The Funeral March of Ataturk in Ankara Turkiye and Those Who Attended the Funeral in Mourning

The Funeral March of Ataturk in Ankara Turkiye and Those Who Attended the Funeral in Mourning/Written by a German journalist in December 21, 1938

Originally translated from German to Turkish by Turhan Topacogullari and translated from Turkish to English by Behcet Kaya

Ataturk’s funeral was his last victory. During the funeral procession all of Ataturk’s enemies were there and silent. Turkish and German soldiers were marching right behind his body. The civilian representatives of Hitler and Stalin were walking side by side with Turkish and German soldiers. For the first time the representatives of the Republic of Spain and the unofficial representatives of Franco were following behind. Franco and a representative from Valencia had sent a wreath.

Democrats, Fascists, Communists; all were paying their respects to Ataturk. The entire country was in tears. It made no difference what class they came from. Rich, poor, educated and noneducated, merchants, farmers, government employees; all were crying.

Today, Ankara was witnessing a funeral, an influential funeral, that until now, the likes of which the world had never seen before. The funeral ceremony was opened by a Turkish cavalry company followed by an artillery cannon company, and another group of Republic guardsmen. In their hands they held drums and Turkish flags. They were followed by military schools cadets, and in alphabetic order, German, Bulgarian, English, French, Italian, Greek, Russian and Yugoslavian military companies. Commands were given in their respective languages and with each command the voices became louder and louder.

After the German commands, French commands followed, then Greek commands were followed by Russian commands. Russians sent one of their Black Sea fleet detachments.

Baron V. Neurath, with his steel helmet, SS uniform, and his right arm up, saluted the passing German sailor’s company in a Prussian style ceremony. Foreign sailor companies were followed by Turkish sailor companies. The drums were playing Chopin’s funeral march.

They were followed by an artillery vehicle carrying Ataturk’s body. On each side were six generals, twelve total, walking with their swords drown upwards in their hands.

An elderly woman, humbly dressed, was the only family member in attendance. She was Ataturk’s sister and she was holding tight to her husband’s arm walking behind the artillery vehicle. According to the new republic’s law she was the only family member allowed right behind the artillery vehicle. She was followed by the new Prime Minister, Ismet Inonu. He was followed by the speaker of the parliament, the parliament president, and the chief of general staff of the Turkish military. Behind this single line were the foreign missionaries with their colorful uniforms, presenting an extraordinary scene.

The old Italian Society delegation’s leader, Baron Aloisi, was representing Italy. The French delegation was represented by Sarraut of the French internal ministry. The Greek delegation was represented by Prime Minister Metaksas.

Next came the Turkish government members, members of parliament, government employees, and military officers followed by a company of infantrymen and a military funeral company. The very last were large numbers of funeral mourners.

At 12 noon the funeral procession arrived at Etnografya Museum, a temporary resting place until a Moseleum could be built in his honor. During his life Ataturk achieved impossible projects and he was still doing the impossible after his death.

When the funeral procession arrived at the museum, the body of Ataturk was carried by twelve generals inside the museum. There, the president of Turkiye, Ataturk’s sister, and the highest members of the republic gathered. There were three minutes of silence in the museum in an honor of Ataturk. No words are spoken and no religious ceremony was performed.

The funeral ended when the president of Turkiye left the museum. There were wreaths sent from all over the world. According to Turkish newspapers the number of wreaths totaled twenty thousand. Eight train wagons had been used to bring all the wreaths to Ankara.

The only wreaths that were placed around Ataturk’s casket were those from members of Turkish government. The other wreaths were placed around the statue of Ataturk that had been built while he was living.

During the procession there were many incidents. The Prime Minister of Greece, General Metaksas, fainted and had to be taken out of the funeral procession by Greek officers.

There was a period of national mourning until January 10, 1939. All schools were closed for eight days after the funeral. There were candles and flames lit in front of Ataturk’s statues and the people of Turkiye were watching and mourning. This mourning was not just for his forming of the Republic of Turkiye, it was also how he had transformed the country and people’s lives.

The tears of the Turkish soldiers were just like that of Napoleon’s soldiers who were in tears when they said goodbye to their leader.