Anglo-Turkish commercial relations in the Second World War

The changes that occurred in the international trade after the Great Depression of 1929 have been quite important to be able to understand the developments that would happen until the Second World War. The balance of power that started to change by the 1930s also affected commercial life. In this period, international commercial transactions were generally carried out in accordance with the clearing system. It is our observation that Anglo-Turkish commercial relations started to improve in the last quarter of the 1930s. The massive influence Germany had over the economy of Turkey in the interwar period changed the course of Anglo-Turkish commercial relations. The rivalry British government had against Germany directly affected both political and commercial relations. With the outbreak of the World War II, attaining dominance over the economy of Turkey became a matter of rivalry between the Allied and Axis powers. The attempts of both alliances to recruit Turkey for their side had an influence on the field of economy as well. As a neutral country, Turkey maintained its commercial relations with both the Allies and the Axis until breaking off its relations with Germany. Most of Turkey's export consisted of agricultural products and among its imports were processed goods of all kinds. Anglo-Turkish commercial relations didn't improve at a scale desired by the officials of both countries between the years of 1939 and 1945. The economic sphere influence British government aimed to establish in Turkey could not be created despite all attempts. This study discusses the stages that Anglo-Turkish commercial relations went through during the war. Archival documents, Turkish and British parliamentary minutes, journals, the press of the period and several other works were used as resources and by comparing the data obtained, an insight into the Anglo-Turkish commercial relations of the time was attempted. Keywords: Second World War, Anglo-Turkish commercial relations, export, import, clearing system, propaganda effort.