The correspondent of the Bulgarian newspaper Utro, Wanda Zembruska, made history as the first female journalist to report on the impressions of the 1915 Gallipoli Front. Born in 1889, Zembruska, coming from Sofia at the age of 26, broadcasted the conflicts in the Gallipoli Front to the world. Visiting the headquarters of the Anafartalar Group Commander Colonel Mustafa Kemal, Zembruska described the bravery of the Turkish soldiers as “Turks resemble a rocky shore where the angry sea waves break.”

Zembruska, the correspondent of the Bulgarian newspaper Utro, made her mark in press history as the only female journalist to report the bloody battles of the Gallipoli Wars on all fronts 110 years ago.

In July 1915, to cover the discussions of the Ottoman-Bulgarian Border Rectification Agreement, Zembruska came to Istanbul and made great efforts to observe the Gallipoli Front in person. Searching for ways to reach the vicinity of the front for about a month, Zembruska eventually reached the Gallipoli Peninsula via Tekirdağ. Here, she prepared reports by observing firsthand the intensity and difficulties of the war under the bombardment and shelling for 10 days. EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP OF MUSTAFA KEMAL

In her letters, Zembruska expresses her admiration for the military strategies and leadership qualities of Anafartalar Group Commander Mustafa Kemal during their meetings. Zembruska describes Mustafa Kemal’s work in the headquarters and his calm management style as “He manages everything like a skillful chess player.” Zembruska emphasizes that Mustafa Kemal’s decisions on the battlefield require high intelligence and careful strategic planning.

FATE OF THE WAR: ANAFARTALAR

In her letters, Zembruska also mentions her visit to Mustafa Kemal’s headquarters at a time corresponding to the British attack on Anafartalar. Making important observations about the morale Mustafa Kemal gave to his soldiers and his calm management, Zembruska carries Mustafa Kemal’s tactic of winning the war and the quote “If you have no bullet, you have your bayonet” in her letters.

Referring to a staff doctor’s statement that the repulse plan was brilliantly drawn, Zembruska says, “It is indeed apparent, since the English have been attacking with reinforcement forces for four hours and deploying two and a half new divisions over a 20-kilometer front. (The entire battle line of the Gallipoli Peninsula is around 50 kilometers). The batteries of large cruisers and steamboats are also supporting the attack and all in vain. The Turks resemble a rocky shore where the angry sea waves break.” THE MYSTERIOUS FACE OF GALLIPOLI

Zembruska’s letters describing the Gallipoli Front shed light on significant moments of the war and Mustafa Kemal’s leadership qualities. The journalist draws attention to the humane aspects of the war, mentioning the resilience of the Ottoman soldiers and the role of the Turkish army in achieving victory. These letters penned by Zembruska provided insights into the details of the war and introduced Mustafa Kemal’s leadership to a wider audience.

LETTERS ILLUMINATING HISTORY

Zembruska’s letters sent from the Gallipoli Front to her newspaper were included in the book “Our Correspondent Reports from the Gallipoli Front,” published in 2019 by Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Mevsim from the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures and Bulgarian Language and Literature at the Faculty of Languages-History-Geography at Ankara University.

Zembruska stood out not only as a war correspondent but also as a historical writer portraying the humane side of war.

PRESS AND CENSORSHIP

By traveling to the Gallipoli Front, Zembruska accessed vital information not only through her written articles but also on the censored aspects of the war. Journalists were briefed by military authorities before going to the front, and their articles were examined by the Censorship Department. While the role of the press was crucial during this period, Zembruska and other journalists undertook a significant duty in bringing the truth to the public.