Establishment of the Republican People's Party Organization in Hatay and Its Role in the Annexation of Hatay

Abstract

In this study, the organization of the Republican People's Party (CHP) in Hatay and the role it played in the process of Hatay's annexation to Turkey are discussed. Although it was founded in 1923, it is possible to base the foundations of the CHP back to the Sivas Congress period. The party, which was organized as the People's Party on 9 September 1923, started to be organized throughout the country by taking the name of the Republican People's Party after the proclamation of the republic. This organization continued in the following years. In Hatay, the organization of the CHP coincides with the years before the annexation. The establishment that constitutes the first core of the CHP in Hatay is the Iskenderun Commons Party, which was established at the end 1930. This party could not operate much in the political field, but established the Association of Carpenters in March 1931 among the tradesmen groups. In the same year, at the beginning of December, the People's Group, which is the continuation of the Iskenderun Awam Party and reminding the name of the party in Turkey, emerged. This group transformed into the Hatay People's Party in the spring of 1934 and the establishment of the party in Hatay was completed in the same year, albeit unofficially. It was in August 1937 that the Hatay People's Party became official. After the Hatay State was established, the People's Group was transformed into a CHP organization. Tekirdağ Deputy Rahmi Apak, who was sent to the region as a party inspector during the Hatay State period, started the organization of the CHP in Hatay in the beginning of 1939 and these studies were completed at the end of April 1939. Thus, before joining more to Turkey, the CHP organization was established in Hatay. However, since Rahmi Bey acted without considering the real needs of Hatay while establishing the party organization, the Hatay CHP organization was reorganized by the Regional Inspector Fahrettin Tiritoğlu in 1940. On the other hand, participate in Hatay in Turkey, which is equivalent in both the CHP Hatay People's Party, which is integrated with the state and is a great role. The youth of the region were tried to be raised by Turkey before the annexation, and the state realized this through CHP. For this purpose, the students were brought to Turkey from Hatay taught as a scholarship student. Later, they were ensured to return to Hatay and take part in the People's Party and People's Houses. On the other hand, it was ensured that civil servants who were sent to Hatay from Turkey during the annexation process, also took part in the People's Party here and worked in the Hatay case. © 2022, Hacettepe University. All rights reserved.