broadcasterTR's Channel

Mustafa Kemal Pasha (1881-1938), also referred to as Kemal Ataturk ('Father of the Turks') served in field commands during World War One and subsequently became Turkey's first president.Born in Salonika Kemal graduated from the Turkish Military Academy in 1902. Chiefly interested in military progression he nevertheless participated in early revolutionary activities while serving as a junior officer.Regarded as a potential rival by Enver Pasha, the most prominent figure in the country's Young Turk administration, Kemal was packed off to Bulgaria as Turkish military attaché and remained there when European war broke out in August 1914.With the Ottoman Empire's entry into the war in November 1914 Kemal was given command of the 19th Division based at Gallipoli.