The Greek Cypriot paramilitary organization, EOKA started its anti-British activities for
Enosis, the union of the island with
Greece. This caused a "
Cretan syndrome" within the Turkish Cypriot community, as its members feared that they would be forced to leave the island in such a case as was the case with
Cretan Turks; as such, they preferred the continuation of the British rule and later, taksim, the division of the island. Due to the Turkish Cypriots' support for the British, the EOKA leader
Georgios Grivas declared them an enemy. The first underground organization formed by Turkish Cypriots to oppose enosis was Volkan. This organization was founded in 1956. or September 1955 according to different sources, and purportedly with the support of the British administration. Roni Alasor, however, claims that TMT's organisation structure and base had been formed as early as 1950 with its centre in the Yenişehir section of
Ankara. During this period, other resistance organizations were founded, such as the
Turkish Resistance Legion for the Movement Legion (KİTEM),
9 September Front or
Kara Çete ("Black Gang"), which reportedly had the support of
Fazıl Küçük, but these turned out to be unsuccessful attempts and joined Volkan. ,
North Nicosia, 2022 The exact date of establishment of the TMT varies across several sources, the given dates are 15 or 23 November 1957.
Rauf Denktaş, however, claimed that the organization was established on 27 November. The establishment took place in the house of
Kemal Tanrıverdi in
Nicosia, the Turkish Cypriot attaché at the Turkish embassy, with the participation of Denktaş and
Burhan Nalbantoğlu. Its declaration of establishment, which called all Turkish Cypriot members of resistance organizations to unite under the TMT, was printed on 26 November 1957 by the
Lefkoşa Türk Lisesi (Nicosia Turkish High School). Initially, it only had about 100 members. The TMT was initially formed with a local initiative, with the aims of raising awareness in Turkey about the Cypriot issue and military training and supply for Turkish Cypriot fighters. However, its leaders were aware that such an organization would not be popular without Turkish support, and thus, no organization or efforts to establish a leadership took place at this time. On 2 January 1958, Denktaş and Küçük flew to Ankara to meet with
Fatin Rüştü Zorlu. In the meeting, Zorlu asked them if they would be able to receive the weapons sent by Turkey, and Denktaş replied positively, after which Zorlu brought the issue to the attention of the Chief of Staff of the
Turkish Armed Forces. After several months of consideration, Turkey decided to support the organization on the condition that Turkish support would be kept secret. Daniş Karabelen was assigned to organize the TMT's foundation. ==Structure & Soldiers==