ATATURK'S DUTY ROSTER (1931 - 1938) 

Preface

This book, which we call "Nöbet Book", is a kind of report prepared every 24 hours by the Presidency's aides on duty. It determines how the Head of State has used time in 24 hours. The aide on duty is responsible to the Chief Auxiliary, who is responsible for protecting the Head of State, and is obliged to record the events related to the Head of State in a book dedicated to this task in order to inform the Office of the Chief Auxiliary. It is understood from the existing signatures that the seizures are transferred to another aide at the end of every 24 hours.

In this book we have published, we find the life of Atatürk during the period from 1-XI-1931 to 10-XI-1938.

We can classify the subjects in the watch books between these two dates as follows;

1- When did Atatürk wake up?

2- What was Atatürk busy with?

3- Where did Atatürk go?

4- Who did Atatürk come into contact with?

5- When did Atatürk go to bed?

When we examine the notebooks, we see that Atatürk did not have a specific wake up time or a specific bedtime.

This is a characteristic aspect of Revolutionary Atatürk, who worked day and night for the realization of an idea that has been in his mind since his young age.

Atatürk's every hour has a role in the better handling of state issues. Sleepless nights until the morning are not saz realms as some people say and think. We see that every sleepless night at the table is pregnant with a problem that is preparing for the benefit of the country and the nation.

Let's dwell on the individuals that Atatürk accepted, individually and collectively. Let us examine all kinds of events in the community on the days of their acceptance. When we do this, we see that; In these events, the people whom Atatürk accepted a day or two ago have a role. This proves to us that Atatürk's table is a private assembly where the problems of the country are discussed.

In fact, the presence of a blackboard and maps in the great dining room where Atatürk's table was set every night, wouldn't it give an idea of ​​how the nights went?

These and the statements of his relatives help us to determine that Atatürk discussed all the issues with the relevant people and finally defended them by putting forward his own views and opinions.

It is possible to understand with whom the problems posed by Atatürk were resolved by discussion and negotiation, and who benefited from Atatürk's school and in what way.

It is a great gain for the nation to see that some of those who grew up from this school are at the head of the state today. Valuable memories about Atatürk will come from the pens of those who have taken their share from this school.

There is another point that draws attention in the Duty Notebooks; It is said that "His Excellency the President worked". Although the subject he worked on has not been determined, these subjects are understood from the professional wills of those whom Atatürk accepted that night or in the following days.

Above all, we will touch on one more issue. The value of these watch books in terms of enlightening the historical truth is that they are a source that can be applied to write Atatürk's chronology and biography in a healthy way.

We want a worldwide work about Atatürk. But we have to think about what those who will create this work will apply, right?

There is no work yet that gives us the complete chronology and biography of Atatürk. This book creates the opportunity to partially overcome such a difficulty.

It would be right for us to touch on a second point here; While the watch books we have help to determine the chronology between 1-XI-1931 and 10-XI-1938, it is sad to say that nothing was recorded for some days. Even in this material we have, there is a void. ^one

Another issue is that in the period from 29-October-1923, when Ataturk was elected President, to 31-October-1931, there were world-wide events on behalf of the Turks in world history.

We know that, following the Presidential election on 29-October-1923, the Head of the Presidency was formed. Accordingly, it will be of extraordinary value that we receive the watch book of this period.

Currently, it is said that the watch book of this period does not exist. But we must accept this with caution; because the Atatürk archive of the Atatürk period has not been examined or classified yet.

If the watch book of the period of 29-October-1923, 31-October-1931 is not found, the void of this period

1- Newspapers

2- Memories that are kept daily

3- With the documents in Atatürk archive

will be completed.

Atatürk's 23-April-1920, 29-October-1923 filled the period in which he was the President of the Grand National Assembly. At this time, Salih Bozok was found as his aide. ²

Chronology of this circuit

1- Archive of the Grand National Assembly

2- Salih Bozok's memories

3- Newspapers

4- Atatürk archive material will be completed.

One point we find missing in the watch book, unfortunately, is that the surnames of some of the guests accepted by Atatürk were not written.

For example: we know that there are three Kazıms who are always in contact with Atatürk, Kazım from Diyarbakır; Kazım Dirik and Kazım Özalp. These names are only referred to as Kazım. Which Kazim is it? It is possible to give many examples like this.

Since we could not find the opportunity to complete this deficiency by relying on sound documents, we found it appropriate to leave the text as it is.

Dates of the watch book, which belong to the days when Atatürk became ill, were left blank. However, we can say that we have two separate notebooks that have been kept down to the smallest details of the course of Atatürk's illness between the dates of 1-October-1938 - 10-November-1938 and we will try to prepare them from now on. Thus, the chronology of his last days will be completed.

We think that scholars will benefit greatly from this book and they will find a reliable source when they want to write about any aspect of Atatürk.

This book will also help many memories be remembered with their dates and personalities, and will provide a check on the authenticity of all the articles about Atatürk that have been or will be published.

While the publication of this book by the Turkish Revolution History-Institute is a great source of pride for me, I also feel inaccessible pleasure to have given a very reliable source to the History of the Turkish Revolution.

                                                                   31-1-1955

                                                              Private ŞAHİNGİRAY

1 12. 5.1932, 2.12.1932, 4.12.1932, 6.12.1932,

     8.12.1932, 10.12.1932, 13. 3.1933, 15. 3.1933,

   18. 3.1932, 20. 3.1932, 12. 7.1933, 14. 7.1933,

     4. 8.1933, 6. 8.1933, 8. 8.1933, 10. 8.1933,

   12. 8.1933, 14. 8.1933, 16. 8.1933, 18. 8.1933,

   21. 8.1933, 23. 8.1933, 25. 8.1933, 27. 8.1933,

   18. 9.1933, 14. 9.1935, 20. 9.1935, 23. 9.1935,

   26. 9.1935, 29. 9.1935, 11. 1.1937, 11. 5.1937,

   13. 6.1937, 25. 6.1937, 4. 7.1937, 6. 7.1937,

     8. 7.1937, 13.11.1937, 15.11.1937, 17.11.1937,

   19.11.1937, 21.11.1937, 16.10.1938, 25.10.1938,

   27.10.1938, 28.10.1938, 30.10.1938, 31.10.1938,

     2.11.1938, 3.11.1938,

     5.11.1938, 9.11.1938, 

After the establishment of 2 Presidential Chief Aides, the Chief Aides are: Mr. Rusuhi Savaşçı and Celal Üner.

Source:  Turkish Revolution History Institute Publications: 8, Turkish Historical Society Press, Ankara, 1955