 | You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Turkish. (September 2026) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
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| You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Greek. Click [show] for important translation instructions.
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| Great Offensive | |||||||||
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| Part of the Greco-Turkish War (1919–22) of the Turkish War of Independence | |||||||||
 From the top left: Turkish artillery units, the forward operation of a Turkish cavalry unit during the Battle of Dumlupınar, the last Turkish soldiers to join the attack being sent off from Ulus Square with ceremonies and prayers, Turkish infantry units wait in the trenches for the attack, Greek soldiers on backward way. | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Ankara Government |
 Greece | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
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Mustafa Kemal Pasha Fevzi Pasha İsmet Pasha |
Georgios Hatzianestis Nikolaos Trikoupis (POW) Kimon Digenis (POW) | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
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207,942 personnel 100,352 rifles 2,025 light machine guns 839 heavy machine guns 323 artillery pieces |
225,001 personnel 90,000 rifles 3,139 light machine guns 1,280 heavy machine guns 418 artillery pieces | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
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2,318–2,358 killed 9,360–10,581 wounded/hospitalized 1,695–1,697 missing 57–101 captured |
Unknown, possibly: 18,250 killed 16,750 wounded and missing 35,000 prisoners | ||||||||
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7,000 Greek civilians killed in Akhisar 4,000 Greek civilians killed in Turgutlu 6,000 Greek civilians killed in Pergamon 2,000 Greek civilians killed in Çandarlı | |||||||||
The Great Offensive (Turkish: Büyük Taarruz) was the largest and final military operation of the Turkish War of Independence, fought between the Turkish Armed Forces loyal to the government of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, and the Kingdom of Greece, ending the Greco-Turkish War. The offensive began on 26 August 1922 with the Battle of Dumlupınar. From 31 August to 9 September, the front moved a distance of 300 km (190 mi) as the Greek troops retreated. The Turkish army lacked motorized vehicles; its forces consisted of infantry and cavalry units, and logistical support was provided by a supply system based on ox carts.
The Turkish troops reached the sea on 9 September with the capture of İzmir. The operation ended on 18 September 1922 with the capture of Erdek and Biga. The staggering defeat caused great dissent within the Greek army and a general loss of morale, which led to an unwillingness to continue fighting. On top of this, numerous Greek divisions had been encircled and destroyed as effective fighting units, which meant that the Greek army had lost its offensive capabilities and was unable to organize a controlled retreat, leading to numerous Greek POWs.
