That document belonging to Atatürk came to light for the first time after 102 years

Published: August 16, 2025, 07:30 Updated: August 16, 2025, 07:32

A special exhibition commemorating the 102nd anniversary of the Republic was opened today at the MKE Military Manufacturing Museum, affiliated with the Ministry of National Defense (MSB). The event marked the first time the original donation receipt documenting Mustafa Kemal Atatürk 's donation of 600,000 square meters of his own land for use in the defense industry went on display.

As part of the opening ceremony, a special photography exhibition themed "MKE: From the Imperial Armory to the Military Manufacturing Department" was also presented to art and history enthusiasts. The exhibition showcased the defense industry's heritage, stretching from the Ottoman Empire to the Republic, through selected images from MKE's archives and collections. The museum, which houses Atatürk's receipt and a photographic exhibition, will be open to visitors throughout the weekend.

Ankara Provincial Director of Culture and Tourism Erhan Karakaya, Vehbi Koç Ankara Research Center Director Filiz Yenişehirloğlu, 1st Grand National Assembly of Turkey Museum Supervisor Fatma Hicret Un and archaeologist Seval Tan attended the event.

In his speech, MKE Corporate Communications Director Utku Evin stated that they were proud to host such a meaningful exhibition at the MKE Military Manufacturing Museum. Evin said, "We are particularly pleased to be hosting a very valuable historical document, which we are exhibiting for the first time today. We are presenting you with a donation receipt from Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of our Republic, for the use of 600,000 square meters of his own land as a weapons and ammunition factory in 1936."

Evin stated that they are working tirelessly day and night to meet the needs of the army, empowered by 10 factories, two business directorates, and a national technology initiative, to ensure the perpetual survival of the Republic founded 102 years ago. He said, "We continue to add new production facilities to our existing ones to constantly raise the glorious banner we inherited from the Military Institute. I hope this exhibition, which we organized to remind Turkish children of their ancestors and the lands of our homeland watered by the blood of our martyrs, will be auspicious and auspicious."