Childhood and School Years of Atatürk

Mustafa, born in Thessaloniki in 1881, began his education at the local neighborhood school. Later, at his father's request, he transferred to the Şemsi Efendi School. After losing his father in 1888, he went to stay with his uncle for a while, during which he had to interrupt his education. It is known that in his childhood, he was very enthusiastic about horses and weapons, making pistols and tamburs from pieces of wood. To continue his education, he attended Selanik Mülkiye Rüştiyesi in 1894 and later transferred to the Military School. After completing the Military School, he went on to the Monastir Military High School in 1896, where he had many successful classmates…