Atatürk in the Nazi Imagination

Early in his career, Adolf Hitler took inspiration from Benito Mussolini, his senior colleague in fascism—this fact is widely known. But an equally important role model for Hitler and the Nazis has been almost entirely neglected: Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey. Stefan Ihrig’s compelling presentation of this untold story promises to rewrite our understanding of the roots of Nazi ideology and strategy. Hitler was deeply interested in Turkish affairs after 1919. He not only admired but also sought to imitate Atatürk’s radical construction of a new nation from the ashes of defeat in World War I. Hitler and the Nazis watched closely as Atatürk defied the Western powers to seize government, and they modeled the Munich Putsch to a large degree on Atatürk’s rebellion in Ankara. Hitler later remarked that in the political aftermath of the Great War, Atatürk was his master, he and Mussolini his students. This was no fading fascination. As the Nazis struggled through the 1920s, Atatürk remained Hitler’s “star in the darkness,” his inspiration for remaking Germany along nationalist, secular, totalitarian, and ethnically exclusive lines. Nor did it escape Hitler’s notice how ruthlessly Turkish governments had dealt with Armenian and Greek minorities, whom influential Nazis directly compared with German Jews. The New Turkey, or at least those aspects of it that the Nazis chose to see, became a model for Hitler’s plans and dreams in the years leading up to the invasion of Poland.

Early in his career, Adolf Hitler took inspiration from BenitoMussolini, his senior colleague in fascism-this fact is widelyknown. But an equally important role model for Hitler and the Nazishas been almost entirely neglected: Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, thefounder of modern Turkey. Stefan Ihrig's compelling presentation ofthis untold story promises to rewrite our understanding of theroots of Nazi ideology and strategy. Hitler was deeply interestedin Turkish affairs after 1919. He not only admired but also soughtto imitate Atatürk's radical construction of a new nation from theashes of defeat in World War I. Hitler and the Nazis watchedclosely as Atatürk defied the Western powers to seize government,and they modeled the Munich Putsch to a large degree on Atatürk'srebellion in Ankara. Hitler later remarked that in the politicalaftermath of the Great War, Atatürk was his master, he andMussolini his students. This was no fading fascination. As theNazis struggled through the 1920s, Atatürk remained Hitler's "starin the darkness," his inspiration for remaking Germany alongnationalist, secular, totalitarian, and ethnically exclusive lines.Nor did it escape Hitler's notice how ruthlessly Turkishgovernments had dealt with Armenian and Greek minorities, whominfluential Nazis directly compared with German Jews. The NewTurkey, or at least those aspects of it that the Nazis chose tosee, became a model for Hitler's plans and dreams in the yearsleading up to the invasion of Poland.

Early In His Career, Adolf Hitler Took Inspiration From Benito Mussolini, His Senior Colleague In Fascism -- This Fact Is Widely Known. But An Equally Important Role Model For Hitler And The Nazis Has Almost Been Entirely Neglected: Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, The Founder Of Modern Turkey. Stefan Ihrig's Compelling Presentation Of This Untold Story Promises To Rewrite Our Understanding Of The Roots Of Nazi Ideology And Strategy. -- Book Jacket. Prologue -- Turkish Lessons For Germany : The Turkish War Of Independence As A Major Weimar Media Event, 1919-1923 -- Ankara In Munich : The Hitler Putsch And Turkey -- Hitler's Star In The Darkness : Nazi Admiration For Atatürk And His New Turkey -- The Turkish Führer : Nazi Hagiography And National Education -- The New Turkey : Nazi Visions Of A Modern Völkisch State -- The Second World War And Turkey : Another Spain? -- Epilogue. Stefan Ihrig. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contents 8 Prologue: Leaving “Enverland” 10 Chapter 1. Turkish Lessons for Germany: The Turkish War of Independence as a Major Weimar Media Event, 1919– 1923 19 Chapter 2. “Ankara in Munich”: The Hitler Putsch and Turkey 77 Chapter 3. Hitler’s “Star in the Darkness”: Nazi Admiration for Atatürk and His New Turkey 117 Chapter 4. The “Turkish Führer”: Nazi Hagiography and National Education 156 Chapter 5. The New Turkey: Nazi Visions of a Modern Völkisch State 181 Chapter 6. The Second World War and Turkey: Another Spain? 218 Epilogue: First to Stone, Then to Dust 232 Note on Sources and Historiography 242 Notes 246 Acknowledgments 312 Index 316

Early in his career, Hitler took inspiration from Mussolini—this fact is widely known. But an equally important role model for Hitler has been neglected: Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey, who inspired Hitler to remake Germany along nationalist, secular, totalitarian, and ethnically exclusive lines. Stefan Ihrig tells this compelling story.