Akbaba 1944 Humor Magazine Turkish Turkey The Black Sea Germany WW2 era United States Madame Butterfly

Akbaba Humor Magazine – “The Black Sea: The Star Storm” – Issue No. 7 – April 20, 1944 – Turkish Edition

Description:

Akbaba was one of the longest-running political humor magazines in Turkish press history, founded by Yusuf Ziya Ortaç and Orhan Seyfi Orhon, prominent figures associated with the Beş Hececiler literary movement. Published from 1922 to 1977, with interruptions, the magazine addressed social problems, bureaucratic shortcomings, political rivalries, economic difficulties, and everyday life through caricatures, satirical poetry, and humorous writing. It became an influential platform for Turkish satire, featuring contributions from important literary and artistic figures such as Aziz Nesin, Rıfat Ilgaz, and Turhan Selçuk.

This issue, number 7, is dated April 20, 1944. Its colourful cover, titled “The Black Sea: The Star Storm,” depicts a figure rowing a small boat across rough, stormy waters. A swastika emblem is visible on the boat, creating a striking political image against the turbulent sea. Through this maritime scene, the cover uses visual symbolism and wartime references to comment on the international situation and the ongoing conflict in the Black Sea region.

An interior cartoon titled “America: Look How They Feed Them!” criticizes the assistance provided to Germany by neutral countries and depicts the American Secretary of State expressing his frustration over the situation. The issue also includes “O Ruh!” (“That Spirit!”), an editorial written by Yusuf Ziya Ortaç, and a portrait and interview with Mesude Çağlayan, featured in her role as Madame Butterfly. Together, these contributions combine political satire, literary commentary, and performing arts coverage, offering an interesting glimpse into Turkish cultural and political publishing in April 1944.

Key Features:

• Publication: Akbaba

• Issue Number: 7

• Publication Date: April 20, 1944 (20 Nisan 1944)

• Language: Turkish

• Publication Type: Political humor and satire magazine

• Founders: Yusuf Ziya Ortaç and Orhan Seyfi Orhon

• Cover Feature: “The Black Sea: The Star Storm,” depicting a figure rowing a small boat marked with a swastika across rough waters

• Political Satire: Wartime developments and the situation in the Black Sea region

• Interior Cartoon: “America: Look How They Feed Them!”, criticizing assistance provided to Germany by neutral countries

• Editorial: “O Ruh!” (“That Spirit!”), written by Yusuf Ziya Ortaç

• Theatre and Music Feature: Portrait and interview with Mesude Çağlayan in her role as Madame Butterfly

• Historical Interest: Turkish political satire, wartime commentary, literature, and performing arts coverage from April 1944