The First World War was one of the most destructive and bloody conflicts in human history. The fighting took place on land, in the air, at sea and under water. For the first time, poisonous substances and airships, tanks in a classic layout, and fully automatic machine guns were massively used.
As a result of the post-war redistribution of the world, the four largest empires ceased to exist: Russian, Ottoman, German and Austro-Hungarian. Turkey occupied vast areas in the west of Eurasia and northern Africa, but by the start of hostilities in Europe, it had lost almost all of these territories.
Turkey on the threshold of World War I
The empire, which has united diverse traditions, has always strived to maintain balance. But at the turn of the century, Turkey, which was going through a long crisis, faced new problems: the creation of a new world economic system and the development of a national idea. This finally undermined the balance of power.
On the outskirts of the empireseparatist movements were greatly intensified, industry was very weakened, the feudal system prevailed, which had long been outdated, most of the inhabitants could not read and write. There were no railways in the country, and their construction was practically impossible, the means of communication were generally very poorly developed.
There were no funds and weapons, there was not enough finance and manpower, the moral strength of the army weakened (they began to call on Christians who were not reliable components of the military machine). The country had a large external debt and was heavily dependent on imports from Austria-Hungary and Germany.
Declaration of war on Atlanta
Turkey during the First World War did not belong to those states that successfully developed in the new conditions that developed in connection with the industrial revolution and the accumulation of capital, but (as already mentioned) was heavily dependent on the German and Austro-Hungarian empires. So, in August 1914, German cruisers entered the harbor of Istanbul for secret negotiations with the Turkish government.
Turkey's goals in World War I are clear. The lack of a raw material base and the loss of territory made the return of the Balkan Peninsula, the seizure of the Crimea, Iran, and the Caucasus the main aspiration of the country's top leadership. In relation to the Russian Empire, the Ottoman Empire longed for revenge for the defeat in the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878. Turkey's entry into the First World War took place on October 30 as part of the Central States bloc.
Cruisers Grozny and Pony
In November 1914Ottoman troops were deployed in the area of the straits, in Eastern Anatolia, Palestine and Mesopotamia. A supreme commander-in-chief was appointed, but the military minister Enver Pasha actually led the troops. The government of the country acted on the side of Germany, so it largely coordinated its actions with the headquarters of the German army.
The Ottoman army was equipped and prepared for combat operations by German instructors. German officers directly acted in the Turkish army in combat operations. German warships were included in the fleet of the weakened power: the light cruiser Breslau and the battleship Goeben.
Within a day after the ships entered the Dardanelles, they were renamed, the flags of the Ottoman Empire were raised over the cruisers. "Goeben" was named "Yavuz" in honor of one of the Ottoman sultans, which means "Terrible" in translation, and "Beslau" was called "Midilli", that is, "Pony".
The appearance of ships in the waters of the Black Sea literally changed the balance of power. The Russian fleet had to reckon with the ships of the Ottoman Empire. "Midilli" and "Yavuz" made numerous raids on the bases of Sevastopol, Odessa, Feodosia and Novorossiysk. Turkey destroyed transport, acted on communications, but avoided a decisive battle with the Russian fleet.
Caucasian Front in World War I
Turkey in the First World War sought to expand its zone of influence in the Caucasus, but one of the most important fronts was stilland the most problematic. Successes turned into a devastating defeat for the Ottoman army near Sarykamysh. During the offensive, the troops suffered heavy losses, which were also facilitated by severe frosts. The Russian army managed to push back the enemy and launch a counteroffensive.
Dardanelle operation
The joint actions of the fleets of Great Britain and France were aimed at withdrawing the Ottoman Empire from the war, capturing Constantinople, the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus, restoring communication with the Russian Empire through the Black Sea. Turkey in the First World War stubbornly resisted and successfully repelled attacks. The allies increased their forces, but in the end they were still forced to capitulate.
Hope for "Lightning"
In the summer of 1917, a group was formed that controlled Palestine, Iraq and Syria. The name was chosen after Sultan Bayezid I, who went down in history under the nickname "Lightning". Bayazid I, who ruled at the end of the fourteenth century, was indeed famous for his swift raids, but was eventually defeated by the troops of Tamerlane, ended his life in captivity, and the empire was then practically destroyed.
The specified army group took the last battle on the Syrian front. The Ottoman forces were opposed by the British and Arab armies. The Ottoman army, which was greatly inferior in strength, was forced to retreat, and the allies occupied Tripoli, Damascus, Akka and Aleppo. For the last eight days, the army group was led by Mustafa Kemal Pasha, before that commanded by the German General Liman vonSanders.
Turkish capitulation: chronicle of events
Turkey's participation in the First World War turned into a disaster. The army of the Ottoman Empire suffered a complete and unconditional defeat on all fronts. The armistice was signed on October 30, 1918 in Mudros Bay. In fact, it was the surrender of Turkey in the First World War.
Within a month after the signing of the document in Istanbul, British, French, Greek and Italian ships anchored, and the British occupied the forts in the straits. English soldiers were the first to enter the streets of the capital, then they were joined by the French and Italian armies. The capital was handed over to the winners. Thus ended Turkey's participation in World War I.
The collapse of the Ottoman Empire: results
Even in the nineteenth century, the Ottoman Empire was called the "sick man of Europe". Turkey was practically invincible by 1680, but after a major defeat at Vienna in 1683, she lost her position. Gradually, the success of the country came to naught. The collapse of an empire is a long process. The First World War finally formalized the long process of the disintegration of Turkey, which actually began at the end of the seventeenth century.
Turkey after the First World War actually ceased to exist. The Ottoman Empire lost its independence and was dismembered in the interests of the victorious states. Control remained only over a small European territory near Istanbul and Asia Minor (except for Cilicia). Palestine, Arabia were separated from the Ottoman Empire,Armenia, Syria, Mesopotamia.
