THE ROLE OF BALKAN WARS ON TURKISH INTELLIGENTSIA S DRĐFT TO ANATOLIA

Balkan Wars left different traumatic effects on Turkish intelligentsia. Large mass of immigrants coming to Đstanbul and the beats of cannons which was even audible from the palace affected deeply both the public and intelligentsia. The examples of shocking effects of war and retreat from the territory can be traced in the literary works, memories and journals published in that period. The years of war were a period in which the emphasis on Turkish nationalism was on the rise. The administrative generation of Republic, who once witnessed such a tempestuous period of Empire, could not protect themselves from the devastating effects of the war. The loss of Balkans was a grievous incident of losing home for the generation who had been born there. It was essential to get to Anatolia for the first generation governor elites of Republic as Anatolia was the only home to be kept. The need of a social location, which is the most important factor of constructing a national identity, would be satisfied with the existence of Anatolia. From this date on, the need of creating a new country lies behind the stress of Turkish intelligentsia upon Anatolia. The new country was to be created in terms of historical, psychological and geographical aspects.