The Bloody Dokurcum Mill Incident; It happened during the National Struggle. French soldiers occupying Gaziantep killed 14 children in Dokurcum Mill. During the defense of Antep, which lasted for 11 months, 6317 people from Antep were martyred. The defense made by the people of Gaziantep saying, “An honorable death is better than being a prisoner to the French” is an epic that went down in history as “Antep Defense”.
14 Martyrs’ Monuments were built in order to show the conditions under which Antep Defense was carried out and to commemorate the children who were martyred. Emphasizing the importance of the struggle, the 14 Martyrs Monument is located opposite the Gaziantep Castle. At the same time, 14 child sculptures made in memory of children are exhibited at the entrance of Gaziantep castle. There is a museum in the castle where the events that took place during the struggle are told.
The Story of Dokurcum Mill
Dokurcum Mill incident; It happened during the defense made in Elmalı Village while the Antep defense was going on. In order to prevent the French soldiers from entering Antep, Şahin Bey established a headquarters on the Kilis road with the gangs he formed from the cities and villages. The supplies of Şahin Bey and his friends, who fought with the enemy on the Kertil, Bostancı and Elmalı ridges, were exhausted. In order to meet the need, 14 children aged 12-15, upon the announcement of the Central Committee, brought animals and supplies to the Elmalı ridges on March 27, 1920 and took shelter in Dokurcum Mill to spend the night.
On the morning of March 28, the war began. The children, who were stuck in the mill with the start of the war, could not deliver the provisions to Şahin Bey. Şahin Bey and his friends, who were tired from the conflicts that lasted for days, could not resist any longer as the ammunition and supplies were exhausted. Şahin Bey, who fought heroically on the Elmalı Bridge, was martyred. The 14 children who were trapped in Dokurcum Mill, closed the door and started to wait by putting support behind them. Seeing the children taking shelter in the mill, the French forced their way in. They took 14 unarmed children out, tied their hands and shot them to death. They pierced their lifeless bodies with bayonets.
Şahin Bey, Symbol of Gaziantep Defense
Born in Gaziantep in 1877, Şahin Bey’s real name is Mehmed Said. He received the nickname “Şahin Bey” because of his outstanding usefulness in the defense of Antep and his struggle on the way to Urya. Şahin Bey, who voluntarily participated in dangerous missions and attracted attention with his patriotism, said, “Be happy with his struggles. Enemy cars cannot enter Antep without chewing on my corpse.
Continuing his military service since the age of 22, Şahin Bey has risen in positions by showing outstanding success in wars. In 1918, he was captured in the battle with the British at the Sinai front. He was held prisoner in the British prison camp in Egypt until the beginning of December 1919 and was released after the armistice.
Şahin Bey and his friends, who showed great resistance against the enemy in the defense of Antep, inflicted great losses on the equipped French troops on February 3 and February 18, 1920. The French forces, consisting of 8,000 infantry and 200 cavalry, attacked again on 25 March 1920. Şahin Bey, who showed great resistance against the French forces, fought until he was alone. Şahinbey, who fought against the enemy until his last breath, was martyred on 28 March 1920 on the Elmalı Bridge. A mausoleum was built for Şahin Bey near the Elmalı Bridge, where he was martyred.
