THE PUBLICATION ORGAN OF THE KOREAN WAR AND THE TURKISH BRIGADE: NORTH STAR

Abstract

It connects the aftermath of North Korea's attack on South Korean territory on June 25, 1950, with the outbreak of the Korean War. The North Korean armies of China and the Soviet Union advanced as far as Seoul, the Korean capital. During this period, South Korea appealed to the United Nations for assistance, which responded positively. Thus, the Korean War gained international significance, and multinational support was provided to South Korea under UN leadership. Seventeen countries are providing military assistance to South Korea, and six are providing medical assistance. Turkey, as a UN member, has pledged to provide a 4,500-person military unit to the UN to maintain international peace and security. The 41st Turkish Brigade completed its preparations and departed for Korea from the Port of İskenderun between September 25-30, 1950, and took up combat positions on the front lines on November 10, 1950. Following its deployment to Korea, the Turkish Brigade began publishing a daily newspaper called "Pole Star" on December 19, 1950. Initially consisting of two or three pages, this publication gradually expanded, featuring front-line combat news, anecdotes, serials, and summaries of news from home and abroad. Greetings and messages from home, particularly through the column titled "Voices from the Homeland," were published, providing a form of emotional communication and moral support through the newspaper. Published regularly from December 19, 1950, to November 22, 1953, the newspaper ceased publication after one issue in 1954 and three in 1955. This study aims to assess the function of periodical publishing in a wartime environment through the study of the newspaper "Kutup Yildizi" (Polar Star), published by the Turkish Brigade during the Korean War. Through an examination of the newspaper's content and format, the study's primary objective is to reveal its multifaceted functions, such as boosting the morale and motivation of Turkish soldiers, providing access to information, and strengthening their ties to the homeland. Furthermore, this study emphasizes the exemplary nature of this publication for the Turkish military press and its unique nature as a document within the context of military and press history, aiming to fill a significant gap in the literature in this field. Drawing on documents from the Presidential Republic Archives, national newspapers of the period, issues of "Kut Yildizi" (Pot Star), and related scholarly sources, this study aims to make a multifaceted contribution to the disciplines of history, communication, media, and military sociology.