1960 Turkish coup d'état

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

1960 Turkish coup d'état

Role / Field:

The 1960 Turkish coup d'état, marking the first military intervention in the Republic.

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Foundations

The 1960 Turkish coup d'état (Turkish: 27 Mayıs Darbesi), also known as the 27 May Revolution (Turkish: 27 Mayıs İhtilali or 27 Mayıs Devrimi), was the first coup d'état in the Republic of Turkey. It took place on 27 May 1960. The coup was staged by a group of 38 young Turkish military officers, acting outside the military chain of command. The officers were de facto led by Cemal Madanoğlu until the actual coup date.

Key Developments & Impact

After a threat by Ragıp Gümüşpala that he would move to quell the coup unless it was led by someone with a higher military rank than himself, the officers brought in General Cemal Gürsel as their leader. The coup was carried out against the democratically elected government of the Democrat Party, and ultimately resulted in the execution of its prime minister, Adnan Menderes, alongside two of his ministers, Fatin Rüştü Zorlu and Hasan Polatkan. The incident took place at a time of both socio-political turmoil and economic hardship, as US aid from the Truman doctrine and the Marshall Plan was running out and so Prime Minister Adnan Menderes planned to visit Moscow in the hope of establishing alternative lines of credit. Colonel Alparslan Türkeş...

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1960: 1960 Milestone — The 1960 Turkish coup d'état (Turkish: 27 Mayıs Darbesi), also known as the 27 May Revolution (Turkish: 27 Mayıs İhtilali or 27 Mayıs Devrimi), was the first coup d'état in the Republic of Turkey.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: 1960 Turkish coup d'état

True or False: “The 1960 Turkish coup d'état resulted in the immediate, peaceful transition of power to a new civilian administration.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The coup was violent, culminating in the execution of Prime Minister Adnan Menderes and two of his cabinet ministers.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abdel Fattah al-Burhan — Historical peer (Born in 1960) (1960): Sudanese military officer and leader who assumed control of Sudan in 2019.
• Adam Clayton — Historical peer (Born in 1960) (1960): Irish-English bassist and founding member of the globally renowned rock band U2.
• 1968 Louisville riots — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Three days of civil unrest in Louisville, Kentucky, following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
• 1970 Cambodian coup d'état — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: The 1970 coup that removed Prince Norodom Sihanouk, marking a turning point in Cambodian history.
• 1982 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: The 44th annual NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.
• 1984 NBA draft — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: The 37th annual NBA draft, considered one of the greatest in league history.

Frequently Asked Questions about 1960 Turkish coup d'état