This document provides background information on Turkey's involvement in the Korean War from 1950-1953. It summarizes that Turkey joined the UN coalition to aid South Korea after North Korea initially attacked. Turkey sent three brigades over the three year period, totaling around 15,000 troops. The Turkish Brigade engaged in several important battles and suffered over 1,000 casualties. Their efforts helped change the course of the war four times. The document pays tribute to the Turkish soldiers who fought bravely in the Korean War.

1. CODE NAME NORTH STAR
“ŞİMAL YILDIZI”
celilbektaş

2. Let’s think!

3. KOREAN WAR - BACKGROUND
 On June 1950, North Korea initiated an attack to South
Korea.
 Then the United Nations requested a military aid to
South Korea.
 On 29 June 1950, the government of the Republic of
Turkey replied to the United Nations Resolution.
 Turkey was the second country to answer the UN call,
after the United States.

4. KOREAN WAR – REASON, AIM TO JOINING
 After WW II, Russia was threatening Turkey.
 Turkey had to choose her side.
 So, Turkey decided to join the NATO.
 Thus, Turkey had to participate the Korean War.

5. THE TURKISH BRIGADE
 Code name North Star, Turkish: Şimal Yıldızı or
Kutup Yıldızı
 Three different Turkish Brigades served in the
Korean War, each replacing the previous one, each
year. (1950-1953)
 Brigadier General Tahsin Yazıcı, a veteran of World
War I, who had volunteered to lead this force.

6. THE TURKISH BRIGADE COMPRISED OF
 3 Infantry Battalions
 Motorized Field Artillery Battalion
 Motorized Engineering Unit
 Motorized Anti-Aircraft Battery
 Transportation Truck Unit
 Motorized Signal Platoon
 Motorized Anti-Tank Platoon
 Medical Unit
 Repair and Maintenance Unit
 Military Band

7. THE TURKISH BRIGADE - BATTLES
 The Turkish Brigade, between November 1950 and
July 1953, fought in the following battles:
 Battle of Kunuri (November–December 1950)
 Kumyangjang-Ni (January 1951)
 22–23 April 1951; the Chorwon-Seoul diversion; the
Taegyewonni defense; the Barhar-Kumhwa attacks;
and
 28–29 May 1953; the Vegas battle during Battle of
the Hook.

8. LOSSES
 A total of 14,936 men served in the brigade between
1950–1953 with about 5,455 soldiers in Korea at any
one time.
 Losses of Turkish Brigade in Korea:
 721 killed in action
 2,111 wounded
 168 missing
 234 captive

9. KOREAN WAR
 The Turks who were out of ammunition, -
affixed their bayonets and attacked the
enemy and there ensued a terrible hand to
hand combat.
 While the Turks, were for a long time
fighting - against the enemy and dying; -
the British and Americans were withdrawing.
U.K. British Lit. General Hon. G.G. Martin

12.  The Turkish forces have changed (four) 4 times the
destiny of the Korean War during the battles in Korea
from 1950 to 1953.
U.K. British Lit. General Hon. G.G. Martin

14. DECORATIONS
Turkish Brigade commander General Tahsin Yazıcı
decorated by US General Walker…
1. Distinguished Unit Citation
(United States)
2. Presidential Unit Citation
(Korea)

15.  Kenan Evren, seventh President of Republic of Turkey,
served in the Brigade from 1958–59.

16. RESULT
 The War ended in 1953.
 Korea was divided into two parts; The South and The
North.
 On 18 February1952, Turkey became a member of the
NATO.

17.  The Standard of Turkish Armed Forces in the Korean War, in
Istanbul Military Museum.

18. A CHILDHOOD DREAM…
My childhood wish
was to visit the Turkish Memorial Cemetery in S.Korea.

19. The United Nations Memorial Cemetery
in Busan, South Korea

20. The United Nations Memorial Cemetery is the burial place for
462 of Turkish casualties.

38. Korean sportsmen show their respects to Turkish Ghazis of
the Korean War…