Childhood

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was born in Salonika in 1881. His mother Zubeyde Hanim, is a daughter of an old Turkish family, settled in the town of Langasa near Salonika. His father Ali Riza Efendi who had been a militia officer, a pious foundation clerk and for some time a timber merchant, married with Zubeyde Hanim in 1871. Ataturk's four of five siblings died in early ages, only sister Makbule Atadan survived and lived until 1956.
As a child Mustafa commenced his education in Hafiz Mehmet Efendi's neighborhood school, later he transferred to Semsi Efendi School, because his father wished so. (Comparatively modern education at the time.) During his primary education he lost his father in 1888. For a while he stayed in his uncle's farm in Rapla, returned to Salonika and completed his primary education. Ataturk enrolled to Salonika Junior High School for Civil Servants. After a short time in 1893, he transferred to Military Junior High School. It is at this school his math teacher Mustafa Bey, added Kemal to his name. Between 1896-1899, Mustafa Kemal finished Monastir Military Senior High School and commenced Military College in Istanbul. In 1902 he graduated with the rank of a lieutenant and continued his education in Military Academy. In January 1905 he completed the Academy and graduated with the rank of a captain.

Army His first appointment was in 5. Army in Damascus between 1905-1907. He was promoted to adjutant major in 1907 and appointed to 3 Army in Monastery. He was the Chief of Staff of the Army Corps which entered Istanbul on 19 April 1909. AtaturkFrance in 1910 and took part in Picardie Manoeuvres. In 1911 he was back in Istanbul and started to work under the Command of General Staff.

Mustafa Kemal and a group of friends took part in Tobruk and Derna Fronts during the war which started in 1911 against Italians attacking Tripoli (Libya). He won the Battle of Tobruk against Italian forces on 22 December 1911. He then was appointed to Derna Front as the Commander-in-Chief on 6 March 1912.
When the Balkan War started in October 1912, Mustafa Kemal joined the battle with units in Gelibolu (Gallipoli) and Bolayir. He greatly contributed to the retrieval of Edirne and Dimetoka (Dhidhimotikhon). In 1913 Ataturk was appointed to Sofia as the military attaché. During his assignment in Sofia he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel. His duty as the military attaché ended in January 1915. During his stay in Sofia the First World War had started and Ottoman Empire had become obliged to enter in this war. Mustafa Kemal was appointed to Tekirdag to organize the 19 Division.