Behiç Erkin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Behiç Erkin
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| Ambassador of Turkey to France | |
| In office 1939–1943 |
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| President | İsmet İnönü |
| Ambassador of Turkey to Hungary | |
| In office 1928–1939 |
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| President | Mustafa Kemal Atatürk İsmet İnönü |
| Minister of Public Works | |
| In office January 14, 1926 – October 15, 1928 |
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| Prime Minister | İsmet İnönü |
| Preceded by | Süleyman Sırrı Gedikoğlu |
| Succeeded by | Recep Peker |
| Director General of the TCDD | |
| In office December 1, 1921 – January 11, 1926 |
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| Succeeded by | Vasfi Tuna |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Hakkı Behiç
1876 Constantinople, Ottoman Empire |
| Died | November 11, 1961 (aged 84–85) Istanbul, Turkey |
| Resting place | Eskişehir |
| Nationality | Turkish |
| Alma mater | Ottoman Military Academy, Ottoman Military College |
| Occupation | Army officer, director general, government minister, ambassador, politician |
| Awards | Iron Cross 1st Class (Germany) Medal of Independence (Turkey) |
| Military service | |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Battles/wars | World War I Turkish War of Independence |
Behiç Erkin (born 1876 – died November 11, 1961) was an important Turkish officer, government official, and diplomat. He was the first director of the Turkish State Railways from 1920 to 1926. He also served as the Minister of Public Works from 1926 to 1928. Later, he became an ambassador for Turkey, serving in Budapest (Hungary) from 1928 to 1939 and in Paris (France) from 1939 to 1943.
There have been claims that Behiç Erkin helped save many Jewish people during the Holocaust. However, historians have questioned these claims, stating that the number of people he helped was much smaller than sometimes suggested. A film called Turkish Passport about his actions was criticized for presenting him as a rescuer, while some historical accounts suggest a more complex role during difficult times.
Contents
Early Life and Military Career
Behiç Erkin was born as Hakkı Behiç in 1876. His birthplace was Constantinople, which is now Istanbul, in the Ottoman Empire.
He became a close friend and helper of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in the early 1910s. Both men played key roles in the Gallipoli Campaign during World War I. This was a very important battle at the Dardanelles front. Erkin earned a high reputation and received the German Iron Cross 1st Class, a special military award. He also played a big part in the Turkish War of Independence.
In 1934, Turkey passed a law about family names. Behiç took the surname "Erkin." This name means "free man" and was suggested by Atatürk himself. It honored Erkin's ability to make fair decisions even when under pressure.
Important Roles in Government
After the Turkish Republic was formed, Behiç Erkin took on several important roles.
Leading the Railways
From 1921 to 1926, Erkin was the first Director General of the Turkish State Railways (TCDD). Under his leadership, the railways became a national company. This meant they were owned and managed by the government.
Minister of Public Works
From 1926 to 1928, he served as the Minister of Public Works. In this role, he was in charge of building and maintaining important public structures. These included roads, bridges, and other infrastructure projects across Turkey.
Serving as an Ambassador
In 1928, Behiç Erkin became Turkey's ambassador to Budapest, Hungary. He served there for many years, until 1939.
In 1939, President İsmet İnönü chose Erkin to be the ambassador to France. He served in Paris and Vichy until August 1943.
Claims of Helping During the Holocaust
During World War II, many Jewish people lived in France, including some of Turkish origin. Records from 1940 show about 3,381 Turkish Jews over age 15 in Paris. The total number of Turkish Jews in France was estimated to be around ten thousand.
Historians have looked into claims that Behiç Erkin helped save many Jewish people during this time. Some accounts suggest he helped a large number of people. However, other research indicates that the number of saved Jews was much smaller, possibly around 114. These historians also note that Turkish diplomats were generally told not to bring large numbers of Turkish Jews back to Turkey. There is only one known case of a Turkish diplomat offering identity cards to non-Turkish Jews for humanitarian reasons, which Erkin reported to his ministry.
Later Life and Legacy
Behiç Erkin retired in August 1943 at the age of 67. He returned to Istanbul. In 1958, he finished writing his memoirs, which are like a detailed autobiography. These memoirs were published in 2010.
Behiç Erkin passed away on November 11, 1961. He wished to be buried near a railway junction in Eskişehir. This was at the Enveriye Train Station, where he had started his career many years before.
His grandson, Emir Kıvırcık, used Erkin's memoirs for his own research. In 2007, Kıvırcık published a book called The Ambassador. This book focused on Erkin's time as ambassador in France. Another book, The Road to the Front (2008), covered Erkin's years during World War I.
Yad Vashem Application
In 2007, a group of Jewish people from Turkey living in Israel applied to have Erkin recognized by Yad Vashem. Yad Vashem is Israel's official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. They wanted him to be included among the "Righteous Among the Nations." This honor is given to non-Jewish people who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. The group was looking for witnesses to help support their application.
Films
- Turkish Passport (2011)
- Desperate Hours (2005)
Images for kids
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Behiç Erkin in the 1920s.
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Erkin during World War I.
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Erkin's Grave.
See also
- Necdet Kent
- Namık Kemal Yolga
- Selahattin Ülkümen
- History of the Jews in Turkey
- Oskar Schindler
- SS Kurtuluş
