Istanbul Governorship and Mayorship Period of Muhittin Memduh Ustundag (1926-1938)

Abstract

Muhittin Memduh Ustundag was the second Director General of Public Security of the Turkish Republic and an influential bureaucrat and statesman who ruled Istanbul during the reform period for 12 years and 10 months. In addition to his appointment as the Mayor of Istanbul in 1926, he was appointed as the Deputy Governor of Istanbul in 1928. Ustundag, who also held the Istanbul Provincial Presidency for the Republican People's Party since 1936 was retired two weeks after Ataturk passed away. This study examines the activities of Muhittin Memduh Ustundag during the period he ruled Istanbul, in the light of periodicals, parliamentary decisions, academic works, and archival documents.