Şakir Zümre did not write his memories in detail. Maybe he didn't find time to write. Şakir Zümre had a modest temperament. He did not like to talk about his homeland service or his friendship with Atatürk. He has always turned the journalists who want to interview him on these issues. Rarely he summarized his memories in several meetings. One of them is the Organization of the Kemalist Turkey Ata held his speech at the memorial. Şakir Zümre explained his memories with Atatürk with these words:
“I would like to start by speaking with respect and affection in the spiritual presence of my oldest son, ideal and struggle friend Saint Atatürk and before his immortal soul.
Our friendship began with saint Atatürk, who brought out a brand new, young and fit nation from the wreckage of a collapsed Empire and created the greatest miracle in the history of the world.
That date was a period covered by black and sad clouds of Turkish homeland. In the struggle for death and survival, Turkishness was in the hope and excitement of finding a way out for itself.
Young and handsome Major Mustafa Kemal, who came to Bulgaria in 1913 as Attaché Military, would soon flutter like a flag in the free homeland as the liberation and independence flag of this struggle.
The days spent with Atatürk in Bulgaria will live among my memories as the most unforgettable days of my life. We would discuss and discuss with the glorious Bozkurt, who made Anatolia a second Ergenekon, on the plans that our homeland had prepared for the present and lighted days until sometimes.
In those days when the unique person Mustafa Kemal came to Bulgaria, we were at the Bulgarian National Assembly as 18 Turkish deputies representing the Turkish minority.
With the support of 18 Turkish MPs representing more than a million Turkish minorities, the Liberal Party was then able to provide the majority in the parliament to form the government. Otherwise, the depression of the government would continue for a long time. Atatürk came to Bulgaria in this convenient atmosphere and thanks to his energetic personality and superior qualifications, he soon became the favorite foreign person in Bulgaria.
Ataturk, who regularly attended the Bulgarian National Assembly, followed with great care all the negotiations and speeches that took place there.
Ataturk, who loved and respected himself everywhere he went, was very closely related to all the troubles, wishes and cases of more than a million Turkish minorities in Bulgaria, and it was his pleasure and happiness to be in touch with his own descendants. In those unforgettable days when his homeland was fought for the liberation and liberty, the deep love and admiration left by Mustafa Kemal on the Bulgarian nation in the aid of weapons and materials we saw secretly from the neutral Bulgarian government.
Stamboulisky, Çankof, Liyapçef, Muşanof, Taşet, Köseivanof and Bagriyanof, who are the most well-known applicants and personalities of Bulgaria, expressed their admiration for Atatürk.
“You have a great Kemal. Know its worth. He is a world-class diplomat and commander. He's a big man. ” (1) (2)
(1) Ali Haydar Yeşilyurt, Atatürk and Our Neighbor Bulgaria, Taş Matbaası, 1968 p. 26-28
(2) Atilla Oral, Şakir Zümre, Demkar Publishing House, p. 36-37
Who is Şakir Zümre?
Şakir Zümre is a Turkish industrialist and politician. His father is Ahmet Bey and his mother is Hesna. He was born in Varna in 1885. Silistreli Ali Pasha is one of the victims. He received his first education at Varna Primary School and Varna Middle School. He studied at Geneva High School. (1905) He graduated from the Geneva Law School. (1908) He was one of the first Turks to study and teach in Geneva among the Turks of Bulgaria. When he returned to Bulgaria, he worked at Law and Trade in Balçık. In 1912, he married Zeliha Hanım in Varna. He has a daughter named Remziye, who was born in 1913 from this marriage. He became a candidate in the elections by entering politics in Bulgaria. Bulgarian council was elected as Varna Deputy of Turkish minority in Sobranya. He worked to defend the rights of the Bulgarian Turks he represented in Sobranya. He made close friendships with the Ataturk Military Lieutenant Colonel Mustafa Kemal Bey (Ataturk), who was appointed by the Ottoman Empire in Sofia. It was effective in Bulgaria's decision to fight the Ottoman Empire in the First World War. He was arrested and imprisoned by the Bulgarian government after the Mondros Armistice. 1 was charged with war crimes to put Bulgaria in favor of Turkey before World War II. After 7 months of imprisonment, he regained freedom after changing power in Bulgaria. He carried out secret activities in Bulgaria during the War of Independence. It provided weapons and ammunition to the national forces in Anatolia and Western Thrace. It supported the activities of national forces jointly with the members of the Macedonian Revolutionary Association. He worked for the establishment of a Turkish state in Western Thrace. He started his business life in Istanbul during the armistice. He made several initiatives in Istanbul with the idea of establishing a factory. Upon the victory of the War of Independence was left with his family moved to Turkey from Bulgaria. He was awarded the Independence Medal for the benefits he showed during the war.
In 1925, he established an arms and ammunition factory in Karaağaç, Istanbul Haliç. He started his industrial life as the first Turkish entrepreneur in the Turkish Defense Industry. Şakir Zümre Industry Harbiye and Mining Factory, Ş. Z. Stove established the Agricultural Tools and Machinery Factory, Marble Industrial and Commercial Zümreler Turkish Joint Stock Company. It produced for many years under difficult conditions during the times of the Second World War. He worked to provide the weapons and ammo needs of the Turkish Army. It has exported its industrial products to abroad. He was a candidate in the CHP deputy election from Istanbul in the 2 elections. He did not win the election. In 1950, the CHP lost big votes in Istanbul as in the whole country, and the election became the power by gaining DP. Şakir Zümre avoided active politics in the following years. He knew French and Bulgarian languages very well. The second president in the Turkish Industrial Union, Istanbul Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was a member of various professional and charity associations. He died on June 1950, 16.
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