May 27, 1960 took its place as a black page in the history of the Republic of Turkey. Known as the first military coup in the history of the Republic of Turkey, the 27 May Coup is also known as the “27 May Military Intervention” or the “27 May Revolution”. 592 people, including President Celal Bayar and Prime Minister Adnan Menderes, were subjected to a trial process in Yassıada where justice was trampled on. The Prime Minister and his colleagues, who were elected by the will of the people, were executed by the putschists. The Turkish people have never forgotten the martyrs of democracy. The May 27 coup and execution decisions left indelible traces in society and politics.
This coup was not carried out within the chain of command. On the contrary, it was carried out under the command of Major General Cemal Madanoğlu, in line with the plans of 37 low-ranking officers. Soldiers and weapons at critical points were captured by neutralizing the command echelon under the control of these officers. The President, the Prime Minister and some government members were arrested, while 235 generals and approximately 3500 officers (mostly colonels, lieutenants, majors) were retired. 147 lecturers working at universities were dismissed and some universities were closed. However, 520 prosecutors and judges were also dismissed.
What Happened in the May 27 Coup
A group of officers in the Turkish Armed Forces took action on the grounds that the Democrat Party, which came to power in 1950, dragged the country into a repressive regime and internal turmoil. On the morning of May 27, 1960, he completely took over the administration of the country. Along with the statement read by Staff Colonel Alparslan Türkeş on the radio, it was announced to all of Turkey that the military junta had taken over the administration.
The statement included the following statements:
“Today, the Turkish Armed Forces took over the administration of the country in order not to give rise to sibling rivalry due to the crisis our democracy has fallen into and the recent sad events. Our Armed Forces embarked on this operation in order to save the parties from the irreconcilable situation they were in and to have fair and free elections held as soon as possible under the supervision and arbitration of an impartial, non-partisan administration, and to hand over and hand over the administration to the winners of the elections, regardless of their membership.”
The National Unity Committee, led by 37 officers and retired General Cemal Gürsel, who were the planners and executives of the coup, took over the administration of the country. The constitution was abolished and political activities were suspended. This event went down in history as the first coup against democracy in Turkey.
After the coup, President Celal Bayar, Prime Minister Adnan Menderes and many Democrat Party members were arrested. Chief of General Staff General Rüştü Erdelhun, heroes of the War of Independence Ali Fuat Cebesoy, Korean veteran Tahsin Yazıcı and former Chief of General Staff Nuri Yamut were among those arrested. The difference of this coup from other military coups was that it did not take place within the chain of command within the Turkish Armed Forces. The chief of staff of the period was also arrested by the military forces that took over the administration.
Court Established in Yassıada
After the National Unity Committee took over the administration, the members of the Democratic Party were arrested one by one and taken to Yassıada. A court was established in Yassıada, where the law was trampled on. The trials in Yassıada started on 14 October 1960, 5 months after the coup. Within the scope of this case, 592 people, including the President Celal Bayar and Prime Minister Adnan Menderes, as well as ministers and Democrat Party deputies, were put on the defendant’s seat.
The 27 May trials were conducted in an extremely brutal and strict manner. When the family members of the convicted came to the hall to see their relatives, they were kept in the back of the hall. Those who were put on trial were never allowed to turn their backs. For this reason, family members would never see each other, despite being in the same courtroom for months. This has created a great deal of separation and emotional difficulty between families.
The lawsuit, which started on October 14, 1960, was concluded on September 15, 1961. The Supreme Court of Justice sentenced 15 defendants to death. The death sentences of the defendants were pardoned, except for Celal Bayar, Adnan Menderes, Hasan Polatkan and Fatih Rüştü Zorlu. President Bayar’s sentence was commuted to life imprisonment due to the age limit. Foreign Minister Fatih Rüştü Zorlu and Finance Minister Hasan Polatkan were executed on the morning of September 16, 1961, and Prime Minister Adnan Menderes on the afternoon of September 17, 1961 on Imrali Island.
It was forbidden to speak against the coup, to talk about the executions and Yassıada. The May 27 Coup created a long-term trauma in society. Turkey had to pay a great economic and political price after these events.
