Ataturk born in 1881 and dead in 1938. He was born in Salonika. His last name is Ataturk which means the ancestor of the Turks. Ataturk, the greatest leader of the 20th Century, according to the ranking in Arnold Ludwig’s book, “King of the Mountain.”
Ataturk is the most respected person in Turkey. Actually, not only in Turkey because there are about a hundred sculptures of Ataturk in about 50 countries except Turkey.  Let’s look at some important people in Ataturk’s era who spoke about Ataturk and some well-known stories.

One of the most talented leaders of the after-war period.
– New York Times

The tears which men and women of all classes shed upon his bier were a fitting tribute to the life work of a man at once the hero, the champion, and the father of modern Turkey.
– Winston Churchill

The name of Ataturk reminds mankind of the historical accomplishments of one of the greatest men of this century: His leadership gave inspiration to the Turkish nation, farsightedness in the understanding of the modern world, and courage and power as a military leader. It is without a doubt that another example can not be shown indicating greater successes than the birth of the Turkish Republic, and ever since then Atatürk’s and Turkey’s broad and deep reforms undertaken, as well as the confidence of a nation in itself.
– John KENNEDY

Letter from Ataturk to enemies’ mothers;

“Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives …You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side in this country of ours. You, the mothers, who sent their sons from far away countries, wipe away your tears. Your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well.”

Ataturk and Greek Flag; Greek officers had walked over a Turkish flag in İzmir in 1919. To avenge,a Greek flag was laid down in front of the same building in 1922 but Ataturk refused to step on it saying “The flags are sacred; no one has the right to be disrespectful to them,even if it is your enemy’s”

Ataturk and the tree;  Ataturk saw the mansion during a yacht trip and rested under the shadow of a sycamore tree growing beside it. The branches of the tree had begun to damage the mansion, and the gardener proposed trimming them. However, Atatürk ordered the mansion to be moved instead. Atatürk’s mansion in Yalova, known as the “YürüyenKöşk” (Walking Mansion) because Atatürk had the building moved to prevent a sycamore tree from being moved.

Ataturk and a Turkish woman;  In Tarsus, 1923, a woman stay in front of the Ataturk and kneeled, said: “ Let me be the victim of your land, Pasha “. Ataturk looked inside the women’s eyes and lifted. Then said “ Heroic Turkish woman! You deserve not to crawl on the ground, but to rise above the shoulders “.

THE MUSEUM OF ETHNOGRAPHY;
Before the Sakarya war, Ataturk was in Ankara, the main headquarter of Turkey. If Turkey loses this war, the capital city Ankara will be conquered. Mustafa Kemal will go to war as the commander. Before going, Ataturk called the chief of staff midnight. The chief master was agitated because of midnight. Ataturk asked, “Is decree prepared, I will sign before the Sakarya war.” What is the decree? Why it is so important? The decree was “ Establishment of THE MUSEUM OF ETHNOGRAPHY in Ankara and protection of historical Ankara houses.” A total of about 10.000 people died, about 40.000 people injured in the Sakarya war. This decree makes Ataturk the greatest leader. Ataturk is the only leader in the world who signs a decree about culture during the war.

Ataturk did many things about today’s most important issues like human rights, gender equality, protection of nature, education, give importance to art, active citizenship and other many things. That’s why he is the most important person in Turkey, also many other countries respect him. We lose hundreds of thousands of people and we fight against the most powerful countries for our lands. We didn’t have many weapons but we had Ataturk. He saved our lands with the hero Turkish army and we will always be grateful to them. Thank you, Ataturk. I have a topic about a commander who didn’t kill innocent people and care for people and human rights. I love you, you will always live in the Turkish people’s heart.

Dogukan Sever

Sources:
https://www.ataturktoday.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustafa_Kemal_Atat%C3%BCrk
King of the Mountain