1960 Turkish coup d'état

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1960 Turkish Coup d'état

The 1960 Turkish coup d'état, also known as the 27 May Revolution (Türkçe: 27 Mayıs İhtilali or 27 Mayısı Devrimi), was a military coup that took place on May 27, 1960. It was the first military coup in the history of the Republic of Turkey.

The coup was not carried out through the chain of command, but rather by 37 low-ranking officers who planned and executed it under the leadership of General Cemal Madanoğlu. The critical issues were taken over by these officers with their troops and weapons, and the Command Cadre of the army was rendered ineffective. President Celal Bayar, Prime Minister Adnan Menderes, and some government members were arrested.

The coup led to significant changes in Turkey's governance structure. 235 generals and approximately 3,500 officers (mostly colonels, lieutenant colonels, and majors) were retired from service, 147 university professors were removed from their positions, and some universities were closed. Additionally, 520 prosecutors and judges were removed from their posts.

The coup was a response to the increasingly authoritarian government under Adnan Menderes, who had come to power in Turkey in 1950. The Democratic Party's rule led the country towards a regime of oppression and fratricidal conflict. A group of officers within the Turkish Armed Forces, citing these reasons, took control of the government on May 27, 1960.

The National Unity Committee, composed of 37 low-ranking officers and General Cemal Gürsel, took over the management of the country. This committee abolished the Constitution and the Turkish Grand National Assembly, suspended political activities, and arrested many members of the Democratic Party, including President Celâl Bayar and Prime Minister Adnan Menderes.

The coup's impact was felt beyond Turkey's borders. The difference between this coup and subsequent military coups was that it did not occur through the chain of command within the Turkish Armed Forces. Even the Chief of General Staff at the time, Rüştü Erdelhun, was arrested by the military forces that took control.

The 1960 Turkish coup d'état marked a significant turning point in Turkey's history, leading to changes in its governance structure and paving the way for future reforms.