MAH
Encyclopedia
The National Security Service was the governmental intelligence organization of Turkey
between 1926 and 1965, when it was replaced by the National Intelligence Organization .
It was established at a time when Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
was purging Union and Progress
elements, including the Sentinel Association and the Teşkilât-ı Mahsûsa
intelligence organizations. The first director of the MAH was M. Şükrü Âli Ögel
.
During World War II
, Turkey saw increased espionage
by British
, Soviet
and German
operatives and sympathizers. The MAH learned that the Germany
would not attempt to invade Turkey, allowing the İnönü
administration to resist mounting Allied
pressure to declare war on Germany. (British efforts to get Turkey as an ally against Germany are a central element of Eric Ambler
's classic spy thriller Journey Into Fear, published in 1940, in which a fictional head of the MAH, Colonel Haki, plays an important role.)
The MAH received financial support from the CIA.
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
between 1926 and 1965, when it was replaced by the National Intelligence Organization .
It was established at a time when Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was an Ottoman and Turkish army officer, revolutionary statesman, writer, and the first President of Turkey. He is credited with being the founder of the Republic of Turkey....
was purging Union and Progress
Committee of Union and Progress
The Committee of Union and Progress began as a secret society established as the "Committee of Ottoman Union" in 1889 by the medical students İbrahim Temo, Abdullah Cevdet, İshak Sükuti and Ali Hüseyinzade...
elements, including the Sentinel Association and the Teşkilât-ı Mahsûsa
Teşkîlât-ı Mahsûsa
The Special Organization was an Ottoman imperial government special forces unit under the War Department allegedly progenitor of the National Security Service , which was used to suppress Arab separatism and Western imperialism under Ottoman Empire. The main aim of the Special Organization was to...
intelligence organizations. The first director of the MAH was M. Şükrü Âli Ögel
Sükrü Âli Ögel
Şükrü Âli Ögel was a Turkish military officer and the first director of the former Turkish governmental intelligence agency Milli Emniyet Hizmeti , the predecessor of Milli İstihbarat Teşkilatı today....
.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Turkey saw increased espionage
Espionage
Espionage or spying involves an individual obtaining information that is considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information. Espionage is inherently clandestine, lest the legitimate holder of the information change plans or take other countermeasures once it...
by British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
operatives and sympathizers. The MAH learned that the Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
would not attempt to invade Turkey, allowing the İnönü
Ismet Inönü
Mustafa İsmet İnönü was a Turkish Army General, Prime Minister and the second President of Turkey. In 1938, the Republican People's Party gave him the title of "Milli Şef" .-Family and early life:...
administration to resist mounting Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
pressure to declare war on Germany. (British efforts to get Turkey as an ally against Germany are a central element of Eric Ambler
Eric Ambler
Eric Clifford Ambler OBE was an influential British author of spy novels who introduced a new realism to the genre. Ambler also used the pseudonym Eliot Reed for books co-written with Charles Rodda.-Life:...
's classic spy thriller Journey Into Fear, published in 1940, in which a fictional head of the MAH, Colonel Haki, plays an important role.)
The MAH received financial support from the CIA.
External links
- Atatürk ve Milli Amale Hizmet, Mehmet EymürMehmet EymürMehmet Eymür is a retired Turkish intelligence official. He led the counter-terrorism department of the National Intelligence Organization , which he joined as a student in 1965 as a "pursuit officer"...
(MİT official)