Satvet Lütfi Tozan
Satvet Lütfi Tozan, also known as Satvet Lutfi Bey, was the secretary to Prince Sabahaddin of Turkey. Born in Trebine Bosnia Herzegovia in 1889. Following the invasion of Bosnia by Austro-Hungarian Empire, he was forced to immigrate to Istanbul with his family with other Bosnians.
When deceased, he was rich like croesus.His fortune created by the international arm trade. Born in an elite wealthy family. His glorious days also continued in Istanbul and lived in a large Konak in Fatih district.
Graduated from İstanbul Military High school and Mercan Law school. He was an excited youngster. He was already famous when he was 15 by protesting Sultan Abdulhamit II. and become the leader of the protest group named as Cemiyet-i Inkilabiye. He was immediately arrested by the police with the help of undercover informers.
He has been impressed by the articles of Prince Sabahattin regarding the entrepreunership in early 20th century. He met him personally and made a close friendship with him lasting till the end of the Prince death in 1948.
After his protest against Sultan Abdulhamid II, he was now against the Young Turks (Ittihat & Terakki) and made an attempt to topple the government during the invasion of Edirne by Bulgarians.
He failed and arrested in 1913. He wa trialed and sentenced to life long hard laboring. Prince Sabahattion helped and saved him from the prison sentence. His new mission was to be messenger between Prince Sabahattin and Young Turks party dignitaries.
He was exiled in Bursa & Ankara during WW1. He did quit the politics after the foundation of Turkish Republic. His new ideal was to be a successful entrepreneur. He became the agent of oil company Royal Dutch in Turkey and married the daughter of a German arm manufacturer. He diversified his portfolio and entered in the international arm trade beside the oil business.
He has worked as an arm contractor for more than 20 years and became the honarary consulate of Finland in 1938. The diplomatic identity enabled him to travel in war zones and he created a legend. In the morning of 1 September 1939, German Nazis were dropping bombs over Varsovie. Satvet Lütfi Tozan was there to purchase arms and ammunition ordered by Turkish Army. Before the siege of Varsovie, he left the city and went to Romania. The leader of Roman Peasent Party Julin Maniu was opposed his country to enter into war. In case the war was inevitable, Romania should fight against Nazis not the Allied Forces. This important leader was the friend of Mr.Tozan. Due to this friendship, he could have been informed about the policies of Romania. He was informed that Romania was about to make a big deal of ammunition from a Greek manufacturer and millionaire Mr. Bodasakkis from Niğde Bor on the eve of the war. He figured out that it will be difficult to supply ammunition during the war time. With the consent of National Security Minister Hakkı Murad and with the help of Turkish consulate of Athene Mr. Enis Akaygen, he purchased 50 Milion rounds and delivered to Turkey.
A surprise was awating Satvet Lütfi Tozan after the delivery of ammunition. Turkish Government had applied to Greek Government to cancel the comission which will be paid to Tozan by the factory. Arm contractors were making fortunes during the war times. Satvet Lütfi Tozan risking his life to make business in war zone areas. Following the attack of Italy to Greece, Tozan supplied arms to Greece from Jugoslavia. He was injured by German attack when he was in Jugoslavia for this matter. He came back to Turkey in 1941. Turkey was neutral in WW2.
The war was being closely watched by Turkish people. After resting two months in his house in Emirgan. He departed for Greece on 27 Ağustos 1941. He worked to arm greek resistance against Nazis. He went to Romania which was invaded by Nazis. He contacted secretly with Julin Maniu. He transmitted the helps of allied forces to Romanian resistance. At that period, Egypt was the safe heaven for the opposition leaders of Balkanian countries. Satvet Lütfi visited Egypt many times to meet leaders and cooperate. He was an messenger between allied forces and opposition leaders.
Following the fundation of Romanian, Bulgarian & Greek Resistance, it was the time for Jugoslavian resistance to be set. Satvet Lütfi Tozan left Istanbul by car to Jugoslavia with his small team. This was suicidal mission in WWII period. During this trip he was arrested by Gestapo in Hungary. He was interrogated and tortured for 30 days. He lost 17 kg in a month. Gestapo ripped off his nails to make him confess and reveal the contact names of resistance. He was prosecuted to death sentence for spying against Hungarian government.