The Alemdar Newspaper was one of the notable publications of the Second Constitutional Era and the Armistice Period. Founded in 1911 by Refi' Cevad (Ulunay), the newspaper, despite experiencing interruptions in publication at various times, made a significant impact on the public, particularly with its anti-Committee of Union and Progress stance. Its editorial policies, content, and staff played an active role in the political debates of the period.

Foundation Process and Early Publication

The newspaper's roots lie in the Şehrah newspaper, previously managed by Refi' Cevad. Alemdar was one of the newspaper's interim names. Refi' Cevad applied to launch his newspaper in 1910, but his initial petition was rejected due to the age requirement. A re-application on March 3, 1911, after he turned 21, was accepted. The first publication took place on August 13, 1912.

During this period, Alemdar focused his opposition on the Committee of Union and Progress; The newspaper was occasionally censored and continued to publish under different names. During this period, it collaborated with figures such as Ahmet Kadri and maintained a staunch political opposition.

Armistice Period Editorial Policy

Alemdar, which resumed publication on December 15, 1918, following Refi' Cevad's return from exile, published 880 issues during this period. During this period, Refi' Cevad served primarily as editor-in-chief, but columnists such as Mustafa Sabri, Refik Halit, and Rıza Tevfik also wrote. Alemdar pursued a rich editorial policy, including visuals, satire, serialized articles, and political content.

Opposition to the National Struggle and Reactions

The newspaper's editorial line was openly opposed to the National Struggle movement. For this reason, Mustafa Kemal Pasha ordered that Alemdar and similar newspapers not be allowed into Anatolia. Refi' Cevad and some other writers viewed the Anatolian movement as a Unionist initiative. This perspective limited Alemdar's influence on the public.

The Closure Process

In early 1921, Alemdar attempted to change his editorial policy and pursue a non-political stance, but he was unsuccessful. His final attempts to publish in July and September 1921 were also unsuccessful. The newspaper, which ceased publication after the Battle of Sakarya, was shut down due to lack of public support and economic reasons.