In 1960, while he was Commander of the 3rd Army in the rank of general, the 27 May Coup happened. He asked the National Unity Committee, which made the coup in Ankara, who their leader was, and informed that if their leader was not a senior general, he would march to Ankara with the 3rd Army under his command and put an end to the rebellion. Thereupon, the juntaists brought retired general Cemal Gürsel from Izmir to Ankara by military plane and showed him the leader instead of Major General Cemal Madanoğlu, who was the most senior of the coup. He was appointed Chief of General Staff on 3 June 1960. On August 2, 1960, he was ex officio retired by the National Unity Committee, together with about 5000 officers who would later form the Retired Revolution Officers Association (EMINSU).