In August 1921, the Greek Army of Asia Minor came within 65 kilometers of Ankara, closer than any Allied force had ever ...

In August 1921, the Greek Army of Asia Minor came within 65 kilometers of Ankara, closer than any Allied force had ever pushed into the Anatolian heartland. They had crossed the Salt Desert on foot, fought through three Turkish defensive lines, and seized ridgelines that split the Ottoman nationalist front in two. Then the bread ran out. The Battle of the Sakarya river began on August 10 after a grueling advance from Eskisehir that stretched supply lines to the breaking point. Greek commanders had delayed the push by roughly twenty days to stockpile food, ammunition, and around 840 vehicles and camels at Eskisehir. Many of those trucks were already worn out before the march began, and every kilometer east meant another kilometer between the army and its railroad base. The Second Army Corps crossed the Salt Desert as part of a wide flanking maneuver from the south, but the dust clouds kicked up by thousands of men, animals, and vehicles gave the movement away. Turkish cavalry tracked the columns, raided supply lines, and reported back to Mustafa Kemal's command. By the time Greek units reached their attack positions, they were already thirsty and exhausted, and the element of surprise was gone. For several days the Second Corps received no bread at all, according to the official history of the Greek Army Historical Directorate. Soldiers boiled raw wheat and called it, bitterly, "Gounaris's koliva," a funeral food reference aimed at the politician driving the campaign. Soldier Christos Karagiannis recorded in his diary men stealing half a sack of bread from headquarters stores in the dark, and a young soldier handing his watch and 400 drachmas to his comrades for his mother before the next assault. He died the next day. The bread in his pack was divided among the platoon like communion bread. The Greeks did break through. The 1st Division took Mangal Dag in heavy rain, tearing a gap through the center of the Turkish line. But reserves were not committed in time and the Turks sealed the breach. The battle for Kale Grotto, a fortified rocky ridge, cost the two Greek divisions tasked with taking it more than 3,000 dead and wounded over four days of repeated as...