This photograph, in which Bekir Sami Pasha, Rauf Orbay, Ruşen Eşref, the aides-de-camp, M. Vasfi Bey, and the Tokatlı family are present, was taken in front of the Old Municipality building, at the site where the present-day Behzat Bazaar now stands.
(17 October 1919)
June 26, 1919 –
When Atatürk arrived in Amasya on June 13, 1919, he began sending circulars to other provinces, calling upon the people to join his cause; his actions and statements were causing concern for the Istanbul Government. On one hand, the Istanbul Government was circulating telegrams to the provinces announcing that Mustafa Kemal Pasha had been dismissed from his post as Inspector of the Army; on the other hand, it was secretly sending a man named Ali Galip to Sivas to arrest Mustafa Kemal. Upon learning of this, Atatürk secretly arrived in Tokat on June 26, 1919. Let us hear this event from Atatürk himself: "(...) On the 25th of the month, I learned that certain untoward developments against me had begun to emerge in Sivas. On the night of June 25/26, I summoned my aide-de-camp Cevat Abbas Bey and told him that we would set out southward from Amasya before dawn the following morning. I gave orders for this movement to be prepared and kept secret. At the same time, together with the Commander of the 5th Division and my staff, we secretly agreed upon the following measure: the Commander of the 5th Division was to immediately begin forming, that very night, a mounted infantry detachment composed of selected officers and men from his Division, made as strong as possible. On the morning of June 26, I was to set out for Tokat by automobile."
June 21, 1919 –
The day before, Mustafa Kemal Pasha had placed the Tokat Post Office under control and ensured that news of his arrival there was not communicated anywhere; he then addressed twenty-five notables in the hall of the Tokat Municipality, stating in summary: "...Even if we possess no means of defense whatsoever, I consider it imperative that we defend our honor, our dignity, and our integrity, struggling with our teeth, our nails, and our weak and feeble arms. History shows us that nations which do not spare their lives and property for the sake of their homeland never perish, but continue to live on. I have never regarded my own life as superior to that of my nation, nor shall I ever do so. I am ready, at every moment, to die with honor for my nation."
This photograph, taken in the Devegörmez neighborhood and in which Latife Hanım was also present, was obtained from the archive of H. Cinlioğlu. (September 1924)
July 25, 1919 –
The ERZURUM CONGRESS, prepared by the Society for the Defense of the Rights of Eastern Anatolia, convened in Erzurum. Hamamcıoğlu Rifat Bey (Rifat Arkun) from Tokat participated in this Congress, and in his address stated: "Let those states which seek to inscribe upon the page of mourning of humanity the bankruptcy of human rights and the principles of civilization be assured that history shows no instance of a nation possessing an honorable history and civilization, a sound virtue and morality, a rich poetry and literature, and religious and national traditions, customs, and memories of homeland, having ever been destroyed. Before national spirits, every force is powerless."
September 12, 1919 –
Following the Congress held in Sivas on September 4, 1919, the people of Tokat completely severed their ties with the Istanbul Government. At a public gathering held in the town square, Hamamcıoğlu Rifat Bey delivered a speech, after which a telegram was sent to the Sultan. In it, it was declared that, "since our national dignity had been wounded, confidence in the cabinet of Ferit Pasha no longer remained."
October 16, 1919 –
Mustafa Kemal Pasha arrived in Tokat from Sivas, on his way to Amasya.
October 18, 1919 –
Mustafa Kemal Pasha, who had come to Tokat for contacts he was to make in Amasya, spent an entire day in discussions on matters concerning the public, and, having formed favorable impressions of Tokat, set out for Amasya.
October 21, 1919 –
Mustafa Kemal Pasha, accompanied by journalists, arrived in Tokat. Received in front of the military recruitment office, the Pasha was hosted at the home of Hamamcıoğlu Rifat Bey.
October 28, 1919 –
In the morning, Mustafa Kemal Pasha visited the Reserve Officers' Mutual Aid Society and held discussions there, after which he departed for Sivas.
November 20, 1919 –
A delegation headed by Ahmet Fevzi Pasha arrived in Tokat.
March 11, 1920 –
On March 16, 1920, following the occupation of Istanbul by the British and in protest against the actions taken, large demonstrations and rallies were held in Tokat.
March 18, 1920 –
Following the occupation of Istanbul, it was announced that the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye would convene in Ankara, and the representatives elected to the Assembly from Tokat were determined.
October 29, 1923 – PROCLAMATION OF THE REPUBLIC.
November 21, 1931 –
The President of the Republic, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha, arrived in Tokat from Sivas at 14:00 and visited the Municipality.