An archival document dating to the early years of the Republic of Türkiye has come to light, shedding light on Erzurum’s economic potential at the time. The 1933 document from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, uncovered by Taner Özdemir, a board member of the Erzurum branch of the Turkish Language and Literature Association (TDED), reveals that Denmark was exploring the possibility of establishing a dairy industry in the Erzurum and Kars regions.
Just 10 years after the founding of the Republic of Türkiye, Denmark’s economic interest in Erzurum and Kars was reflected in official correspondence. According to the document held in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' archives, the Danish Royal Legation sent a diplomatic note to Türkiye on Dec. 4, 1933. The note requested permission for Alfred Thorvald Larsen and Peter Weigel to travel to Kars and Erzurum to assess on-site the conditions needed to establish a dairy industry. Türkiye approved the request. A ministry letter states that the two men were permitted to visit the region and that the necessary instructions had been sent to local authorities.
The historical document was uncovered by Özdemir, who has been researching archival records related to Erzurum’s historical and cultural heritage, said the document sheds light on a noteworthy aspect of the city’s economic potential in the early years of the Republic.
The document’s use of the French term “l'industrie laitire” (“dairy industry”) is particularly notable. Denmark’s interest in conducting an on-site assessment of Erzurum and Kars suggests that the region was viewed not merely as an area known for livestock farming but as a potential economic center for developing a modern dairy industry.
Given Denmark’s experience in dairy and dairy products, the research request concerning Erzurum and Kars in 1933 takes on particular significance. The region’s extensive pasturelands, strong livestock-farming tradition and animal population offered considerable potential for an industry based on milk production.
The fact that Danish experts sought to visit the region indicates that this potential had also attracted international attention. One of the most striking aspects of the document is that Türkiye formally approved the initiative.
In its response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Alfred Thorvald Larsen and Peter Weigel had been granted permission to conduct research in the Erzurum and Kars regions, while the necessary instructions had been sent to local authorities. This detail indicates that the initiative was not simply a routine visit but an official study carried out with the knowledge and approval of state institutions.
The 1933 document uncovered by Taner Özdemir brings a significant detail of Erzurum’s economic history back into focus. In the early years of the Republic, Denmark deemed the livestock and dairy production potential of Erzurum and Kars worthy of investigation. The aim was to assess on-site the conditions necessary for establishing a dairy industry in the region.
Despite the decades that have passed, the correspondence preserved in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' archives offers a glimpse into Erzurum’s economic potential in the past. In 1933, Denmark had its eyes on Erzurum. The Danish Royal Legation formally sought permission from Türkiye to send experts to investigate the prospects for a dairy industry in Erzurum and Kars. Türkiye granted permission and instructed local authorities accordingly.
