At Erzurum Technical University (ETU), a conference titled “Erzurum: A City Reborn from
Its Ashes” was held to mark the 108th anniversary of Erzurum’s liberation from enemy
occupation.
The event took place in the Prof. Dr. Muammer Yaylalı Conference Hall of the Faculty of
Letters and was organized with contributions from the History Club. Attendees included
Erzurum Governor Aydın Baruş, 9th Corps Commander Major General Osman Akyıldız,
Chief Public Prosecutor Ünal Bingül, ETU Rector Prof. Dr. Bulent Çakmak, along with local
administrative authorities, academics, and students.
During the program, Prof. Dr. Murat Küçükuğurlu, a faculty member of the Department of
History, delivered a comprehensive lecture on the years of occupation in Erzurum and the
city’s liberation process. His analysis was grounded in historical documents, the political
developments of the period, and the prevailing social conditions. Küçükuğurlu emphasized
that, in the aftermath of the First World War, Erzurum—like many regions of
Anatolia—underwent a particularly challenging period, elaborating in detail on the
developments during the occupation years and the hardships faced by the local population.
Highlighting Erzurum’s strategic significance during the Turkish National Struggle,
Küçükuğurlu noted that the city emerged as a key center in the formation of the independence
movement in Anatolia. In this context, he stressed the importance of evaluating the Erzurum
Congress within the broader framework of national resistance. He further underlined that the
spirit of resistance and solidarity demonstrated by the people of Erzurum made significant
contributions to Turkey’s struggle for independence.
Küçükuğurlu identified March 12, 1918, as a critical turning point in the history of Erzurum,
stating that the liberation represented not only a military victory but also a powerful
manifestation of a nation’s determination and will for freedom. Drawing on archival
documents, historical narratives, and key developments of the period, he emphasized the
importance of accurately understanding and transmitting the memory of Erzurum’s liberation
to future generations.
The program, which attracted considerable interest from participants, concluded with a visit to
a photography exhibition prepared by the History Club and the presentation of certificates of
appreciation by Governor Baruş to Rector Çakmak and Prof. Dr. Küçükuğurlu.
Directorate of Corporate Communications and Promotion
March 12,.2026