Akbaba 1945 Humor Magazine Turkish Turkey Germany Hitler Mussolini WW2 era Italy Japan Britain

Akbaba Humor Magazine – “The Nazi and Fascist Spirits: Japan Is Still Burning!” – Issue No. 70 – 1945 – 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 70, was published in 1945. Its cover features Hitler and Mussolini depicted as winged figures rising above flames. Their dialogue reads: “Nazi Spirit: Poor Japan! It was our most fiery partner... Fascist Spirit: Yes... We have turned to ashes, while Japan is still burning!” Through this dramatic imagery and dark humour, the illustration satirizes the collapse of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy while referring to Japan's continued involvement in the Second World War.

An interior cartoon depicts Allied leaders playing football, accompanied by a humorous exchange in which a British figure warns, “Careful! If the one behind us gets his foot on our ball, we may never get it back!” The illustration uses a football match as a metaphor for Allied cooperation, political rivalry, and the uncertainty surrounding the postwar balance of power. Together, these cartoons offer a glimpse into Turkish political satire and contemporary perceptions of the final stages of the Second World War in 1945.

Key Features:

• Publication: Akbaba

• Issue Number: 70

• Publication Year: 1945

• Language: Turkish

• Publication Type: Political humor and satire magazine

• Founders: Yusuf Ziya Ortaç and Orhan Seyfi Orhon

• Cover Feature: Hitler and Mussolini depicted as winged figures rising above flames

• Cover Dialogue: “Nazi Spirit: Poor Japan! It was our most fiery partner... Fascist Spirit: Yes... We have turned to ashes, while Japan is still burning!”

• Political Satire: The collapse of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy and Japan's continued involvement in the war

• Interior Cartoon: Allied leaders playing football, using the game as a metaphor for political relations and the postwar balance of power

• Interior Dialogue: “Careful! If the one behind us gets his foot on our ball, we may never get it back!”

• Historical Interest: Turkish political caricature and commentary on the final phase of the Second World War in 1945