An experimental investigation of a two‐dimensional turbulent wake behind a spinning cylinder at Re=9000 is carried out to determine the influence of the rotation on the initial development of the flow. Spectral analysis of the velocity data measured in the near wake shows that for peripheral velocities up to the value of the free‐stream velocity, a distinct Ka´rma´n vortex activity exists within the wake, whereas for greater peripheral velocities, the Ka´rma´n activity deteriorates and disappears for values in excess of twice the free‐stream velocity.