Modern Era
Turkish War of Independence (1919-1923): Ataturk's Victory
Turkish nationalist victory; the Treaty of Sevres was replaced by the Treaty of Lausanne and the Republic of Turkey was proclaimed in October 1923.
Region
Middle East
Modern Era
Treaty of Sèvres (1920): The Partition of the Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman government accepted the loss of most of its territory, but the treaty was never ratified and was replaced by the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923.
Modern Era
Great Fire of Smyrna (1922): The Burning of a Cosmopolitan City
The Greek, Armenian and European quarters of Smyrna were destroyed and their surviving Christian inhabitants fled or were evacuated by sea.
Modern Era
Treaty of Lausanne (1923): Founding Peace of Modern Turkey
The Allies recognised the sovereignty and borders of the new Turkish state, abolished the capitulations and accepted the compulsory Greek-Turkish population exchange.
Modern Era
Anglo-Soviet Invasion of Iran (1941): The Persian Corridor
Allied victory within days; Reza Shah abdicated in favour of his son and Iran became the main overland route for Allied aid to the Soviet Union.
Modern Era
Tehran Conference (1943): The First Meeting of the Big Three
The Allies fixed the invasion of France for May 1944, Stalin promised to fight Japan after Germany's defeat, and the outlines of post-war Europe were sketched.
Contemporary
King David Hotel Bombing 1946: Attack in Mandate Jerusalem
The southern wing of the hotel collapsed, killing 91 people; the attack hardened British opinion and helped push Britain to refer Palestine to the United Nations.
Contemporary
UN Partition Plan for Palestine 1947: Resolution 181 Explained
The General Assembly recommended partition by 33 votes to 13 with 10 abstentions; the Jewish Agency accepted, Arab leaders rejected it, and civil war broke out in Palestine.
Contemporary
Deir Yassin Massacre 1948: Killings in a Village near Jerusalem
Around 100–120 villagers were killed; news of the killings spread fear among Palestinian Arabs and hardened the 1948 conflict.
Contemporary
1948 Arab-Israeli War: The First War over Israel and Palestine
Israel survived and expanded beyond the UN partition lines; Jordan held the West Bank and Egypt the Gaza Strip; some 700,000 to 750,000 Palestinian Arabs became refugees.
Contemporary
Israeli Declaration of Independence 1948: Founding of Israel
The State of Israel was proclaimed as the British Mandate for Palestine ended; it was quickly recognised by the United States and the Soviet Union, and neighbouring Arab states went to war.
Contemporary
Egyptian Revolution of 1952: The Free Officers Overthrow Farouk
The monarchy fell, Egypt became a republic in June 1953 and Gamal Abdel Nasser emerged as its leader by 1954.