TNT History Mini-Series: Afghan King Amanullah's Visit to the West (1928)/Part I

//Ed. note: King Amanullah of Afghanistan made a 7-
month visit to the West in 1928 and a German newspaper 
wrote a commentary about his trip in September of that 
year, after Amanullah had returned to Kabul.

The Turkish General Staff had the German article 
translated and published in Ottoman Turkish in its 
"Askeri Mecmuası" in November 1928.  Amanullah had
visited Ankara during his trip and met with Atatürk.

The German article put a positive spin on Amanullah's
Western admiration and Afghan patriotism.  However,
soon after he returned to Kabul Amanullah was deposed
and left the country in early 1929 for British India. An
effort to regain his throne failed and he fled Afghanistan
again in May 1929, never to return.  He died in Zurich 
in 1960 and his body was brought back for burial in 
Jalalabad.//



journey step-by-step click here for an excellent
chronology of the King's itinerary, country by 
country.

Deutsche Ver Newspaper, 5 September 1928, number 33:

Translated to Turkish: Captain Rahmi

Balance Sheet for the Afghan King's Journey 

Afghanistan King Amanullah told a journalist in passing that the goal

of his trip was "to plant all of the good things of European civilization

in my country."  These words unavoidably call to mind Japan's 90-year

effort to learn the ways of the West in order to beat the West in the 

economic arena, after doing so on the battlefield (1904-1905 war with 

Russia).  The King wants "to show Europe that Afghanistan is on the 

world's map" and  he did so in a polite way but warned everyone
against imperialist designs on his country, without displaying any
anti-European sentiment.

In this regard, the foreign leader's journey to Europe was seen as a 
research trip, from which he has just returned to his country.  When
one looks at the King's stops along the way and the maneuvers the
Europeans made toward their guest to gain advantage, it seems that
the King's calm demeanor earned him significant political gains but
uneven success otherwise.

The first surprise came at the doorstep of the West, Egypt.  His
behavior and actions were greeted with alarm by the Islamic
community there but Egyptian patriots felt pride in welcoming this
independent Moslem leader, honoring him with a lavish ceremony
that brought to mind the grandeur of the Fatimid dynasty.  But
although the King was treated like a caliph from the East, he was
more like a Western leader, coming with just one wife, who was
uncovered at that, and visiting the mosques and university wearing a
cylindrical grey top hat.  He even knew how to drive an automobile
himself.

Amanullah personifies the dawn of Islam in Asia and, at the same
time, is willing to attain modernity for Eastern nations at the cost of
traditions!

The King set foot on European soil for the first time at Naples, where
he was welcomed and celebrated as "The Mussolini of Asia".  Italy
was proud to have been the first country to recognize independent
Afghanistan and to have signed a bilateral agreement, which is still
secret, in 1921.

The Fascists are currently looking to establish a trade route via Albania,
Bulgaria, Turkey and Iran to Kabul and Pamir.  This would be the
shortest path to provide all of Afghanistan's industrial and engineering
requirements.  All Amanullah needs to do is give go-ahead and Italian
smokestacks will rise in that country.

Bomber aircraft and zeppelins whirred over the head of the King for
the first time in his life.  This was followed by an official meeting with
the Pope in Rome, as yet another gesture of honor for Amanullah.

//END of PART I//