, the extant literature in Turkish and Greek languages pertaining to the War of Independence falls short of offering in depth tactical analysis or critical examination of the military campaigns conducted during this period. The author contends that military historians in Turkey are confronted with a dearth of proficiency in foreign languages and lack a comprehensive, rigorously structured education in the discipline of military history. The author, who states that the Allies did not offer a fair treaty to the Turks and therefore the Turks started a long-lasting war of independence, differs from many western historians with this statement.