The Appearance of Prisoner Exchange in Turkey in the Press during the World War II Period

This study focuses on prisoner exchange; in the context of negotiations launched on prisoner exchange between the groups of World War II, Allied and Axis; in purpose of providing the prisoners to return to their home countries; especially, who have been injured and those who have lost their physical or mental health in East Africa. As a result of this focus, the study aims to determine the presentation of 5 prisoner exchange programs made on various dates of 1942 and 1943 to public; which Turkey; in accordance with the Geneva Convention as a neutral country, allowed to take place in its own waters in the period mentioned above. For this purpose, by using document scanning method; the statements, the assessments, the comments and the information which obtained from the documents reached from the state archive; which were in the news of the press of that period, about prisoner Exchange, the mechanism of the process is being stated. Consequently, it is understood that; by taking initiative to provide British and Italian prisoners to return to their countries, through the humanitarian activities for the prisoners, which carried out by the Red Crescent Society in Izmir and Mersin Ports; Turkey; not only achieved an appreciation for itself but also contributed to the internationalization of the issue. As the study put forth the prisoner exchange through the press of that period, it contains originality that differs from its counterparts in the literature