World War I Ottoman-German relations and the weapon factor

The Ottoman Empire, undergoing a challenging period before the onset of World War I, found itself facing military, economic, and political difficulties in the late 19th century. The empire experienced significant territorial losses during the Balkan Wars (1912-1913), resulting in the loss of a substantial portion of its European territories. Economic instability further exacerbated the general weakness of the empire. As part of the efforts to modernize the army, military delegations were periodically requested from Germany, and continuous delegations were brought in during specific periods. Dealing with national independence movements internally as a natural consequence of lost wars and territorial setbacks, the empire also faced various external pressures, leading to the necessity of pursuing a balance of power policy among great powers. In the context of alliances during World War I, the Ottoman Empire approached states such as England, France, Russia, Bulgaria, and Greece, but its alliance attempts were rejected by these states under various pretexts. At the beginning of World War I, the Ottoman Empire adopted a policy of neutrality, striving to stay away from the conflict through concentrated diplomatic efforts. Recognizing the heavy cost of remaining isolated, the Ottoman Empire, influenced and pressured by German officers within its army, eventually agreed to enter the war alongside Germany. This study aims to explore the benefits and drawbacks, both militarily and politically, for the Ottoman Empire in joining World War I on the side of Germany. Key Words: World War I, Military Delegations, Mauser Rifles, Liman von Sanders, Krupp Company.