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How Army Day highlighted growing repercussions of Turkey's failed coup

The forlorn observance of the traditionally joyous Victory Day in Turkey points to further polarization between conservatives and Kemalist secularists since the failed coup.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (C) attends a ceremony at the Ataturk mausoleum to mark the 94th anniversary of Turkeys Victory Day in Ankara on August 30, 2016. / AFP / ADEM ALTAN        (Photo credit should read ADEM ALTAN/AFP/Getty Images)

If you were to ask me which national day is observed with the liveliest fanfare in Turkey, I would answer Victory Day. Celebrated annually on Aug. 30 to mark the day in 1922 when Mustafa Kemal Ataturk ordered the grand offensive against occupying Greek forces, it is popularly known as Army Day.

In recent years, the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) had declared the last week of August as Victory Week, making it even more prominent. In that week, we always had the colorful graduation ceremonies of army, navy and air force academies with newly commissioned lieutenants joining the TSK, parades in cities, visits to military installations, exhibits to introduce new weapons, concerts by military bands in city squares and shopping malls, and air shows. The TSK used those occasions to boost its visibility and add to its public prestige.

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