...essentially defined the Soviet-Turkish border in Transcaucasia until the collapse of the USSR. After the end of the First World War, the territory located at the junction of the collapsing #Russian and Ottoman empires became a zone of interest for the #USA, Great Britain, and other European countries. When in 1919, Turkish General Mustafa Kemal (Atatürk) led the war for independence in Anatolia, Turkey's main ally, #Germany, was defeated, and other countries did not support the emerging Tu...
...rkish Republic. Kemalists had to simultaneously fight against the Greeks, Armenians, British, #French, and Italians. In this situation, the only country that could provide real help to the Kemalists was Soviet Russia, which was in a similar situation and was then barely recognized by most countries. On April 23, 1920, supporters of the future Atatürk established their own parliament in Ankara, and on April 26, the Chairman of the Presidium of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Mustafa ...
...Kemal, proposed to the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR, Vladimir Lenin, to establish diplomatic relations between the countries and asked for financial, material, and military assistance. In exchange, the Kemalists promised "to fight together with Soviet Russia against imperialist governments for the liberation of all oppressed peoples." In August 1920, an agreement was signed between the parties, and Ankara was allocated aid in the amount of 10 million gold rub...
..., and regained some of the territories that had belonged to the Russian Empire as a result of the Russo-Turkish wars. At the end of November, Soviet power was proclaimed in the remaining territory of Armenia, which ultimately saved Armenian statehood from complete destruction. On March 21, 1921, the Moscow Treaty was signed, which annulled the previously ratified treaties of the tsarist and sultan's governments. Turkey received the Surmalin district with Mount Ararat, Kars, and the souther...
...les, along with weapons, ammunition, and even two mine-layers - "Alive" and "Ghastly". Soviet military experts helped the Turks build two locomotive factories and provided equipment for a cartridge factory. In the development of offensive operations against the Greek forces occupying Asia Minor, Mikhail Frunze participated, and Kliment Voroshilov served as a military advisor to Atatürk. In September 1920, the Kemalists declared war on the Democratic Republic of Armenia, established in 1918...