Biography Of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk

Ataturk’s life and biography

Atatürkün ingilizce hayatı, biyografisi ve ingilizce kronolojisi

Ataturk’s life

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk ( – ) was the founder and the first President of the Republic of Turkey. Mustafa Kemal was born in in Salonika (Thessaloniki, today in Greece, then under the Ottoman rule). His father’s name was Ali Riza Efendi. His father was customs official.

His mother’s name was Zübeyde Hanim. For his primary education, he went to the school of Semsi Efendi in Salonika. But Mustafa lost his father at an early age, he had to leave school. Mustafa and his mother went to live with his uncle in the countryside. His mother brought him up. Life continued like this for a time. Mustafa worked on the farm but his mother began to worry about his lack of schooling. It was finally decided that he should live with his mother’s sister in Salonika.

He entered the Military Middle School in Salonika. In , after finishing the Military Middle School, Mustafa Kemal entered the Military High School (Askeri Idadisi) in Manastir.

After successfully completing his studies at the Manastir Military School, Mustafa Kemal went to Istanbul and on the 13th of March he entered the infantry class of the Military Academy (Harbiye Harp Okulu). After finishing the Military Academy, Mustafa Kemal went on to the General Staff College in He was graduated from the Academy with the rank of captain on the 11th of January,

In , he was sent to Damascus (Sam). Mustafa Kemal and his friends founded a society which they called “Vatan ve Hürriyet” (Fatherland and Freedom) in Damascus. On his own initiative, he went to Tripoli during the war with Italy in and took part in the defense of Derne and Tobruk. While he was still in Libya, the Balkan War broke out. He served in the Balkan War as a successful Commander (). At the end of the Balkan War, Mustafa Kemal was appointed military attaché in Sofia.

When Mustafa Kemal was in Sofia, the First World War broke out. He was made Commander of the Anafartalar Group on 8th of August, In the First World War he was in command of the Turkish forces at Anafartalar at a critical moment. This was when the Allied landings in the Dardanelles (Canakkale Bogazi) took place and he personally saved the situation in Gallipoli.

During the battle, Mustafa Kemal was hit by shrapnel above the heart, but a watch in his breast pocket saved his life. Mustafa Kemal explained his state of mind as he accepted this great responsibility: “Indeed, it was not easy to shoulder such responsibility, but as I had decided not to live to see my country’s destruction, I accepted it proudly”. He then served in the Caucasus and in Syria and just before the armistice in he was placed in command of the Lightning Army group in Syria. After the armistice (peace agreement), he returned to Istanbul.

After the Armistice of Montreux, the countries that had signed the agreement did not consider it necessary to abide by its terms. Under various pretexts the navies and the armies of the Entente (France, Britain and Italy) were in Istanbul, while the province of Adana had been occupied by the French, and Urfa and Maras by the British. There were Italian soldiers in Antalya and Konya, and British soldiers in Merzifon and Samsun. There were foreign officers, officials and agents almost everywhere in the country.

On the 15th of May the Greek Army landed in Izmir with the agreement of the Entente. Under difficult conditions, Mustafa Kemal decided to go to Anatolia. On 16th of May , he left Istanbul in a small boat called the “Bandirma”. Mustafa Kemal was warned that his enemies had planned to sink his ship on the way out, but he was not afraid and on Monday19th May , he arrived in Samsun and set foot on Anatolian soil. That date marks the beginning of the Turkish War of Independence. It is also the date that Mustafa Kemal later chose as his own birthday. A wave of national resistance arose in Anatolia. A movement had already begun in Erzurum in the east and Mustafa Kemal quickly placed himself at the head of the whole organization. The congresses in Erzurum and Sivas in the Summer of declared the national aims by a national pact.

When the foreign armies occupied Istanbul, on 23rd of April Mustafa Kemal opened the Turkish Grand National Assembly and hence established a provisional new government, the centre of which was to be Ankara. On the same day Mustafa Kemal was elected President of the Grand National Assembly. The Greeks, profiting by the rebellion of Cerkez Ethem and acting in collaboration with him, started to advance towards Bursa and Eskisehir. On the 10th of January , the enemy forces were heavily defeated by the Commander of the Western Front, colonel Ismet and his troops. On the 10th of July , the Greeks launched a frontal attack with five divisions on Sakarya. After the great battle of Sakarya, which continued without interruption from the 23rd of August to the 13th of September, the Greek Army was defeated and had to retreat. After the battle, the Grand National Assembly gave Mustafa Kemal the titles of Ghazi and Marshal. Mustafa Kemal decided to drive the enemies out of his country and he gave the order that the attack should be launched on the morning of the 26th of August The bulk of the enemy forces were surrounded and killed or captured on the 30th of August at Dumlupinar.

The enemy Commander-in-Chief, General Trikupis, was captured. Or the 9th of September the fleeing enemy forces were driven into the sea near Izmir. The Turkish forces, under the extraordinary military skills of Kemal Atatürk, fought a War of Independence against the occupying Allied powers and won victories on every front all over the country.

On the 24th of July , with the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne, the independence of the new Turkish State was recognized by all countries. Mustafa Kemal built up a new, sturdy, vigorous state. On the 29th of October , he declared the new Turkish Republic. Following the declaration of the Republic he started to his radical reforms to modernize the country. Mustafa Kemal was elected the first President of the Republic of Turkey.

Atatürk made frequent tours of the country. While visiting Gemlik and Bursa, Atatürk caught a chill. He returned to Istanbul to be treated and to rest, but, unfortunately Atatürk was seriously ill. He spent his last days of life on the presidential yacht of Savarona. At AM on the 10th of November , Atatürk died, but he attained immortality in the eyes of his people. Since the moment of his death, his beloved name and memory have been engraved on the hearts of his people. As a commander he had been the victorious of many battles, as a leader he had influenced the masses, as a statesman he had led a successful administration, and as a revolutionary he had striven to alter the social, cultural, economic, political and legal structure of society at its roots. He was one of the most eminent personalities in the history of the world, history will count him among the most glorious sons of the Turkish nation and one of the greatest leaders of mankind.

EVENTS IN ATATURK’S LIFE IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER

Mustafa born in Salonika (Thessaloniki).

Mustafa enters the Military Preparatory School in Salonika and is given the second name “Kemal” by his teacher.

Mustafa Kemal enters the Military High School at Manastir.

Mustafa Kemal enters the infantry class of the Military Academy in Istanbul.

Mustafa Kemal graduates from the Military Academy and goes on to the General Staff College.

January11,
Mustafa Kemal graduates from the General Staff College with the rank of Staff Captain and is posted to the Fifth Army, based in Damascus.

October
Mustafa Kemal and his friends from the secret society “Fatherland and Freedom” in Damascus.

September
Mustafa Kemal transferred to Third Army and goes to Salonika.

September13,
Mustafa Kemal transferred to General Staff in Istanbul.

January9,
Mustafa Kemal successfully leads the Tobruk offensive in Libya.

November25,
Mustafa Kemal appointed Director of Operations, Mediterranean Straits Special Forces.

October27,
Mustafa Kemal appointed Military Attaché in Sofia.

April25,
Allies land at Ariburnu (Gallipoli) and Mustafa Kemal stops their progress with his division.

August9,
Mustafa Kemal appointed Commander of Anafartalar Group.

April1,
Mustafa Kemal promoted to Brigadier-General.

August,
Mustafa Kemal takes Bitlis and Mus back from the enemy.

October31,
Mustafa Kemal becomes Commander of Lightning Group of Armies.

April30,
Mustafa Kemal appointed Inspector of 9th Army based in Erzurum with wide powers.

May16,
Mustafa Kemal leaves Istanbul.

May19,
Mustafa Kemal lands in Samsun. This date was recorded as the start of War of Independence.

July8,
Mustafa Kemal resigns from the post of Inspector of 3rd Army and from the army.

July23,
Mustafa Kemal elected Chairman of Erzurum Congress.

September4,
Mustafa Kemal elected Chairman of Sivas Congress.

December27,
Mustafa Kemal arrives in Ankara with the Executive Committee.

April23,
Mustafa Kemal opens the Turkish Grand National Assembly in Ankara.

May11,
Mustafa Kemal is condemned to death by the government in Istanbul.

August5,
Mustafa Kemal appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Army by the Grand National Assembly.

August23,
The battle of Sakarya begins with Turkish troops led by Mustafa Kemal.

September19,
The Grand National Assembly gives Mustafa Kemal the rank of Marshal and the title Gazi.

August26,
Gazi Mustafa Kemal begins to lead the Great Offensive from the hill of Kocatepe.

August30,
Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha wins the battle of Dumlupinar.

September10,
Gazi Mustafa Kemal enters Izmir.

November1,
The Grand National Assembly accepts Gazi Mustafa Kemal’s proposal to abolish the Sultanate.

January14,
Mustafa Kemal’s mother Zübeyde Hanim dies in Izmir.

October29,
Proclamation of the Turkish Republic and Gazi Mustafa Kemal is elected as the first President.

August24,
Gazi Mustafa Kemal wears a hat for the first time at Sarayburnu in Istanbul.

August9,
Gazi Mustafa Kemal speaks at Sarayburnu on the new Turkish Alphabet.

April12,
Gazi Mustafa Kemal founds the Turkish Historical Society.

July12,
Gazi Mustafa Kemal founds the Turkish Linguistic Society.

June16,
The Grand National Assembly passes a law granting Gazi Mustafa Kemal the surname “Atatürk”.

November10,
Atatürk dies at in Dolmabahce Palace, Istanbul

source; monash.pw

Overview of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's personal life

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (Turkish pronunciation:&#;[mustafa kemal atatyɾk]) ( – 10 November ) founded the Republic of Turkey, and served as its president from until his death on 10 November His personal life has been the subject of numerous studies. According to Turkish historian Kemal H. Karpat, Atatürk's recent bibliography included 7, different sources.^[1] Atatürk's personal life has its controversies, ranging from where he was born to his correct full name. The details of his marriage have always been a subject of debate. His religious beliefs were discussed in Turkish political life as recently as the Republic Protests during the presidential election.

Mustafa Kemal's personality has been an important subject both for scholars and the general public.^[1] Much of substantial personal information about him comes from memoirs by his associates, who were at times his rivals, and friends. Some credible information originates from Ali Fuat Cebesoy, Kâzım Karabekir, Halide Edib Adıvar, Kılıç Ali, Falih Rıfkı Atay, Afet İnan, there is also secondary analysis by Patrick Balfour, the 3rd Baron Kinross, Andrew Mango and, most recently, Vamık D. Volkan and Norman Itzkowitz.^{[citation needed]}

Name[edit]

In Turkish tradition, names have additional honorary or memorial values besides their grammatical identification function. It is possible to translate a name from Turkish to other languages, but care should be given as names' form varies from one language to another. Atatürk had Mustafa as his name at birth. Mustafa (Arabic: مصطفى – Muṣṭafā, "the chosen one"), an epithet of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, was a common name at that time. Young Mustafa studied at Salonica Military School, the military junior high school in Salonica (now Thessaloniki in modern Greece), where his mathematics teacher Captain Üsküplü Mustafa Sabri Bey gave him the additional name "Kemal" ("perfection") because of his student's academic excellence.^[2]

On 27 November , Mustafa Kemal was promoted to the rank of Binbaşı, an Ottoman military rank denoting the commander of "a thousand soldiers," equivalent to the rank of Major in the modern Turkish army. Since, in Ottoman military ranks, "Bey" was a common title given to all ranks for Binbaşı and above, Mustafa Kemal Efendi, henceforth, was addressed as "Mustafa Kemal Bey". On 1 April , Mustafa Kemal was promoted to the rank of Mirliva, equivalent to Major General today. In Ottoman military ranks, Pasha was a common title given to all ranks at and above Mirliva, and he was from then on addressed as "Mustafa Kemal Pasha" (Turkish: Paşa).

Kemal Pasha, disgusted by the capitulations and concessions made by the Sultan to the Allies, and by the occupation of Constantinople (known as Istanbul in English since ) by the British, resigned from his post on 8 July He escaped from Istanbul by sea, passing through British Royal Navy patrols and landing on the Black Sea port city of Samsun, to organize the resistance against the Allied Powers' occupation of Anatolia. After his resignation, the Sublime Porte, the Ottoman imperial government, issued a warrant and later condemned him to death in absentia.^[3]

On 19 September , the Turkish Grand National Assembly presented him with the title of Gazi, which denotes, a combat or wounded veteran, with the religious connotation of defeating non-Islamic forces, and bestowed upon him the rank of Marshal for his achievements during the War of Independence. Henceforth, he'd be addressed as "Gazi Mustafa Kemal".^[4]

On 21 June , the Grand National Assembly recognized the need for registration and use of fixed hereditary surnames. The Surname Law was proposed and later put into force. On 24 November , the Assembly enacted a special law to bestow on Mustafa Kemal the surname "Atatürk," which translates as "Father of the Turks,"^[5][6] and established "Atatürk" as a unique surname.^{[note 1]}

List of names and titles[edit]

Serial number:

Serial number:

• Birth: Ali Rıza oğlu Mustafa
• s: Mustafa Kemal
• Mustafa Kemal Bey
• Mustafa Kemal Paşa
• Gazi Mustafa Kemal Paşa
• Kemal Atatürk
• Kamâl Atatürk
• Kemal Atatürk^[7]

Time magazine says: "Man of Seven Names. This blond, blue-eyed, Bacchic roughneck had seven names before he died as Kamâl Atatürk."^[8] However, Atatürk returned to the old spelling of Kemal from May and onwards.^[7]

Birth date[edit]

Due to differences between calendars of the period, Atatürk's precise birth date is not known. The Ottoman Empire recognized the Hijri calendar and the Rumi calendar. The Hijri was an Islamic calendar, used to mark the religious holidays. It was lunar, with years of or days. The Rumi was a civil calendar, adopted in It was solar, based on the Julian Calendar. Both counted time from the Hijra, the migration of Muhammad to Medina. Between the two calendars significant differences in elapsed time were present. Various reforms were made to reconcile them but typically there was always a difference.

Atatürk's birth date was recorded in the public records of Turkish Selanik as Anno Hegirae with no sign whether this was based on the Rumi or on the Hijri calendar. In view of this confusion Atatürk set his own birthday to coincide with the Turkish Independence Day, which he announced was 19 May , the day of his arrival in Samsun, in a speech given in His identification with Independence Day implied his selection of the civil calendar, in which AH lasts from 13 March to 12 March The latter dates are in the Gregorian Calendar just adopted for the Republic by Atatürk for purposes of standardization (the Julian Calendar was rejected earlier). Atatürk therefore listed his own birthday in all documents official and unofficial as 19 May ^[9]

Atatürk was told by his mother that he was born on a spring day, but his younger sister Makbule Atadan was told by others that he was born at night during a thunderstorm.^{[citation needed]}Faik Reşit Unat received differing responses from Zübeyde Hanım's neighbors at Salonika. Some claimed that he was born on a spring day, but others stated on a winter day during either January or February. A date that has gained some acceptance is 19 May, a date which originated with the historian Reşit Saffet Atabinen. 19 May is the symbolic start of the Turkish Independence War, and Atabinen linked Atatürk's birth day to the start of the Independence War – a gesture which Atatürk appreciated.^{[citation needed]} There was even a plan to establish a "Gazi" day. Another story about this date is that a teacher asked Atatürk his birth date, that he responded he did not know it, and that the teacher suggested 19 May. Then again, there are two ways to interpret this; the "Gregorian 19 May " would imply Rumi 1 March , which conflicts with the only recorded information, Rumi It is also possible to say "Rumi 19 May ", which implies a date in the Gregorian year

Some sources ignore the day and month altogether, and print his birth date as Gregorian / Other claims are:

1. Enver Behnan Şapolyo claimed that Atatürk was born on Gregorian 23 December ^{[citation needed]}
2. Şevket Süreyya Aydemir claimed that he was born on Gregorian 4 January ^{[citation needed]}
3. Muhtar Kumral, former head of the Mustafa Kemal Association, claimed that he was born on Gregorian 13 March , and stated they used Makbule Atadan. A conversion from Gregorian to Rumi sets the day in Rumi to 1 March The validity of this claim is questionable, since the written record states Rumi , not ^[10]
4. Tevfik Rüştü Aras claimed that Atatürk was born between 10 May and 20 May. He stated that this information was shared with Atatürk, and that Atatürk responded "Why not May "^{[citation needed]}

The memoirs of the Soviet diplomat Simon Aralov mention a conversation between Aralov and Atatürk, where Aralov says he was born in , and Atatürk responds "just like me".^{[citation needed]}

Atatürk's last official identity document (Turkish: nüfus cüzdanı) does not include the day and month, but the year is visible.^[10] It is exhibited in the Atatürk Museum in Şişli.^[10] The Republic of Turkey announced 19 May officially to the public and diplomatically to other countries as his accepted birthday.^[10]

Nationality[edit]

The Ottoman Empire was not a national state and the records were not kept based on nationality, but on religion. The rise of nationalism in Europe had extended to the Ottoman Empire during the 19th century and the Millet system began to degrade. Atatürk's parents and relatives used Turkish as their native language and were part of the Muslim millet.^[11] His father Ali Rıza Efendi is thought by some to have been of Albanian or Slavic origin;^{[12][13][14][15][16]} however, according to Falih Rıfkı Atay, Vamık D. Volkan and Norman Itzkowitz, Ali Rıza's ancestors were Turks, ultimately descending from Söke in the Aydın Province.^[17][18] His mother Zübeyde is thought to have been of Turkish origin^[14][15] and according to Şevket Süreyya Aydemir, she was of Yörük ancestry.^[19] There are also some suggestions about his partial Slavic origin.^[20][21][22]

Early life[edit]

Atatürk was born during the Belle Époque of European civilization. Russia was implementing reforms; Japan opened its doors to the West during the Meiji Restoration. The Ottoman Empire was going through transformation. Ottoman military reform efforts, like the contemporaneous Modernization of Japanese Military –, managed to develop a modern army. Racial, regional, ethnic and national stereotypes were part of discourse throughout the world. Ottoman people were not immune to these developments and there was a rise of nationalism under the Ottoman Empire.

The Ottoman State had been weakened by Turkish Islamism. Conservatism was strong both in government and society. Although the empire was transforming itself, the Hippocratic school of medicine, Ptolemaic astronomy and geography, and other branches of medieval studies were still in force. Many of these studies had been first amended, then discarded in western Europe with the Age of Enlightenment. Except for European military technology, the penetration of European ideas and practices into Turkey was slow.^{[citation needed]}

Preparatory school[edit]

Ali Rıza Bey's desire was to send Atatürk to the newly opened Şemsi Efendi School, which had a contemporary education program. Zübeyde Hanım wanted him to attend a traditional school. The traditional Muslim schools had programs based on mostly prayers and hymns. This caused arguments within the family. He first enrolled in a traditional religious school. He later switched to Şemsi Efendi School.

In , Ali Rıza Efendi died at an age of Atatürk was 7 years old. Zübeyde Hanım was Zübeyde Hanım and her two children lived with her brother Hüseyin for a period. Hüseyin was the manager of a farm outside Salonika. Mustafa worked on the farm.

Zübeyde Hanım married Ragıp Bey. Ragıp Bey was also a widower with four children. Atatürk liked Süreyya. His other step brother was employed by Regie Company. Because he was not the senior male in the house after his mother's marriage, Atatürk left the house and lived with a relative.

Military education[edit]

Photo taken at the Andriomenos Photo Shop on the day of graduation from the War Academy.

Atatürk wanted to attend the military school. As a young boy, he admired the Western-style uniforms of the military officers. He enrolled to the military junior high school Turkish: Selânik Askerî Rüştiyesi in Selânik. In , he enrolled in the Monastir Military High School. Monastir is today's Bitola, in the North Macedonia. Both of these regions saw discontent and revolts towards the Ottoman administration.^{[citation needed]}

On 13 March , he enrolled in the Ottoman War Academy in Constantinople (Turkish: Mekteb-i Harbiye-i Şahane). It was a boarding school with dormitories within its premises. The military school was strictly controlled by Abdul Hamid II. Newspapers were not allowed in the school, and textbooks were the only accepted books. The school not only taught military skills but also religious practices and social work. The curriculum at this school demanded either donating money or working for charity. He graduated from the Ottoman War Academy in ^{[citation needed]}

On 10 February , he enrolled in the Imperial Military Staff College in Constantinople, from which he graduated on 11 January There were two officer tracks in the Ottoman imperial army. One of them was the officers "educated within the army itself", Alaylı, and the other consisted of officers trained in modern military schools, Mektepli. He was a "school trained" officer. School educated officers had a strong ideological imprint toward family and country, and he had shown tendencies toward both. When he joined the Ottoman Army, he had already passed 13 years of military education.^{[citation needed]}

Family[edit]

Zübeyde Hanım's first child was Fatma, then Ömer, later Ahmet was born. They all died in early childhood. Mustafa was the fourth child. Makbule followed him in Their sister Naciye was born in Naciye was lost to childhood tuberculosis.^{[citation needed]}

Ragıp Bey had four children from his first marriage. His first child, Süreyya died during World War One. Ragıp Bey had a brother Colonel Hüsamettin. He and Vasfiye Hanım had a daughter named Fikriye ( – 31 May ).^[23] Of the 9 siblings, five sharing at least one parent, only his biological sister, Makbule (–), survived him.

Wife[edit]

Atatürk and Latife Hanım (far right) with her family in early

Mustafa Kemal's wife Latife().

Latife and Kemal at one of the tours of Anatolia.

Atatürk married only once, to Latife Uşaklıgil (or Uşşaki); a multilingual, and self-confident woman who was educated in Europe and came from an established, ship-owning family from Smyrna (now Izmir).^[24]

Atatürk met Latife during the recapture of occupied Smyrna on 8 September Kemal was invited to Uşaklıgil residence during his stay in Smyrna. He had chance to observe Latife closely. Their initial acquaintanceship period lasted a relatively short time as he had to return to Angora (now Ankara) on 2 October. Kemal opened up his interest to Latife by asking her "Don't go anywhere. Wait for me." On 29 January , he arranged for the permission to marry from her family, with the assistance of the chief of staff Fevzi Çakmak. Kâzım Karabekir was present at their wedding. These were not random decisions.

In Turkish culture, the groom asks his family or respected people, with whom he has close relationships, to perform this act. Latife did not cover her face during the wedding, though during this period it was the tradition for brides to do so. They did not have a honeymoon just after the wedding. The elections for the parliament were coming. He received the representatives of local newspapers next day of his wedding. He prepared for his public speech on 2 February. The honeymoon, an Anatolian tour, was a chance to show his wife's unveiled face as a role model for modern Turkish women. "It's not just a honeymoon, it's a lesson in reform," one observer remarked.^[25]

As a First Lady, she was part of the women's emancipation movement, which started in Turkey in the early s. Latife showed her face to the world with a defiance that shocked and delighted onlookers.^[25] She did not wear a hijab but covered her head with a headscarf (Turkish: Başörtüsü). She urged Turkish women to do the same and lobbied for women's suffrage.^[26] Atatürk passed the law giving women the right to vote after he was elected.^{[citation needed]}

Latife insisted on accompanying him to the eastern towns even though the wives of other officials stopped at Samsun and did not travel further to the devastated east. The attention of Atatürk was directed to conventional gatherings. The balance was hard to establish. At Erzurum, Latife and Kemal reached a breaking point. They had a public quarrel. Atatürk asked Latife to go to Angora, with his trusted ADC Salih Bozok. They were divorced on 5 August The circumstances of their divorce remain publicly unknown. A year-old court order banned the publishing of his former wife's diaries and letters, which might have contained information on the matter. The Turkish History Foundation kept the letters since Upon expiration of the court order, the Turkish History Foundation said that Latife Uşaklıgil's family demanded that the letters were not to be disclosed.^[27]

Children[edit]

17 January , Nebile's wedding.

Adopted daughters of Mustafa Kemal; left to right: Zehra Aylin, Rukiye (Erkin) and Sabiha(Gökçen).

Left to right: Rukiye (Erkin), Sabiha (Gökçen), Afet(İnan), and Zehra Aylin.

Atatürk with Sığırtmaç Mustafa (Mustafa Demir, –),

One of his quotes was "Children are a new beginning of tomorrow." He established 23 April as "Children's Day" and 19 May as "Youth and Sports Day". Children's Day commemorates the opening of Turkish Grand National Assembly in The designation of Children's Day came in upon the recommendation of the Institution of Children's Protection. Both days are celebrated today. Youth and Sports Day is a national holiday in Turkey.^{[citation needed]}

He had no biological children from his marriage but had eight adopted daughters and one son. The names of his children were Zehra Aylin, Sabiha (Gökçen), Rukiye (Erkin), Afet (İnan), Nebile (Bayyurt), Afife, Fikriye, Ülkü (Doğançay, later Adatepe), and Mustafa. Additionally, he had two children under his protection, Abdurrahim Tuncak and İhsan.^[28]

In , Atatürk took Abdurrahim, aged eight, under his protection. There is a photograph showing Atatürk with his uniform during his assignment in Diyarbakir accompanied with the early teenage Abdurrahim. Abdurrahim was entrusted to Zübeyde Hanim's care. He did not remember his biological parents. This brought questions if he was left an orphan during the Caucasus Campaign. Abdurrahim stated his earliest memories belong to the Zübeyde Hanim's house in Akarether. Atatürk gave the surname Tuncak to Abdurrahim.^{[citation needed]}

In , Zehra from Amasya and Rukiye from Konya came under his protection. Zehra fell to her death from a train near Amiens on 20 November France police inquiry concluded that it was a suicide rather than an accident. On 22 September , Atatürk adopted a year-old girl named Sabiha, an orphan who approached him at Bursa train station. She was sent to Russia for aviation training. On 25 October , Atatürk met an year-old girl, Afet (İnan). She was the daughter of a close family friend. She had lost her mother, and her father had married another woman. She was trying to make a living in Smyrna (Izmir) by teaching young girls. She lacked advanced education. Atatürk supported her advance education expenses, while she continued to support herself by teaching. Later, she became a trusted person. He asked her to copy edit his speeches, and dictate his materials. In , Atatürk met a three-year-old girl, Ülkü. She was the child of a retainer of his mother and the stationmaster. She was the only daughter that stayed close to him^[why?] until a few weeks before his death.^{[citation needed]}

Atatürk on Egesteamer during a tour to Antalya, February

According to Atatürk:

There is one trait I have had since my childhood. In the house where I lived. I never liked to spend time with my sister or with a friend. Since my childhood I have always preferred to be alone and independent, that is how I always lived. I have another trait: I have never had any patience with any advice or admonition which my mother – my father died very early – my sister or any of my closest relatives pressed on me according to their lights. People who live with their families know that there are never short of innocent and sincere warnings from left and right. There are only two ways of dealing with them. You either ignore them or obey them. I believe neither way is right.^[29]

One changing view about Atatürk is his foresightedness, foster and promotion of the leadership among Turkish revolutionaries.^[30] Initial reviews depict him as an unchallenged leader, the single man. Recent studies analyze the period from the populist perspective. His leadership activities had extending effects on the political, social and cultural context of the Republic.^[30] These studies gives clues on his abilities to foster the cooperation among different people, such as in the "History of National Struggle Volumes I through V".^[31] His significance during independence was cited for his ability to unify people. It is pointed out that organizations in the countryside for resistance against occupation was happening effectively before his involvement. His ability to channel people did not. The foundation for the civilian participation in the government [parliament being never closed during his reign] and establishment of civic society [his insistence of keeping military out of daily politics] are cited having the roots in the Kemal's presidency, not after.^[30] The failed reforms of the regional countries, after the passage of its leaders, were generally used as an example of the Atatürk's leadership among the Turkish Revolutionaries. His effect lasted many years after his passage.^{[citation needed]}

Love of nature[edit]

He attached importance to his horse Sakarya and his dog Fox. He was also anecdotally linked to preservation of Turkish Angora after an article in the Turkey's Reader's Digest reportedly claimed that Atatürk said "his successor would be bitten on the ankle by an odd-eyed white cat.^[32]

Atatürk established the Forest Ranch in He wanted to have a modern farm in the suburbs of the capital including a green haven (arboretum) for people.^[33] The Forest Ranch developed a program to introduce domesticated livestock and horticulture in As a consequence of children being interested in the animals Atatürk involved in developing a program which then became known as "Ankara Zoo". The modern zoo which took 12 years to build, first of its kind in Turkey, gave a chance to people observe animals beyond the boundaries of circus and fairs. Atatürk, with his smallest adopted daughter Ülkü spend his time at the Forest Ranch and throughout the development stages of the Zoo until he died in The official opening was in ^{[citation needed]}

Lifestyle[edit]

Studying during the Grand Maneuvers in Thrace ()

Throughout most of his life, Atatürk was a moderate-to-heavy drinker, often consuming half a litre of rakı a day; he also smoked tobacco, predominantly in the form of cigarettes.^[34][35][36] He loved reading books, listening to music, dancing, horseback riding and swimming. He liked to play backgammon and billiards. He was interested in Zeybek dance, wrestling and Rumelian songs. In his free times, he read books about history. Instead of dealing with other issues, a politician who detested reading more than necessary told him, "Did you go to Samsun by reading a book?" Atatürk replied: "When I was a child, I was poor. When I received two pennies, I would give one penny of it to the book. If it was not so, I would not have done any of this."^[37]

Atatürk told the Romanian Foreign Minister of the time, Victor Antonescu, on 20 March

Those who see the existence of all mankind in their own person are miserable. Obviously, that man will disappear as an individual. The need for any person to be satisfied and happy to live is to work not for himself but for the future. An insightful man can only act this way. Full enjoyment and happiness in life, but the honor, presence, happiness of future generations can be found.^[38]

Religious beliefs[edit]

President Mustafa Kemal Pasha and MuftiAbdurrahman Kamil Effendi in Amasya()

There is a controversy on Atatürk's religious beliefs.^[39] Some researchers have emphasized that his discourses about religion are periodic and that his positive views related to this subject are limited in the early s.^[40]

Some non-Turkish researchers, as well as some Turkish ones, insist that he was a religious skeptic and an agnostic, i.e. non-doctrinaire deist,^[41][42] maybe an atheist,^[43][44][45] or even anti-religious and anti-Islamic in general.^[46][47]

However, other Turkish researchers^[48] claim he was a devout Muslim.^{[49][50][51][52]} Atatürk's adopted daughter Ülkü Adatepe stated that Atatürk told her he would pray to Allah before every battle.^[53]

Expressing that he sees religion as a "necessary institution",^[54] Atatürk used expressions such as "our religion" and "our great religion" for Islam.^[55] According to governmental archives, in his two speeches in and , he stated "Gentlemen, Allah is one and great."^[56]

In , the US ambassador Charles H. Sherrill interviewed him. According to Sherill, in the interview, he denied being an agnostic and said that he thinks it is good for mankind to pray to God. According to Atatürk, the Turkish people do not know what Islam really is and do not read the Quran. People are influenced by Arabic sentences that they do not understand, and because of their customs they go to mosques. When the Turks read the Quran and think about it, they will leave Islam.^[57]

In his youth, he underwent religious training, though it was brief. His military training included religious imprinting. He knew the Arabic language well enough to understand and interpret the Quran. He studied the "History of Islam" by Leone Caetani and the "History of Islamic Civilisation" by Jurji Zaydan. He authored the chapter in "Islamic History" himself when he wanted history books for high schools prepared. Atatürk's religious knowledge was considerably high in its nature and level.^[49]

General perception[edit]

Atatürk believed that religion is an important institution:

Religion is an important institution. A nation without religion cannot survive. Yet it is also very important to note that religion is a link between Allah and the individual believer. The brokerage of the pious cannot be permitted. Those who use religion for their own benefit are detestable. We are against such a situation and will not allow it. Those who use religion in such a manner have fooled our people; it is against just such people that we have fought and will continue to fight. Know that whatever conforms to reason, logic, and the advantages and needs of our people conforms equally to Islam. If our religion did not conform to reason and logic, it would not be the perfect religion, the final religion.^[54]

However, his speeches and publications criticized using religion as a political ideology.^[49] According to him, "Religions have been basis of the tyranny of kings and sultans."^[58] He stated that religion should be in conformity with reason, science and logic. The problem was not religion, but how believers understood and applied religion. Atatürk expressed that religion and superstition should be separated:^[48]

I want to say that the Turkish nation should be more religious, that is, they should be religious in all their simplicity. The truth is that religion does not contain anything that prevents progress. However, there is another religion among us that is more complex, artificial and consists of superstitions. If they cannot approach the light, they have lost themselves. We will save them.^[48]

True religion could not be understood as long as false prophets isolated and religious knowledge is enlightened. The only way to deal with false prophets was to deal with the Turkish people's illiteracy and prejudice.^[55]

Religion and the individual[edit]

Religion, particularly Islam, was between an individual and God in Atatürk's eyes.^[59] He believed it was possible to blend native tradition (based on Islam) and Western modernism harmoniously.^[60] In this equation, he gave more emphasis towards the modernization. His modernization aimed to transform social and mental structures (native traditions of Islam) to eradicate the irrational ideas, magical superstitions and so on.^[60]

Atatürk was not against religion but what he perceived as all Ottoman religious and cultural elements that brought limits to people's self being.^[60] He concentrated his reforms (regarding popular sovereignty) against obstacles for the individual choices being reflected in the social life. He viewed civil law and abolition of the caliphate as required for reflection of individual choices. He perceived religion as a matter of conscience or worship, but not politics. The best response on this issue comes from himself:

Religion is a matter of conscience. One is always free to act according to the will of one's conscience. We (as a nation) are respectful of religion. It is not our intention to curtail freedom of worship, but rather to ensure that matters of religion and those of the state do not become intertwined.^[61]

Atatürk believed in freedom of religion, but he was a secular thinker and his concept of freedom of religion was not limitless. He differentiated between social and personal practice of religion. He applied social considerations (secular requirements) when the public practice of religion was considered. He said that no one can force another to accept any religion or a sect (freedom of belief).^[62] Also, everyone has the right to perform or neglect, if he so wishes, obligations of any religion he chooses (freedom of worship), such as the right to not fast during Ramadan.^[63]

Religion and politics[edit]

According to historian Kemal Karpat, the movements that perceive Islam as a political movement or particularly the view of Islam as a political religion hold the position that Atatürk was not a "true believer" or "religious Muslim". It is normal that this perspective was adapted, Karpat says: "He was not against Islam, but those who are against his political power using the religious arguments."^[1]

Andrew Mango wrote in his book Atatürk: The Biography of the Founder of Modern Turkey ():

I have no religion, and at times I wish all religions at the bottom of the sea. He is a weak ruler who needs religion to uphold his government; it is as if he would catch his people in a trap. My people are going to learn the principles of democracy, the dictates of truth and the teachings of science. Superstition must go. Let them worship as they will; every man can follow his own conscience, provided it does not interfere with sane reason or bid him against the liberty of his fellow-men.^[64]

On 1 November , his speech in parliament he said:

It is known by the world that, in our state administration, our main program is the Republican People's Party program. The principles it covers are the main lines that illuminate us in management and politics. But these principles should never be held equal to the dogmas of books that are known to have descended from the heavens. We have received our inspirations directly from life, not from the heavens or unseen.^[65]

Religion of the Arabs

Atatürk described Islam as the religion of the Arabs in his own work titled Vatandaş için Medeni Bilgiler by his own critical and nationalist views:

Even before accepting the religion of the Arabs, the Turks were a great nation. After accepting the religion of the Arabs, this religion, didn't effect to combine the Arabs, the Persians and Egyptians with the Turks to constitute a nation. (This religion) rather, loosened the national nexus of Turkish nation, got national excitement numb. This was very natural. Because the purpose of the religion founded by Muhammad, over all nations, was to drag to an including Arab national politics.^[66]

Last days, –[edit]

During , indications of Atatürk's worsening health started to appear. In the early , while he was on a trip to Yalova, he suffered from a serious illness^[which?]. After a short period of treatment in Yalova, an apparent improvement in his health was observed, but his condition again worsened following his journeys first to Ankara, and then to Mersin and Adana. Upon his return to Ankara in May, he was recommended to go to Istanbul for treatment, where he was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver.^{[citation needed]}

During his stay in Istanbul, he made an effort to keep up with his regular lifestyle for a while, heading the Council of Ministers meeting, working on the Hatay issue, and hosting King Carol II of Romania during his visit in June. He stayed on board his newly arrived yacht, Savarona, until the end of July, after which his health again worsened and then he moved to a room arranged for him at the Dolmabahçe Palace.^{[citation needed]}

Death and funeral[edit]

Main article: Death and state funeral of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

Atatürk died at the Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul, on 10&#;November , at &#;am, aged&#; It is thought that he died of cirrhosis of the liver.^[67] Atatürk's funeral called forth both sorrow and pride in Turkey, and seventeen countries sent special representatives, while nine contributed with armed detachments to the cortège.^[68]

In November , Atatürk's remains were taken from the Ethnography Museum of Ankara by &#;young reserve officers in a procession that stretched for two miles (3&#;km) including the president, the premier, every cabinet minister, every parliamentary deputy, every provincial governor and every foreign diplomat.^[69]

One admiral guarded a velvet cushion which bore the Medal of Independence; the only decoration, among many others held, that Atatürk preferred to wear. The Father of the Turks finally came to rest at his mausoleum, the Anıtkabir. An official noted: "I was on active duty during his funeral, when I shed bitter tears at the finality of death. Today I am not sad, for 15&#;years have taught me that Atatürk will never die."^[69]

His lifestyle had always been strenuous. Alcohol consumption during dinner discussions, smoking, long hours of hard work, very little sleep, and working on his projects and dreams had been his way of life. As the historian Will Durant had said, "men devoted to war, politics, and public life wear out fast, and all three had been the passion of Atatürk."^{[citation needed]}

Will[edit]

In his will written on 5 September , he donated all of his possessions to the Republican People's Party, bound to the condition that, through the yearly interest of his funds, his sister Makbule and his adopted children will be looked after, the higher education of the children of İsmet İnönü will be funded, and the Turkish Language Association and Turkish Historical Society will be given the rest.

Publications[edit]

Atatürk's geology notes. He has done research on natural science, history, and philosophy.

Atatürk published many books and kept a journal throughout his military career. Atatürk's daily journals and military notes during the Ottoman period were published as a single collection. Another collection covered the period between and and indexes all the documents, notes, memorandums, communications (as a President) under multiple volumes, titled Atatürk'ün Bütün Eserleri ("All of the Works of Atatürk").

The list of books edited and authored by Atatürk is given below ordered by the date of publication:

1. Takımın Muharebe Tâlimi, published in (Translation from German)
2. Cumalı Ordugâhı – Süvâri: Bölük, Alay, Liva Tâlim ve Manevraları, published in
3. Ta’biye ve Tatbîkat Seyahati, published in
4. Bölüğün Muharebe Tâlimi, published in (Translation from German)
5. Ta’biye Mes’elesinin Halli ve Emirlerin Sûret-i Tahrîrine Dâir Nasâyih, published in
6. Zâbit ve Kumandan ile Hasb-ı Hâl, published in
7. Nutuk, published in
8. Vatandaş için Medeni Bilgiler, published in (For high school civic classes)
9. Geometri, published in (For high school math classes)

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

References[edit]