Today in History – 27 July

Mustafa Kemal’ s first sculpture on the Aegean shores

Built at Cumhuriyet Meydanı (Republic Square) of İzmir, the Gazi Monument was inaugurated by İsmet Pasha on July 27, 1932 in front a cheering crowd of fifty thousand spectators.

The monument was built upon the common decision of the governorate and municipality in 1929. Although the initial idea was to hold a competition, it was later abandoned on the grounds that it would prolong the process. It was decided that the monument would be commissioned to Pietro Canonica, who had designed the Monument of the Republic at İstanbul’s Taksim Square.

Depicting the instant Mustafa Kemal gave the order, “Soldiers, your first target is the Mediterranean. Go forward!” the bronze sculpture revealed Gazi on horseback in a marshal’s uniform, pointing to the sea with his right hand. The sculpture was cast in Rome. The pedestal was designed by architect Asım Kömürcü. Three sides of the pedestal featured bronze reliefs symbolizing the War of Independence and victory.

Prime Minister İsmet Pasha inaugurated the sculpture. In the impassioned speech he gave at the ceremony, İsmet Pasha addressed Gazi as follows:

Great Gazi! We have been running behind you in the war of the Turkish nation for more than a decade. The road he have traveled as a modern and civilized state until now is neither short nor fruitless… Your path is the only one to follow to attain this nation’s goals. Your sculpture is an infallible sign that always reminds us of the great war of the Turkish nation. Your sculpture is the iron claw that embodies the will of the Turkish people.