1936 to 1939
Hatay joins Turkey
In September 1936 France agrees to end its mandate over Syria. Turkey claims the Sanjak of Alexandretta, whose largest community is Turkish, and takes the question to the League of Nations. Atatürk calls the question his personal matter. The League makes the sanjak a separate entity with its own government, and the sanjak's statute comes into force in November 1937.
Under an agreement with France, Turkish troops enter the sanjak on 5 July 1938. The assembly elected that summer proclaims the Hatay State in September, with Antakya as its capital and Tayfur Sökmen as president. Atatürk dies two months later. France and Turkey sign an agreement on 23 June 1939, the Hatay assembly votes on 29 June to join Turkey, and the last French troops leave on 23 July.
Turkish troops under Colonel Şükrü Kanatlı entering the sanjak, 5 July 1938Wikimedia Commons, Turkish Army, Public domain (TurkishArmyAlexandretta.jpeg)
An arch reading “Hatay Kurtuldu” and “Yaşa Kemal Atatürk” when Turkish troops enter the sanjak, July 1938Wikimedia Commons, Unknown author, Public domain (Turkish Army entered Alexandretta July 5, 1938.jpg)
The building of the Hatay State Assembly in Antakya, 2004Wikimedia Commons, Dosseman, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Antakya Building of the National Assembly of Hatay State in 2004 7808.jpg)
Sources
- Andrew Mango, Atatürk (1999).
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