Post cards during the First World War: Study on the change of image of Turkey on the example of propaganda material from the First World War

The First World War as reflected by postcards: The image of Turkey

The last incidents in Turkey have shown that the newly elected government in this laicistic country heads for an Turkish membership within the European Union, since Europe stands for a global model of an open-minded and multi-cultural society which outgrows cultural border-lines. Despite of Turkey's being reproached for momentary deficits by the European Union, it has to be emphasized that western values are constitutionally established and also are more and more applied in daily life. No other candidate-country to the European Union is taking as big efforts to overcome its own cultural borderline as Turkey in order to be part of Europe.

In the time of the First World War, there were first attempts to integrate Turkey into the “European Sphere” when Turkey was actively joining the Central Powers with war actions towards the end of 1914. Hand in hand with this event, propaganda instruments of that time show enormous efforts to make Turkey and Islam socially acceptable for Austrian and German ordinary persons in presenting Turkey not only as ally and partner but also as friend on whom one can rely on.

The First Word war is referred to as War of Cultures in the relevant literature; as War of Cultures in order to assert the own national culture against the emergence of alternative, nationally formed mental cultures, which clearly appear in legacies of this time. On the whole, in many aspects, new methods, strategies and technologies develop during World War One which were pioneering for progress of the modern times. In this research project, a main focus is put on the beginning of psychological warfare which changed essentially during the First World War on the influence of propaganda, became systematic and perfect.

The occurrence of mass media during World War One is another preliminary milestone in historical research due to the fact that from now on, daily life of ordinary persons becomes comprehensible with the help of written documents. This new mobility causes new perspectives of communication and interests on which public relations work was founded in later times.

The aim of this study is not to research on the occurrences of the First Word War once more, but on the contrary to study the post card as medium of “visual history” and as valuable primary source for mental history. With the postcard material, one can also document the change in the image about Turks from hereditary enemy to an exotic to an ally and interpret the image of the other part with Austrian-Hungarian-German eyes. Particularly the contribution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire is of main interest in this research project since it has a manifold of parallels to the Ottoman Empire, especially in regard to their status as multinational empires.

The alliance of the Habsburg Monarchy, Germany, the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria (1917) is shown on a lot of contemporary materials like books, placates, brooches, vignettes, ceramic, porcelain, stamps, postcards, etc. This studies concentrates only on the representation of the alliance between the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and the Ottoman Empire.

From where are the post-cards obtained?
The basis for the postcard material to be researched on and analyzed is the collection Tomenendal-Atilgan which has been started 8 years ago and which consists of 450 cards in the meantime. This collection is singular world-wide because of its very special focus.

In which categories are the post cards split up?

The material is divided into different categories. Within the categories, a fundamental division is made into the time before Bulgaria entered the World War [starting with the time when Turkey entered on the side of the Central Powers in 1914] and after Bulgaria joined the belligerents [1917].
The main categories are:

1. flags
2.portrayals of the monarchs and of the generals
3.motives showing humans and animals
a. soldiers
b. women
c. children
d. animals (dogs, cats)
4.greetings card
a. X-Mas
b. New Year
c. Easter Holidays
d. Pentecost
e. Krampus (special
Austrian holiday on
5th of December)
f. Saint’s day
g. Birthday
5. Depiction of Cities
a. Vienna
b. Austrian and German
Cities
6. caricature
7. forces’ postal cards
8. War Loan.

Each of these categories is commentated and – if necessary – further remarks are made. An index of the postcards will be put on the end of the book.

Which languages are going to be involved?

This book-project will be realised trilingually: German, English and Turkish.

Which chapters will be in the book?

short introduction to the Austrian-Turkish relations till Today
Introduction to Mental History of the First World War
History of Propaganda and its tools
History on the Image of Turkey in Europe.