The Security Monument was commissioned during a period of rapid urban transformation in the 1930s as Ankara was being shaped into a modern capital for the young Turkish Republic. Designed by the Austrian architect Clemens Holzmeister, the project was part of a larger plan to create a civic centre in the Kızılay district of the city. Construction began in 1934 and concluded in 1935, with the primary objective of honouring the Turkish police and gendarmerie forces for their role in maintaining order and safety. It’s nice to thank those who keep the state safe.
The bronze letters on its base bear the famous instruction from Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, “Türk, Öğün, Çalış, Güven” which is something like “Turk, be proud, work, and trust”. This message was intended to bolster the morale of a beleaguered population transitioning from the collapse of the Ottoman Empire to a sovereign nation-state. The site sustained damage during the 15 July 2016 coup attempt which was a bloody attempt to overthrow the Turkish President but has since been repaired.