The Beginning Armistice of Mudros

Ceasefire of Mudros

The Armistice of Mudros is a ceasefire agreement where the Ottoman Empire and the Allied Powers signed on October 30, 1918. This armistice officially ended World War I for the Ottomans and began the practical process of dismantling the Ottoman Empire. Delegates signed the armistice on the Battleship Agamemnon in the Port of Mudros on the Island of Limnos. Rauf Orbay led the Ottoman delegation, while British Admiral Calthorpe headed the Allied Powers delegation.

Articles of the Agreement

The agreement imposed very harsh conditions due to the Ottomans’ defeat in the war. Its most important articles include the following:

The Allied Powers required the Ottoman army to demobilize and surrender its weapons.
They took control of the Straits and occupied these regions.
They allowed themselves to occupy strategic regions by claiming unrest.
They demanded control over the Toros Tunnels.
They seized communication and transportation systems.
They forced Ottoman ports, shipyards, and railways into their service.

These articles set the stage for occupying Ottoman lands and provoked widespread anger across the country. After the agreement, the Allied Powers quickly began occupying strategic regions in Anatolia and Thrace. This occupation sparked national resistance movements among the people.

The Armistice of Mudros marks a critical turning point in the lead-up to the War of Independence. The harsh conditions pushed Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and other national leaders to mobilize the people and resist the occupations. This growing spirit of resistance fueled the fight for independence.