Turkish Testimonies for Famagusta - "Murders of Turkish civilians as a measure of revenge"

Famagusta was not included in the initial Turkish occupation plans, Turkish Cypriots who are sharing for the first time their memories and experiences of what happened on the tragic August XNUMXth in Famagusta tell the Cyprus News Agency (CYPE). At the same time, they are telling publicly, also for the first time, shocking details about the murders of Greek Cypriot civilians as a measure of revenge. The KYPE investigation sheds light on the massacre of the civilian population that followed the second Turkish invasion as well as on the manner in which the Turkish forces invaded Famagusta and Varosi. It also brings to the fore information about the looting of the besieged city.

Looking for new testimonies about the invasion of Turkish forces in Famagusta and Varosi, KYPE recorded the memories of Turks and Turkish Cypriots who lived through the events of the Turkish invasion. Turkish Cypriot Famagusta activist and doctor Okan Dagli, who was 10 years old at the time of the invasion, spoke at KYPE. Mr. Dagli spoke about what he remembers and what his father told him, who played a role in the developments that took place in Famagusta after August 15, 1974.

His testimony was also given by retired teacher and gymnast Raif Dincher, who is now in his 8th decade and lives in occupied Famagusta. Mr. Dincher, who had played trial football in Anorthosis, is a native of the occupied city. In his youth he collaborated with the t/k paramilitary groups that were active in the area of ​​Famagusta where the t/k community was concentrated after 1963.

X is also a Famagusta who experienced the invasion minute by minute in his city and the outskirts of Varossio. Being the same age as Mr. Dincher, he does not wish to be named, but he shared with KYPE what he experienced about 50 years ago.

Investigating the events of the period, KYPE also studied two printed sources. The Turkish soldier Oguz Kalelioglou in 1974 organized the Turkish paramilitary groups in Famagusta and played a leading role in the Turkish invasion. Mr. Kalelioglou's memoirs were published in Ankara in 2020 by "Biyografi Net İletişim" publications under the title "The 'peace operation' of Cyprus and the Defense of Famagusta".

Hilmi Kilgin, who passed away in 2007, was one of the first firefighters of the Republic of Cyprus. After 1963, Kilgin joined the Turkish organization "TMT" (a paramilitary organization controlled by Turkey) and in 1974 he headed the organization's information services in Famagusta. Kilgin's archive was published in 2020 in occupied Famagusta by "Okman Printing" publications and Professor Turgai Bulent Gökturk.

The period leading up to the invasion

Giving their testimonies about the events of Famagusta in the tragic summer of 1974, the Turkish and Turkish sources of the KYPE attach importance to two developments that took place before the second invasion: The hostilities in Famagusta during the period between the first and the second invasion and the dramatic events in the villages of Maratha, Santallaris and Aloa. According to KYPE sources, both developments played an important role in what happened after the invasion of Famagusta by Turkish forces in 1974.

As for the first issue, Mr. Kalelioglou focuses on the attempt by Turkish paramilitary forces to take control of the port of Famagusta but also on the parallel effort of the forces of the Republic of Cyprus to regain control of the entire area within the walls which was in the hands of Turkish paramilitary groups. Until August 15, 1974, Turkish paramilitary groups were supported by the Turkish Air Force, which bombed the positions of the Republic forces.

In the same period, tragic events took place in the villages of Maratha, Santallaris and Aloa. “On July 20, nationalist Greek Cypriots repeated what they did in 1958. There is a village called Pigi in Famagusta. Next to Pigi, which used to be a village, there were three Turkish Cypriot villages. (After the start of the Turkish invasion) The Turkish Cypriots attacked the Turkish Cypriots in these villages with everything they could find in their hands", reports Mr. Raif to Nikolaos Stelya, who says that "before July 20, the Turkish Cypriots in these villages were threatened. They were told that 'if Turkey proceeds with a military operation in Cyprus, there will be no Turks in Cyprus to save'. The threat became a reality after July 20," he argues.

The Turkish invasion begins

According to Mr. Kalelioglou, parallel to the start of the second invasion, Famagusta's t/k groups received an order from the Turkish army to intensify the resistance they offered to the forces of the Republic of Cyprus. The aim of the Turkish army was to delay the advance of the Cypriot forces in the area and to facilitate the entry of the Turkish forces into Famagusta. Kilgin also confirms the information. The Turkish Air Force also contributed to this effort, which was still pounding Famagusta.

About the dramatic day of August 15, 1974, Mr. Dincer says: "On August 15, at 14.00:10.00 p.m., it was announced on Bayrak radio that 'the Turkish army has arrived in Famagusta.' Four hours before this announcement, at 11 am, clashes occurred on the Kythrea line. While the fighting continued, the BBC reported that the Kythrea line had been breached and the Turkish army was advancing. After this news, the Auxentiou line was evacuated (by the E/k). This evacuation caused great panic among the E/k. At the same time, what happened in the villages of Maratha, Santallaris and Aloa began to reverberate in the area within the walls of Famagusta, where 12.000-14.00 people were gathered and receiving fire. It was at that moment, at XNUMX:XNUMX p.m., that the announcement was made by "Bayrak" radio, that the Greek Cypriots began to evacuate Varosi, fearing that the Turkish Cypriots would attack them together with the Turkish army "for revenge". Until that moment, life in Varosi continued as normal. Even the nightclubs were open.”

In the same vein, X adds that “On August 15 at 17.00 the Turkish army arrived in the area. The original intention was to enter on August 16. However, a British officer informed them that Famagusta was being hit by mortars. Indeed, there was a terrific mortar shelling between 15.00 and 17.00 on 15 August. I was at the gate of the walls of Famagusta. As the Russians were retreating, they were throwing bombs from their vehicles inside the walls.

Mr. Kalelioglou and Mr. Kilgin provide us with more detailed information on the entry of Turkish forces into Famagusta. Kilgin in his memoirs states that on the morning of August 15, hostilities in Famagusta began at 05.32:15.50 and continued until at least 14.15:XNUMX when two Turkish fighter jets bombed the city. According to him, the retreat of the forces of the Republic began at XNUMX.

"On the evening of August 15, 1974, when it was getting dark, the ammunition of the t/k groups in Famagusta along with the food secured from the port had run out. When the E/K were informed that the Turkish troops were entering Kiados, they started burning the walls of Famagusta. Meanwhile, the commander of the 28th Infantry Division, Major Osman Fazil Polat Pasha, sent the commander of the Reconnaissance Company, Lieutenant Erdogan Ajar to Famagusta with 9 'carrier' type vehicles," writes Mr. Kalelioglou, who adds the following: " 'Go scout the enemy around Famagusta and report the situation' (was the original order). Another message was received around 18.00 in the evening. The message read: 'The Turkish Cypriot Peacekeeping Forces (s.s. Turkish invasion forces) will only be able to reach you tomorrow August 16th or in the following days.' As it began to get dark at 18.30, (Turkish) military vehicles were lined up one behind the other at the new gate of Famagusta. The soldiers getting out of the vehicles were shooting (in all directions). Lieutenant Ajar who was sent to Famagusta to reconnoitre and who had no orders to engage in a decisive battle, seeing Famagusta in flames from a distance judged that the city might fall and that the morning would be too late, and his initiative entered the city (the invading Turkish troops).”

The invasion of Varosi

“Commander Osman Fazil Polat Pasha arrived in the area an hour later. After arriving in Famagusta, he dedicated himself to defining the 'borders'. In this way, he did not deploy troops on any road that passed through Varosi. He placed his troops on the Larnaca road up to the pass leading to the British base. He stationed a second group of soldiers on the waterfront, near the house of a famous Cypriot painter.” recalls Mr. Dincer, who, speaking to KYPE, insists on the fact that the occupation of Varosi was not included in the original plans of the Turkish army.

"I remember that when we entered Famagusta, there was a meeting led by the district commander. The commander was accompanied by a lieutenant. The lieutenant showed the commander a map of the area. The commander asked 'where are we?' The lieutenant replied: 'We are five to ten kilometers inland'. The commander was surprised by the answer. And this because they had entered against the order he had given. This commander did not receive any promotion afterwards.”, adds X, who also shares: “Varossi was evacuated because of the fear felt by the E/k. There was no war there. Only the anti-aircraft guns near Palm Beach, if I'm not mistaken, were bombed in the first 'operation'. The Court was also bombed. There were anti-aircraft guns there too. The Turkish army entered Famagusta around 17.00. The first patrol in Varosi was on the agenda after that night. At the time, no one was seen in the area. The Turkish Cypriots were the ones who entered Varosi together with Turkish soldiers. They found before them an empty city. In this way, after the night connecting the 15th and 16th, the area was turned into a military zone.”

"On August 15 (the Turkish army) arrived in Famagusta after noon, around 17.40:17.00 p.m. They (the residents of Famagusta) were told that there would be a ceasefire at XNUMX. After entering Famagusta, someone ordered the army to enter Varosi. I don't know who directed them. Fazil Osman Polat Pasha, who was in charge of the area, did not give this order. At the end of that day or the next day, when he was informed that the forces had entered Varosi, the commander reacted. 'Who gave you this order?' asked. (In the original plan) the 'border' on the Attila line was the road from Larnaca to Vrysoules", adds T/C activist Mr. Dagli on the same issue.

Regarding the entry of Turkish forces and armed groups into Varosi after the deployment of the first units of the Turkish army in Famagusta on the afternoon of August 15, 1974, Mr. Kalelioglou writes the following: "On the night of August 15/16, ( the Turkish forces) swept the area from the northern part of Famagusta to the sea and 'cleaned' it of the 'enemy'. The interior of Varosi was checked house by house. The (British) soldiers under the command of a British major who came out of the British base at Decelia wanted to prevent us from entering Varosi. (However) seeing our determination, the British major retreated. (At the same time) the troops came up against the wire fences of the British bases at Decelia and the British were alarmed. After the government's order from Ankara, 'Stop the operation,' the armed forces stopped the operation."

Kilgin in his memoirs, about the invasion of Varosi, focuses on August 16, 1974 and notes the following: “From 10.00 on August 16, 1974, the area of ​​Varosi was combed. Only a very small number of elderly E/C were found in the area. The civilian population and the army had previously left the area upon the arrival of the division's troops in Famagusta."

The massacres of Greek Cypriots, the capture and looting

Regarding the dramatic events that followed the entry of Turkish forces into Varosi, Mr. Raif shares the following: “As the soldiers got out of their vehicles and headed towards Famagusta, they took some locals with them. Among them were one or two people whose relatives had been killed at Maratha, Santallari and Aloa. They were saved because they were in Famagusta. These locals brought weapons from the Second World War. At that moment, people (including Greek Cypriots) from Varosi were trying to escape in their cars towards Deryneia. Vehicles could not move through the orange groves. People got out of the vehicles and started walking. These people were shot in the orchards. I don't know how many people were killed this way. These people were residents leaving Varosia. Turkish Cypriots, those whose relatives were killed in the conflicts, participated in these incidents. The soldiers did not participate."

On the same issue, X adds that "as these developments were taking place, some people who remained in Varosi tried to escape. And some of these people were murdered (by T/k) for revenge. Among those who attacked those who left Varosi were also those who lost their relatives."

Mr. Dagli, confirming the aforementioned, wonders "why did the soldiers leave the city in the two hours until the ceasefire at 17.00:17?" If they had opened fire on Varosi (from the S/C side), they (Turkish forces) would not have entered the city, he claims. However, there was no resistance. When I discussed this matter with my Greek Cypriot friends, they told me that the Greek officers were in control of the Varosians. The inhabitants of Varosia were informed that Turkish ships and soldiers would bombard the town and that they had an hour or two to leave the town. This is what the Greek officers said. At the same time, an announcement was made to RIK: 'Do not evacuate Varosi'. Hearing this call, (some) inhabitants began to return to the city on the following day or on the XNUMXth of the month. All hell broke loose there. During the return, news of what happened to Maratha and Santallari began to spread. People returning to Varosi were murdered in revenge. The perpetrators were Turkish Cypriots."

Mr. Dincher adds that apart from the residents of Varos, their own drama was experienced after August 15th by the residents of the rest of Famagusta. Together with the "prisoners" from Varosi, these people were taken by the Turkish army to the center of Famagusta where they were interrogated and illegally detained. A makeshift camp was created near the center of Famagusta for women and children. These individuals were then taken to the free zones with the mediation of the UN. "The 'captured' E/K from Varosi were transferred to Famagusta. Their names were recorded. There were murders during this process. These murders happened after August 16," notes X.

On the same issue, Mr. Dagli states the following: "The people who had been captured after August 16 began to be transported to Famagusta. On August 16, Varosi was mostly old people left. My father, who was a lawyer, spoke Greek at a native level. My father undertook to take the prisoners' statements. The E/K from Varosi and the neighboring areas were transported by buses to the area within the city walls in Famagusta. With the eyes of a small child, I watched those being led there. The appearance of the women being driven to that point was alarming. My father believed that these women were abused. I remember that on the 17th or 18th of the month, a well-known doctor from the area was transferred to Famagusta along with his nurses. The doctor, an orthopedic specialist, was a friend of my father's. With my father's intervention, the doctor was transferred to a hotel."

As for the looting of Varosios, X states that it began about a week after the invasion. "(After the invasion of Varosi) entry into the city was forbidden. In fact, I remember that a person who tried to enter the city was shot. The looting incidents happened later. The finance ministry formed teams and evacuated Varosia. Everything that was evacuated from Varosia was transferred to Nicosia," adds Mr. Dincher.