II. Dünya Savaşı Yıllarında Türkiye'nin Mülteciler ile İlgili Politikaları
Description
Dünya Savaşı, tarihin o güne kadar gördüğü en kanlı ve şiddetli savaştı. Milyonlarca insan savaşın şiddetinden uzaklaşabilmek için evlerini terk etmek zorunda kalmış ve farklı ülkelere sığınmıştı. Türkiye de II. Dünya Savaşı boyunca, savaşın yıkıcı etkilerini sınırlarının dışında tutmak için akılcı bir denge politikası izlemişti. Bu sayede savaşın son günlerine kadar savaş dışı kalmayı başaran Türkiye, mülteciler için güvenli bir liman halini de almıştı. Nitekim savaş boyunca hem sivil hem de asker olmak üzere binlerce insan Türkiye’ye iltica etmişti.
Türkiye savaş döneminde zaruri bir olağanüstü hal uygulaması içindeydi. Türk ekonomisi bu şartlar karşısında oldukça yıpranmıştı. Bu sebeple Türkiye, iltica hareketlerine temkinli yaklaşmış ve bunları mümkün olan en kısa sürede ülkelerine veya başka ülkelere göndermişti. Buna rağmen Türkiye’nin kendisine sığınan mültecilerin tüm ihtiyaçlarını karşılamaya çalıştığı ve konu ile ilgili gerekli tedbirleri aldığı da bilinmektedir.
Askeri mültecilerin durumu, dönemin Türk hükümetlerinin üzerinde hassasiyetle durduğu bir başka konu olmuştur. Bu konuda yönetmelikler hazırlanmış ve askeri mülteciler gözaltı kampları olarak da nitelendirilen kamplarda sıkı kurallar ile muhafaza edilmişlerdi.
Türkiye’ye sığınan mülteciler arasında Türk soylular, diğer milletlere mensup olan mültecilere göre daha kolay kabul görmüşlerdi. Bu kişilere ülke içinde serbest dolaşım hakkı verilmişti. Dileyen Türk soylu mülteciler, TC vatandaşlığına da kabul edilmişlerdi. II. Dünya Savaşı sona erdikten sonra, mülteci kampları kapatılmaya başlanmıştı. Türkiye’de kalan askeri mülteciler Kastamonu’daki mülteci misafirhanesine nakledilmişlerdi. Öte yandan ülkesine dönme imkânı bulamayan siviller de Türkiye’den ayrılamamışlar ve vatandaşlık için Hükümete başvuruda bulunmuşlardı.
Çalışmamızın amacı, II. Dünya Savaşı yıllarında Türkiye’nin mülteci meselesine yaklaşımının genel bir değerlendirmesini yapmaktır. Konu ile ilgili olarak telif-tetkik eserlerden ve resmi belgelerden istifade edilmiştir.
Abstract (En)
Extended Abstract
World War II, which began with Germany’s attack on Poland, was the bloodiest and most destructive war the world had ever experienced. Due to the violence of the war, which spread globally in a short time, many people were forced to leave their homes and seek refuge in countries they considered safe. This situation created a major refugee crisis worldwide.
The Turkish statesmen of the period had direct experience of World War I. Moreover, they had also led and managed the War of Independence, which the Turkish nation fought to protect its sovereignty after the war. For this reason, the Turkish leadership of the time pursued a rational policy of balance to ensure that Turkey stayed out of the war. Turkey’s neutrality policy, maintained until the final days of the war, made it a safe haven for citizens of neighboring countries involved in the conflict.
The racist policies pursued by Germany forced Jews living both within its borders and in the regions it occupied to migrate to other areas. Turkey became a transit route, particularly for Jews attempting to reach Palestine. However, due to Turkey's concerns about deteriorating relations with Germany and Britain’s quota restrictions on Jewish migration to Palestine, Turkey could only permit those with proper authorization to pass through. Some Jews managed to cross directly into Palestine through Turkey, while others remained as refugees in Turkey until they found an opportunity to migrate.
Turkey was undoubtedly the country most affected by the wave of migration triggered by Germany’s advances in Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Following the occupation of Greece, many people sought refuge in Turkey, including those from mainland Greece and the islands in the Aegean Sea under Greek control. Although Turkey enforced strict border controls and occasionally deported captured refugees, it was soon compelled to host thousands of Greek refugees.
Turkey faced significant economic challenges during this period. Moreover, due to wartime conditions, a general mobilization was in effect throughout the country. Considering the nation’s strained circumstances, the government sought to control the refugee population to prevent espionage, maintain public order, and curb the spread of epidemics. The policy adopted regarding the Greek refugees who arrived in Çeşme in 1942 and whose situation caused public discomfort exemplifies the government’s approach to refugee issues. While the Turkish government took measures to safeguard national security, it also mobilized resources to meet the needs of these individuals. Turkey successfully fulfilled its humanitarian responsibilities until the refugees were able to return to their countries.
When determining its refugee policies, the Turkish government naturally treated Turkish refugees differently. Turks were admitted to the country more easily and, unlike other refugees, were granted the right to free movement. Furthermore, those who desired it were even offered Turkish citizenship.
During this period, the Republic of Turkey was also a safe haven for military refugees. The government closely monitored the situation of foreign soldiers who sought refuge in the country, drafting decrees to regulate their treatment. The initial measures included covering the expenses of refugee soldiers and placing them in military refugee camps.
The administration of military refugee camps, also referred to as detention camps, was governed by very strict regulations. Everything, from the amount of money soldiers were allowed to carry to the jobs they could undertake, and from the cleanliness and food provisions to the sanitary conditions of the camps, was meticulously outlined in these regulations.
After the war ended, military refugee camps were gradually closed, and the remaining soldiers were transferred to the Kastamonu Refugee Guesthouse. In addition to military refugees, there were 1,221 civilian refugees in Turkey as of 1946. According to a United Nations report, these refugees were individuals who were deemed unlikely to return to their home countries.
Turkey assumed a significant humanitarian responsibility during the war, successfully protecting refugees from various nations who sought its shelter despite the economic and political difficulties it faced domestically. As a country that has historically served as a sanctuary for oppressed nations, Turkey continued to protect innocent people who faced persecution even after World War II.
Files
11 II. Dünya Savaşı Yıllarında Türkiye'nin Mülteciler ile İlgili Politikaları.pdf
Files
(703.8 kB)
Name | Size | Download all |
---|---|---|
md5:9281c37bdd43706a3e688941de038fa4
|
703.8 kB | Preview Download |
Additional details
Dates
- Available
-
2024-12-31