[PROPAGANDA POSTER / NATO / KOREAN WAR (1950-1953)] Hürriyet Kalesi: Türkiye sulh ve Hürriyet yolunda bölünmez bir bütündür. Türkiye, hür dünyanin, isbirligi sayesinde hür kalabilecegine inaniyor... [i.e., Castle of Freedom...

COMPLETE TITLE: Hürriyet Kalesi: Türkiye sulh ve Hürriyet yolunda bölünmez bir bütündür. Türkiye, hür dünyanin, isbirligi sayesinde hür kalabilecegine inaniyor. Türkiye, on dört Hürriyetsever milletin kurdugu NATO’ya -Atlantik Paktı’na- inaniyor [i.e., Castle of Freedom: Turkey is an indivisible whole on the path of peace and freedom. Turkey believes that the free world can remain free through cooperation. Turkey believes in NATO -the Atlantic Pact- established by fourteen freedom-loving nations].

Millî Savunma Vekâleti Temsil Bürosu / Amerikan Haberler Merkezi [United States Information Centre] / Dogus Ltd. O. Matbaasi, Ankara, [between 1952-55].

Original trichrome offset lithograph poster. 72 x 50 cm. In Turkish. Fold marks both horizontally and vertically, slight chippings of extremities with light toning on paper. Overall, a good copy.

An early offset lithograph propaganda poster for NATO, featuring an inset image of the Turkish Brigade in Korea, showing soldiers raising the Turkish flag. The accompanying caption reads: “Turkey is stronger thanks to NATO; NATO is stronger thanks to Turkey - The crescent and star wave with honour in Korea.

The poster depicts four scenes: The first shows the NATO Supreme Commander visiting a Turkish Tank School near Ankara. The second, accompanied by the caption “Vigilant Turkish soldiers stand guard at the Kars–Soviet border,” portrays two Turkish soldiers on duty at the border. The third scene shows Turkish soldiers raising their flag during the Korean War. The fourth and final scene illustrates Turkish UN delegate Selim Sarper successfully passing a resolution at the UN Congress, while Russia voices its opposition.

The poster was printed by USIC. The United States Information Centre (USIC) is a propaganda and cultural diplomacy organization established by the U.S. government. Its mission is to inform the public about American policies, culture, history, and values, and to create a positive image of the United States. Operating in various countries around the world, USIC conducted propaganda activities aimed at promoting the ideals and democracy of the United States through educational programs, cultural events, and publications. Especially during the Cold War, it served as an important tool to spread American values and counter Soviet propaganda in the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc countries.

NATO propaganda posters, published in Turkey since the 1950s, have been used to reflect the political and military atmosphere of the Cold War period. These posters aimed to emphasize NATO’s importance to Turkey and to garner public support for the alliance. Typically adorned with images highlighting the bravery of Turkish soldiers and the strategic cooperation within NATO, the posters served both as propaganda to the domestic population and as a strong message to the outside world against the Soviet Union and communism. The heroism of the Turkish Brigade serving in the Korean War, as well as the collective defence strength of the NATO alliance, were common themes depicted in these posters. Today, these propaganda materials are extremely rare and are regarded as important visual documents symbolizing Turkey’s role within NATO.

As of August 2025, we couldn’t trace any copies in OCLC.