The Second World War and the occupation of Greece in the Turkish press

The Second World War is a comprehensive conflict that marks the bloodiest, most violent, and devastating impact of the 20th century, felt in every aspect. One significant factor in the onset of this war was the expansionist attitudes of Nazi Germany and its allies, Italy and Japan. This attitude influenced the destinies of both the aggressors and many other nations. Greece was one of those sharing this fate as it was occupied by Italy and Germany. The fact that the occupation of Greece would make Turkey a vulnerable target, especially in critical locations like the Aegean and the Mediterranean, became a source of deep concern and unease when combined with limited resources. During this critical period, Turkey, by wisely utilizing the maneuverability provided by its geopolitical position, implemented a versatile diplomacy that adapted to the evolving situation, managing to stay out of the war. However, economic, social, and political challenges were deeply felt during this process. The press closely monitored this critical period. In this context, when Italy attempted to invade on October 28, 1940, the Turkish press displayed a strong stance against Italy, supporting Greece with praise-filled articles in the public opinion. Yet, as Germany made its invasion attempt on April 6, 1941, support for Greece continued, but the harsh stance against Italy gave way to a more cautious and measured approach. Moreover, the reality that the press served as a propaganda tool for the ruling government and the warring powers kept the government away from a biased policy and led to press censorship to avoid drawing the ire of the warring powers. It was also observed that the warring powers tried to create a perception in favor of their cause by attempting to have publications in their favor. In this regard, this thesis focuses on this process by utilizing newspapers such as Akşam, Cumhuriyet, Tan, Tasvir-i Efkâr, Ulus, Vatan, Yeni Sabah as sources. Therefore, the analyzed content of the referenced newspapers is interpreted through content analysis technique with an explanatory approach. In short, the aim of this thesis is to understand how the threat and danger, brought to Turkey's doorstep by the occupation of its neighbor Greece, and the pressure from the warring powers, reflected in the national press of Turkey, which tried to remain neutral under the shadow of propaganda activities, regarding the situation in the Aegean and the various perspectives surrounding it. Key Words: World War II, Greece, The Occupation of Greece, Turkish Press.