Saracoğlu, Şükrü

views updated

Şükrü Saracoğlu (shükrü´ säräj´ōlōō´), c.1890–1953, Turkish prime minister (1942–46). A lawyer, he became a political protégé of Kemal Atatürk and held many ministerial posts, including those of justice (1932–38) and foreign affairs (1938–42). As prime minister, his skillful diplomacy kept Turkey out of World War II until Feb., 1945, when it joined the Allies.