Balikesir National Forces Museum, Karesi, Balıkesir, Turkey
The building, which was used as the Municipality Building until it became the Kuva-yi Milliye (National Forces) Museum, was built in 1840, for the Treasury Officer of the province subdivision of Karesi, Mehmet Pasha as a lodge. Later on, in late 1800’s vanished in a fire. The grandchild Halit Pasha built a new mansion in its place and during the Independence War it was utilized for important services.
After the occupation of Izmir On 15 May 1919, the people from Balikesir gathered on 16 May 1919, armed struggle decree taken and the flame of National Forces had risen in this building. It served to 2 Army Corps Command and to Ali Hikmet Pasha as Headquarters for many years. It became the work centre for the Izmir Northern Fronts Committee. On 6 February 1923, Atatürk, on his first visit to Balikesir, had stayed in a building within the same compound, which was opened as the “Literacy Home” in 1933 and, on 18 May 1998 was again opened to public service as “The Library of the History of National Struggle”.
Epic Turkey Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound
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