Today in History – 23 February

Turkey enters World War II

Despite İsmet İnönü’s considerable efforts to avoid it, Turkey entered World War II of her own volition on February 23, 1945 and declared war against Germany and Japan.

Although Turkey did not partake in World War II in the militaristic sense, she was profoundly affected by the repercussions of this total war. Pursuing a balance policy under the leadership of İsmet İnönü, Turkey had succeeded in remaining neutral despite the attempts of the Axis Powers, led by Germany, as well as the Allies, to coerce her into join their ranks.

Nonetheless, as the fate of the war was being shaped in the summer of 1944, Turkey opted to side with the Allies and decided to sever all diplomatic ties with Germany and Japan. Once it was ruled that only countries that had declared war against Germany before March 1, 1945 could become members of the newly establishing United Nations, Turkey declared war against Germany on February 23, 1945.

World War II ended nearly two months after that.