Posted on 04/11/2006 5:08:50 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
Some descendants of wartime foes can march on Anzac Day, the Victorian RSL has ruled for the first time.
But the ruling applies only to descendants of World War I Turkish soldiers, because they were "a very honorable" enemy, according to the Victorian RSL president, Major-General David McLachlan.
The endorsement does not extend to families of German, Japanese, Italian or North Vietnamese. "I could never ever see, in Victoria, Japanese veterans of the Second World War marching in an Anzac Day march," Major-General McLachlan said. "They were a dreaded enemy that was despised by the Australian veterans."
Much had been done to establish friendships with Japan, he said, but the Pacific conflict was "a very black mark" against the Japanese.
"The Germans were the same, but I don't think the Germans would ever want to march," he said. "And the Italians that fought with Axis forces certainly shouldn't be marching." In defiance of RSL policy, Turkish-Australians whose fathers and grandfathers fought at Gallipoli have been marching in the Melbourne parade since 1996.
Days before last year's march, RSL state secretary John Deighton condemned the Turkish contingent, saying: "If they were not on our side, they shouldn't be marching."
But Major-General McLachlan said organisers had met on Monday and decided to reverse the policy for Turks. Yes, Turks had been the enemy, Major-General McLachlan said. "But they were a very honourable enemy."
There was a "special relationship" with Turkey — strengthened by the belief that "Johnny Turk" had fought fair on the battlefield.
"Turkey and Australia have got a different relationship than, say, Japan and Germany, because of the common ground that we share over Gallipoli," he said.
Ramazan Altintas, president of the RSL Turkish sub-branch, thanked the RSL for the move, which he likened to "accepting the Turks as normal citizens". He said he would proudly march down Swanston Street on Anzac Day to honour his grandfather, Veli Cevirgen, who died fighting Australians at Gallipoli.
He expects 100 Turkish-Australians will take part in this year's city march. Most would be descendants of World War I soldiers, but several were veterans of the Korean War, when Turkey was allied with Australia.
See "The Light Horsemen" ?
You should hear the way South Koreans talk about the Turks who fought in the Korean War. I think if they had been running the show, instead of the UN (or the US for that matter), all of Korea would have been quickly liberated before the Chinese or the Russians could do anything about it.
Still, we can get an idea of how those guys feel. Fur Shur I don't want to be buried in a graveyard full of people who were mere civilians during the Nam. Turned out they were the enemy.
My vague recollection is that I did some time back.
I had to think about this one . . . after all those guys were just, "the poor Xon Xf x Xitch who died for theirs", to paraphrase Georgie Patton.
Weren't the Turks responsible for the slaughter of millions of Armenian Christians during WW1.
Some have even suggested that their systematic approach was Hitler's model for the final solution in WW2. How were they honorable again????
muslims infiltrating the RSL.
World War 1 marked the last days of the Ottoman Empire. The war not only saw the end of the Ottoman Empire but the emergence of a secular state and the end of the caliphate.
The Turkish commander at Gallipoli became the leader of the independent Turkish state that emerged after the fall of the Ottoman Empire. Here are some of the reforms he introduced:
Ataturk's Revolutions
Political Revolutions
The Sultanete was abolished in 1922, November 1st.
The Republic was declared in 1923, October 29th.
The Caliphship was abolished in 1924, March 3rd.
Social Reformations
The hat as opposed to fez was introduced. (1925)
The activities of religious sects were banned by law. ( 1925)
Western calender was introduced. ( 1925)
International numeric system was introduced. ( 1928)
The Metric system was introduced. ( 1931)
The nicknames and personal titles were abolished. ( 1934)
Religious attire was prohibited in public ( 1934). According to this law, religious personalities, irrespective of the religious groups they belong were not to wear religious attire in public but only in their sanctuaries.
The surname law.( 1934)
The modern secular system of jurisprudence is instead of religious law is integrated.( 1926)
The liberation of the women of Turkey by giving them political and social rights.
a) Rights brought with medeni kanun ( 1926)
b) Rights for women to be elected for the parliment
I am sick and tired of that lie - probably spread by Turkish lobbyists and their backers.
In real history the Turks were known for being killers of POWs and civilians, mostly South Koreans.
South Korea's Forgotten MIA/POW's
A few weeks ago, a Turkish veteran of the Korean War asked me why the Turkish participation in the Korean War is "kept secret".
American archives show that Turkey did indeed send a 5,000 men brigade and that the Turkish Brigade fought one major battle in which "several thousands Communists" were killed on November 26, 1950 at Takchon near Pyongyang. However, the "Communists" turned out to be South Korean stragglers. The Turks killed several hundred South Korean soldiers mistaking them for Chinese.
On November 27, 1950, the Turkish Brigade, one day after its massacre of the South Korean soldiers, was ambushed and destroyed by the Chinese at Takchon. Only a handful of the Turks managed to escape.
I lived in South Korea for a year teaching conversational English to adults. Some of them happen to be vets from the Korean and Vietnam wars and they spoke very highly of the Turks. I don't appreciate being called a liar. I guess they understand something about friendly fire you have no comprehension about.
You and I have something in common because I live among South Koreans as well. From where do you think I learned this story?
The Turks war record in the Korean War was played up by the State Dept during that time for political reasons - you know 'coalition of the willing' Cold War style.
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