Abstract:
At the end of World War I, The Entente States’ breaking the ceasefire line and the occupation of Anatolia’s southern region, basing on Article 7 of the Mondros Armistice, initiated resistance movements in this region. The region was first occupied by the British, then with an agreement between England and France, Adana, Maras, Antep and Urfa were left to the French. During the British occupation there was no significant resistance movement because both the people believed that the invasion is temporary, and the British avoidance of movements that could lead public’s reaction. However when the French took over, their desire to suppress the people in cooperation with the Armenian minority changed the situation. The first resistance and organizational activities in the region came from the people of the region who had to defend themselves. At Sivas Congress, it was decided for the Kuva-yi Milliye to be established and the military troops near the region to help.
In this paper, the events and the collisions from the occupation of Maras by the English and French until the time of evacuation will be featured. From the Sütçü İmam incident which was the first step in opening the fighting flags for the Maraşians, Kılıç Ali and other officers’ which were sent to the region by Mustafa Kemal, resistance and organization activities, important personalities featured with the heroism of the indigenous people will be mentioned, and in the result section, the reasons for the French to evacuate the region will be assessed.
