ABSTRACT
Ankara, a small central Anatolian town, rose to prominence after a catastrophic defeat in World War I, which brought even the core lands of the Ottoman Empire – including Istanbul, its capital – under extensive occupation. In response, a cadre of nationalist officers and bureaucrats under Atatürk’s leadership assumed the helm of an all out campaign to liberate the country.1 Starting from 1919, the Nationalists used Ankara as their makeshift command centre because it was at a safe distance from the line of fire, but connected to the rest of the country – albeit via a rudimentary network of roads. The material, monetary, and moral support the locals provided throughout the war, further consolidated Ankara’s place within the Nationalist Movement.
