ABSTRACT
Marash was occupied by the British from 22 February to 30 October in 1919. During the British occupation, there was not an important cause of disruption in Marash because Egyptian Captain Hasan Rufai had friendly relations with the Turks. According to the Syrian Charter, Marash was occupied by the French from 1 November 1919 until 11 February 1920. A declaration of five items on what should be done between British commander Weir and French commander Marie was prepared and given to Marash.
Sivas Congress President of Mustafa Kemal sent Yörük Selim and Kılıc Ali Bey to Maraş to establish an organization and on 29 November 1919 the Müdafaa-i Hukuk Organization was established. Heyet-i Temsiliye Office was established in Marash. The Maraş Central Administration Board in the Presidency of Aslan Bey was established and the city organization was divided into ten branches. It was determined what the members of the organization would do by preparing an internal regulation. In order to resist the occupiers, Kuvaymilliye who first acted with organization and publishing logic, provided 1000 crate Russian bullets and eight hundred and fifty guns to Marash. Prevention of aid sent to the French from the Islahiye region caused the occupiers to fall into a difficult situation. Atatürk provided the sympathies of the British by supporting Arab nationalism in Syria. The French who had not been able to receive help from Syria in the face of the resistance of Kuvayımilliye and British competition left Maraş on 11 February 1920.
When the defeated Frenchmen left Maraş, they were forced to deal with Atatürk in Ankara on 20 October 1921. In the face of the resistance of Kuvayımilliye, French occupiers could not hold on Marash and the South front.
English, French, Syria, Marash, Atatürk, Kuvayımilliye.
