440 Days of Atatürk in Bulgaria

On a cold November day in the autumn of 1913, the future first president of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, arrived in Sofia. Then 32 years old, with the rank of major, he was appointed military attaché in Bulgaria, where he would spend the next 14 months.

Among his tasks is the extremely difficult rapprochement between Bulgarian and Turkish politics, but the officer born and raised among Bulgarians in Salonika is the most suitable man for the job.

The author of the book „440 Days of Ataturk in Bulgaria“ Nahide Denise follows closely the life of Ataturk in Bulgaria, based on documents, research and interviews with Bulgarian and Turkish specialists and relatives of some of the personalities of the period.

The assassination attempts against Mustafa Kemal, his reports to the Turkish General Staff, his meetings with the capital's elite and ordinary people and, of course, the search for the truth about his relationship with Gen. Stiliyan Kovachev - Mitty, are just some of the topics covered.

Finally, Ataturk remained delighted with Bulgaria's progress. What he saw would serve him in the realization of his idea of a modern secular Turkish state. It is no coincidence that until the end of his life he kept a dear memory of his time spent in our country.