Today in History – 27 May

The coup d’état of May 27th

The coup d’état of May 27th is the first military coup in the history of the Republic of Turkey. It is also known as the May 27th Military Intervention or the May 27th Revolution.

Claiming that the Democrat Party, which came into power in 1950, was increasingly leading the country towards an oppressive regime and feud between brothers, a group of officers from the Turkish Armed Forces seized power on May 27th 1960. Comprised of 37 officers, the military junta (National Union Committee or Milli Birlik Komitesi) annulled the Constitution, dissolved the Grand National Assembly, suspended all political activity, and arrested many Democrat Party members including President Celal Bayar and Prime Minister Adnan Menderes. Chief of the General Staff General Rüştü Erdelhun, War of Independence hero Ali Fuat Pasha, and Korean War veteran Tahsin Yazıcı were among the arrested.

Under the new circumstance, the junta assumed the government of the country and Commander of the Land Forces Cemal Gürsel was appointed as the chief of the committee. Preparations were made to draft a new constitution immediately after the coup. Meanwhile, the Turkish Armed Forces was subjected to considerable elimination. Along with the leaders of the now-dissolved Democrat Party, the president and members of the government were put to trial in Yass?ada.

The constituent assembly passed the new constitution on May 27, 1961 and general elections were held on October 15, 1961. However, it took years for the political life in Turkey to overcome the repercussions of the coup and return to normalcy.