Refah tragedy

Turkey remained neutral until the final year of World War II, but its proximity to the fighting made it decide to mobilize a large army in case the country came under attack.

In the early stages of the war, the Turkish government had already ordered four submarines, four destroyers,[1] twelve landing craft and aircraft for four flights from the United Kingdom.

Nevertheless, the British decided to make the submarines and aircraft available out of fear of a possible pro-German tendency among the Turkish statesmen.

[2][5] The Turkish government chartered the steamer Refah, a cargo ship owned by the Berzilay & Benjamen Company.

She was built in 1901 at Sunderland, England, and sailed under the name Perseveranza until renamed Refah (literally: Prosperity) in 1931 by the Turkish owner.

[2] Commander Zeki Işın, appointed leader of the mission, inspected the 40-year-old, coal cargo vessel and reported his findings to the authorities in Ankara: the ship had insufficient cabins, beds and toilets for the estimated 170 passengers she was expected to carry, and only two lifeboats were available, each for 24 people.

[2][3][8] On 18 June 1941, Nazi Germany and Turkey signed the German–Turkish Treaty of Friendship that followed an invitation by Adolf Hitler with his letter from 4 March 1941 to the Turkish president İsmet İnönü.

While this pact angered the British government, Nazi Germany, its allies and Finland started an offensive (Operation Barbarossa) on 22 June against the Soviet Union, relying on its secure southern front.

A British liaison officer boarded the vessel immediately before her departure, who gave the ship's captain İzzet Dalgakıran the necessary route details.

[2][9] On 23 June at 17:30 hours local time, Refah weighed anchor, and sailed towards Port Said in eastern Mediterranean waters with a total of 200 people aboard.

Lieutenant Nevzat Erül came alongside the second lifeboat with a pistol in his hand and directed a rescue operation for 24 passengers.

Turkey had declared its neutrality in the war eleven times before, and no country claimed responsibility for the attack on the Turkish ship.

Britain's ambassador to Turkey, Sir Hughe Knatchbull-Hugessen, stated that the attack was made by a Nazi German or Italian submarine[8] operating in the area.

[2] After reports about Mediterranean marine activities poured in, it became clear that the anonymous submarine belonged to Vichy France.

[citation needed] Ondina was also sunk a year later by the warships English Protea, HMSAS Southern Maid and Walrus warplanes near Cyprus At (34-35 N, 34-56 E) on 11 July 1942.

[citation needed] After the disaster became generally known, discussions in the Turkish parliament led to the opening of an investigation into the case.