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Turkish Commanders on the field

Battle of Inonu
Part of the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922)

Commanders on the field
Date: 1922
Location: Near Inonu, Turkey
Result: Turkish victory
Casus belli: {{{casus}}}
Territory changes: {{{territory}}}
Combatants
Turkish National Forces Greece
Commanders
Ismet Inonu Anastasios Papoulas
Strength
Second battle: 35,000 Second battle: 37,000
Casualties
First battle: 95 killed, 183 wounded
Second battle:5400 dead
Unknown

The Battle of Inonu describes two battles that were fought in 1921 near the Turkish village of Inonu during the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922), which marked a turning point in the war. Prior to the battles, the Greeks had been victorious, defeating irregular Turkish forces.

The First Battle of Inonu on 9-11 January 1921was a reconnaissance-in-force by Greek forces under Papoulas against Turkish troops entrenched near the railway station of Inonu commanded by Ismet Pasha. The Turks retreated on 10th and were about to abandon Eskişehir when the Greeks retreated on 11th January.

The Second Battle of Inonu began with a Greek assault on the positions of Ismet's troops on March 26, 1921.The better-equipped Greeks pushed back the Turks and took the dominant hill called Metristepe on the 27th.A night counter-attack by the Turks failed to recapture it. On 31st March Ismet attacked again after receiving reinforcements, and recaptured Metristepe. In a continuation battle in April,Refet's forces retook the town of Afyon Karahissar.

While the battles marked a turning point in the war, following the battles of Inonu there was a stalemate, as the Turks had missed their chance to encircle and destroy the Greek army, which retreated in good order. There were heavy casualties on both sides, and neither side was in a position to advance.

The commander of the Turkish forces at Inonu, Ismet, who was one of Kemal's closest collaborators, had his name changed to Ismet Inonu by Kemal Ataturk himself in memory of the victory at Inonu. He went on to become the second President of Turkey after Kemal.

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