About November 10 - The Day of Commemoration of Atatürk

On November 10, 1938, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, passed on to the great beyond at 9:05 a.m. , and deeply saddened Turkish nation.

The path he paved and the ideology he introduced guided Turkish nation, and he was admired by all not only with his political identity and as a statesman, but also with his personality in civilian life.

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder and first President of Turkey, has been commemorated with deep sorrow on every November 10 since 1938, the year he passed away.

On November 10, the national mourning day in the Republic of Turkey, his principles and reforms are told, recordings of his speeches are broadcasted; memories and events about him are spelled out; his favorite songs are sung; special movies are screened, and whole country observes a minute's silence with the sirens at 09:05.

The week of November 10-16 is called Atatürk Week, and he is commemorated not only for his name, but for his reforms, principles and moral legacy he has left behind.

The death of the Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk at an early age deeply saddened Turkish people, and this farewell resonated not only in Turkey but across the world.

The statements of world leaders upon his death proved that Atatürk was a leader, who left a mark on the world, and that his genius and light set an example for all the nations across the world.     

With his guidance during the War of Independence and his deep love and respect for Turkish nation, Mustafa Kemal, who was a farsighted, innovative, hard-working, kind and sophisticated leader, has enshrined in the memories in such a manner that it can never be erased.

The Great Leader, who took serving Turkish nation as his duty until the last days of his life and devoted himself and his life to this ideal, has also presented numerous wise sayings, which can be adopted as a life philosophy, to the national memory.

With ever worsening health conditions in 1937, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was diagnosed with cirrhosis in 1938. The treatment efforts of Turkish and foreign physicians did not yield any results, and Atatürk, the founder and first President of the Republic of Turkey, passed away on Thursday, November 10, 1938 at 09:05 in Dolmabahce Palace.

There was a flood of tears at his funeral, and the body of Ataturk was buried temporarily in Ethnography Museum in Ankara with a great ceremony on November 21, 1938.

On November 10, 1953, he was brought to and buried in specially-built Anitkabir.

Even though the sirens at 5 past 9 on every November 10 sadden every Turkish citizen who loves him, adopts his ideal and promises to keep his principles alive, the precious legacy he has left behind and the Republic continue to make us proud.

We commemorate the Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk with respect, longing and gratitude on the 83rd year of his death.

May he rest in peace!