The official Aug. 30 Victory Day ceremonies in Turkey were held without the traditional parade of military vehicles this year, due to the July 15 failed coup attempt.

The official ceremony started in the capital Ankara with the traditional wreath-laying ceremony in Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, with political leaders and military commanders attending.

Among those paying their respects were President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, Parliament Speaker İsmail Kahraman and Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar.

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) head Devlet Bahçeli also attended the ceremony.

A ceremony has set up in Taksim Square in Istanbul for the celebrations for Victory Day. The ceremony was attended by Istanbul Governor Vasip Şahin, 1st Army Commander General Musa Aysever and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Kadir Topbaş. Ceremony started with placing a wreath on the Statue of Republic, a moment of silenceand ended with Turkish National Anthem.

Another ceremony was at Cemal Reşit Rey (CRR) Concert Hall. Ceremony was attended by representatives of state institutions and organisations, juristiction authorities, senior military officers, veteran soldiers, consulates and religious association leaders.

1st Army District Band Commander band has played marches to the audience at the end of the ceremony.

One should not surrender the founding values of the republic, CHP leader Kılıçdaroğlu said while speaking at Victory Day ceremonies in the western city of Kütahya later in the day. “We are soldiers of Mustafa Kemal [Atatürk] and will remain so” he added.

Victory Day on Aug. 30 marks the anniversary of the Turkish victory against Greek forces at the Battle of Dumlupınar, the decisive battle in the Turkish War of Independence.

Victory Day was won under the leadership of Atatürk. The victory over the Greek military on Aug. 30, 1922, was the last large engagement between the two armies. The war began with the Greek invasion of the Aegean city of İzmir in May 1919 after the end of World War I, with tacit support from the Allies, especially Great Britain.

Convoy of classic cars

August 30th Victory Day convoy made of classical cars. Decorated with flags and black ribbons, approximately 200 vehicles crossed the 3rd Bridge of Bosphorus.

Zeki Günal – Enver ALAS – Taner Yener – Cengiz Çoban / Istanbul DHA