The “National Chief” inaugurated Barbaros Monument
Located in Beşiktaş, İstanbul, the famous Barbaros Monument was inaugurated following a ceremony that took place on March 25, 1944 with the participation of President “National Chief” İnönü, who arrived from Ankara. A large crowd was gathered in Beşiktaş to watch the ceremony that included naval officers, boy scouts, and military bands. In his address, İstanbul Governor and Mayor Lütfi Kırdar heralded the following good news for the locals of İstanbul:
Today, I received new orders from our President that istanbulites will receive with great joy. He has ordered us to build a dispensary for public health, a primary school that will serve our children, and a soup kitchen for the needy in place of the estate Barbaros left in his will to be preserved and maintained, the madrasa and soup kitchen of which was dilapidated over time. In addition, these public establishments will all be dedicated to the name of Barbaros.
As one of the largest non-Atatürk sculptures among the public square monuments built during the Republic era, the Barbaros sculpture was designed by Turkish sculptors Zühtü Müridoğu and Ali Hadi Bara. Every year, Maritime Day and Naval Forces Day celebrations are held in front of this monument.
