Şerife Bacı is a prominent folk heroine who demonstrated extraordinary sacrifice during the Turkish War of Independence and symbolizes the struggle of Turkish women. Born in the early 1900s, Şerife Bacı came from a village in the Seydiler district of Kastamonu. In 1921, she took part in a caravan transporting ammunition from İnebolu to Kastamonu, enduring harsh winter conditions with great determination.

Monument to Atatürk and Martyr Şerife Bacı (AA)

Her Role in the War of Independence

During the War of Independence, while men fought on the frontlines, women and the elderly provided vital logistical support. Ammunition collected in İnebolu was transported via Kastamonu and Çankırı to Ankara, with women playing a crucial role in this effort. In the winter of 1921, Şerife Bacı, carrying ammunition while accompanied by her nine-month-old baby, placed a mattress made of grass between the weapons in her cart and covered her child to protect it from the cold. This arduous journey cemented her status as one of the most symbolic figures of Turkish women’s struggle.

Martyrdom and Legacy

Şerife Bacı perished from exposure after falling behind the caravan near Kastamonu Barracks. She lay down in her cart, wrapped around her weapons and her child, unable to withstand the extreme winter conditions. Her body was found frozen at the front of the cart, while her infant daughter survived beneath her. She sacrificed her life to shield her child from the cold.

Şerife Bacı’s martyrdom has endured as a powerful symbol of the immense sacrifices made by women in Turkey’s fight for freedom. Although the exact location of her grave remains unknown, it is believed she was buried in the Satılar village of Seydiler.

Monuments and Commemoration of Şerife Bacı

The memory of Şerife Bacı is preserved through various monuments, especially in Kastamonu, Seydiler, and İnebolu. The Seydiler Municipality opened a cultural center in her name and erected a statue of her. In 1973, the Seydiler Municipality installed a relief of her on the front of the municipal building. Additionally, in 1990, a monument known as the Atatürk and Martyr Şerife Bacı Monument was constructed in Kastamonu. This monument, also recognized as the Turkish Women’s Monument, was built to pass on Şerife Bacı’s heroic story to future generations.

In 2001, the Martyr Şerife Bacı Monument was erected on the shore of İnebolu by former Turkish Land Forces Commander Aytaç Yalman.

Atatürk and Martyr Şerife Bacı Monument (AA)