July 15 Coup Attempt Yusuf Elitaş

Yusuf Elitaş

Yusuf Elitaş went into the streets upon the call of President Erdoğan after hearing of the coup attempt on July 15th. Elitaş was martyred by putschists. He was the only teacher amongst the civilians who were martyred that night. He was a history teacher and worked as a vice principal in his school. He was 36 years old and a father of 2 daughters.

He heard about the coup and went outside around 12:45 AM upon the call of President Erdoğan. He talked to his wife Serpil on the phone and said, “Things are bad here.” Elitaş was martyred after the shooting by helicopters controlled by putschists in front of the General Staff Headquarters Building.

Yusuf was buried in the Kocatepe Cemetery on July 17th.

The name Martyr Yusuf Elitaş was given to an imam hatip middle school in Mamak, Ankara.

Civilians built a ‘human wall’ around the General Staff headquarters
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Civilians built a ‘human wall’ around the General Staff headquarters
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Putschists wanting to seize the General Staff headquarters, staged a raid on the premises. As civilians poured down into the streets, they clashed with the on-duty soldiers and police officers. In order to thwart the people’s attempts to foil the coup, putschists rained bullets on the crowds from helicopters. Many citizens were martyred at the General Staff’s campus, where some of the longest and most intense clashes took place.

The General Staff Headquarters on July 15
23 PHOTOGRAPH
The junta generals, realizing that their coup plans were exposed, initiated all stages of their coup attempt in the evening that they had initially planned for 3:00 a.m.

The junta generals, realizing that their coup plans were exposed, initiated all stages of their coup attempt in the evening that they had initially planned for 3:00 a.m.

Akar’s aide, Leven Türkkan, assistant aide Capt. Serdar and other armed soldiers from the Special Operations unit entered the room where Akar was being held.

Akar’s aide, Leven Türkkan, assistant aide Capt. Serdar and other armed soldiers from the Special Operations unit entered the room where Akar was being held.

The rooms where the Chief of General Staff, Akar and Deputy Chief of General Staff Yaşar Gürler were taken hostage.

The rooms where the Chief of General Staff, Akar and Deputy Chief of General Staff Yaşar Gürler were taken hostage.

The junta brought Salih Zeki Çolak.

The junta brought Salih Zeki Çolak.

Görüntülerde Kara Kuvvetleri Komutanı Orgeneral Salih Zeki Çolak, darbeci askerler tarafından yere yatırılarak elleri arkadan bağlandığı görüldü. Aynı görüntüde Kara Kuvvetleri Komutanlığı Kurmay Başkanı Orgeneral İhsan Uyar (sol 2) da görülüyor.

Görüntülerde Kara Kuvvetleri Komutanı Orgeneral Salih Zeki Çolak, darbeci askerler tarafından yere yatırılarak elleri arkadan bağlandığı görüldü. Aynı görüntüde Kara Kuvvetleri Komutanlığı Kurmay Başkanı Orgeneral İhsan Uyar (sol 2) da görülüyor.

Land Forces Commander Gen. Salih Zeki Çolak was laid on the ground and handcuffed. The same photo also shows the chief of staff of the Land Forces Command, Gen. İhsay Uyar.

Land Forces Commander Gen. Salih Zeki Çolak was laid on the ground and handcuffed. The same photo also shows the chief of staff of the Land Forces Command, Gen. İhsay Uyar.

Security camera records of how generals at the general staff were captured.

Security camera records of how generals at the general staff were captured.

Security camera records of the head of the General Staff Personnel Department, Lt. Gen. İlhan Talu accompanying coup soldiers.

Security camera records of the head of the General Staff Personnel Department, Lt. Gen. İlhan Talu accompanying coup soldiers.

Security camera records of the head of the General Staff Personnel Department, Lt. Gen. İlhan Talu accompanying coup soldiers.

Security camera records of the head of the General Staff Personnel Department, Lt. Gen. İlhan Talu accompanying coup soldiers.

Coup soldiers opened fire into the crowd that gathered in front of the General Staff Command.

Coup soldiers opened fire into the crowd that gathered in front of the General Staff Command.

Ambulances started arriving in front of the building.

Ambulances started arriving in front of the building.

Civilians waiting in front of the General Staff Command used an interesting method to diffuse the coup soldiers’ tanks.

Civilians waiting in front of the General Staff Command used an interesting method to diffuse the coup soldiers’ tanks.

They used the canvases folded on the tanks that were always on the move and covered the tanks with them, blocking their view. As a result, the tanks were neutralized.

They used the canvases folded on the tanks that were always on the move and covered the tanks with them, blocking their view. As a result, the tanks were neutralized.

Civilians soon opened the main gate to the General Staff Command and entered to chase the soldiers who opened fire to them.

Civilians soon opened the main gate to the General Staff Command and entered to chase the soldiers who opened fire to them.

Gun shots were heard from inside the General Staff Command and a helicopter started shooting the crowd outside.

Gun shots were heard from inside the General Staff Command and a helicopter started shooting the crowd outside.

F-16s under the control of coup pilots made low approach flights many times in front of the General Staff Command.

F-16s under the control of coup pilots made low approach flights many times in front of the General Staff Command.

Approximately 200 unarmed privates and noncommissioned officers leaving the General Staff Command surrendered to the police.

Approximately 200 unarmed privates and noncommissioned officers leaving the General Staff Command surrendered to the police.

Approximately 200 unarmed privates and noncommissioned officers leaving the General Staff Command surrendered to the police.

Approximately 200 unarmed privates and noncommissioned officers leaving the General Staff Command surrendered to the police.

Junior and commissioned officers who did not join the coup attempt and were held handcuffed inside the General Staff Command were discharged in the early hours of the morning.

Junior and commissioned officers who did not join the coup attempt and were held handcuffed inside the General Staff Command were discharged in the early hours of the morning.

The vicinity of the General Staff Command was cleared to get ready for the operations. Civilians and journalist were removed from the area.

The vicinity of the General Staff Command was cleared to get ready for the operations. Civilians and journalist were removed from the area.

Special Operations soldiers arrived at the location and then police forces entered the General Staff Command.

Special Operations soldiers arrived at the location and then police forces entered the General Staff Command.

The military vehicles the putschists had brought to the General Staff Command were returned to their rightful positions.

The military vehicles the putschists had brought to the General Staff Command were returned to their rightful positions.

Military vehicles seized and brought to the General Staff quarters by coup-plotter traitors were returned to their respective troops.

Military vehicles seized and brought to the General Staff quarters by coup-plotter traitors were returned to their respective troops.

The General Staff Headquarters on July 15
FETÖ soldiers raided the General Staff Command on the night of the coup attempt and took Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar hostage. Tanks and helicopters then started firing into the crowd that had gathered around the quarters. Akar was rescued within the next few hours and brought to Çankaya Palace.