Atatürk's Address to the Youth

Oh Turkish Youth!

Your first duty is to forever preserve and defend Turkish independence and the Turkish Republic.

This is the very foundation of your existence and your future. This foundation is your most precious treasure. In the future, there will be malevolent people at home and abroad who will wish to deprive you of this treasure. If one day you are compelled to defend your independence and your Republic, you must not hesitate to carry out your duty. The conditions you will face may be extremely unfavorable. The enemies conspiring against your independence and your Republic may have behind them a victory unprecedented in the history of the world. By force or by deceit, all the fortresses of your beloved homeland may be captured, all its shipyards occupied, all its armies dispersed, and every corner of the country may be invaded. Even more grievous and more disastrous than all these conditions is the fact that those who hold power within the country may be in error, misguided, or even traitorous. These holders of power may even align their personal interests with the political goals of the invaders. The nation may be impoverished and exhausted.

Oh, the children of the Turkish future! Even in such circumstances, your duty is to save Turkish independence and the Republic! The strength you need is already in your noble blood!

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
October 20, 1927