Between War and Diploma: The German Invasion of Belgium in World War II and Turkish Students
Following Germany’s attack on Poland on September 1, 1939, the Turkish government initiated the withdrawal of Turkish students from Germany and France entirely and partially from other European countries. However, misled by the initial stagnation of the war, the government soon allowed many of these...
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| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | deu |
| Published: |
Istanbul University Press
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Yakın Dönem Türkiye Araştırmaları |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/428D44C9BB084C48B3B9ACE28E9D82BC |
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| Summary: | Following Germany’s attack on Poland on September 1, 1939, the Turkish government initiated the withdrawal of Turkish students from Germany and France entirely and partially from other European countries. However, misled by the initial stagnation of the war, the government soon allowed many of these students to return to their respective countries of study. By May 10, 1940, when Germany launched its offensive on Belgium, 81 Turkish students were present in the country. In the aftermath of the attack, approximately half of these students managed to cross into France under challenging conditions, while the remainder were unable to do so. The Turkish government left the students who had reached France to decide independently whether to return home. It was only in late July 1940 that a decision was made to repatriate all Turkish students from France and Belgium. This article explores the experiences of Turkish students in Belgium during the German offensive, the efforts and obstacles encountered in repatriating those who crossed to France and those who remained in Belgium, and the debates over the perceived abandonment of these students by the Turkish government. It also critically assesses the government’s role in both the emergence of this situation and the strategies employed to resolve it. The article concludes that the Turkish government’s inconsistent and often irrational approach to Turkish students in Europe was primarily influenced by misplaced optimism in Britain and France’s ability to halt Germany’s advance. |
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| ISSN: | 2547-9679 |