WAR AND RUMORS IN THE TURKISH PRESS: THE BEGINNING OF OPERATION BARBAROSSA

Abstract

Operation Barbarossa, the most important turning point of the Second World War, was also of great importance for Türkiye, which was in danger of going to war at any moment. The German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact signed on 23 August 1939 did not last long. As a matter of fact, Germany attacked the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941, and this started a new era for the Second World War. This situation, which further increased Türkiye’s uneasiness about the war, was followed closely by the Turkish press, and the war discourses expressed just before the attack were constantly brought to the agenda. Document analysis, one of the qualitative research methods, was used in the study. In this study, the views of the Turkish public on this great front that shook the whole world were followed through Akşam, Cumhuriyet, Tan and Ulus newspapers. News and columns about the subject in newspapers were included in the study. Thus, it was aimed to develop a perspective that has never been put forward by the press on the subject before. As a result, it has been determined that the Turkish press, which does not want Türkiye to actually take part in this war, uses cautious, peaceful but realistic discourses.

Key words: Germany, Operation Barbarossa, Soviet Union, Turkish Press.