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Why was Turkey so valuable to either side in the war? What reservations of participation did the Turks have? What did England do to push the Turks toward alliance with German?
a.)Turkey was valuable to either side because of her location at the ‘junction of the paths of empires’. Which ever side Turkey sided with would control the passage between the Black Sea and the Mediteranean as well as passage to India.
1.)Furthermore, if the Germans were to gain control, Russia’s only year-round access to the rest of the world by sea would be in enemy control, thus cutting her off from allies and supplies.
b.)Turkey was very unsure of which side of the war it wanted to enter. In the words of Tuchman, “ Fearing Russia, resenting England, mistrusting Germany, they could not decide.”
1.)The leader of the Young Turks or “the Committee”, EnverBey, was the only whole hearted supporter of a German Alliance.
2.)On the other hand TalaatBey, the political “Boss” of the “Committee” believed that Turkey would receive a better price from Germany as opposed to the Entente. He also didn’t believe that Turkey would survive if they remained neutral.
- Entente victory would bring about the crumbling of the Ottoman empire due to pressure.
- Central Powers victory would cause them to become a ‘German vassal’.
3.)Alothough those two thinkers align, other groups in the gov’t would have preferred an alliance with the Entente, if it had been possible, ‘in hope of buying off Russia’.
c.)England had already begun to tire of being the ‘traditional protector’ of the Turks and Churchill referred to Turkey as “scandalous, crumbling, decrepit, penniless Turkey.” What truly sent Turkey over the edge and pushing them toward the alliance with Germany was the ‘requisitioning’ of 2 Turkish ships
1.)First class battleships, equal to the best of British ones.
2.)A cost of $30,000,000—an incredible sum especially when considering the time
3.)Paid for through popular subscription postdefeat in the Balkan Wars.
4.)England didn’t try to appologise or make any corrective actions. When questioned directly of it, the reply was that they “felt sure Turkey would understand why England found it necessary to take the ships for her ‘own needs in this time of crisis’.”
5.)Due to the “Sick Man” image of the Ottoman Empire and the “Wrong Horse” concept (Lord Salisbury’s sporting metaphor after the Crimean War, “We have put our money on the wrong horse”) Britain valued the 2 ships as more valuable than the entire Ottoman Empire.
Transition note: the ‘telegram of regrets’ was sent by England on August 3. Turkey signed the treaty of alliance with Germany on that same day, though they did not change from a policy of strict neutrality. They didn’t declare war on Russia nor shut off the Black Sea. Turkey wanted to see the outcome of the first battles before making any true commitments.
Tuchman attributes the phrase “spitting in the soup” to the Kaiser. To what did this refer?
The Kaiser said, with respect to the actions of the British, that they were “spitting in the soup”. The Goebenhad been travelling around the ‘inland seas and straits…roaming its coasts and capes, rounding its islands, visiting its ports…’ in order to familiarize with the ‘places and personalities’ that she would come into contact with in the event of War.
1.)The Goeben met with the Turks, Italians, Greeks Austrians, and the French. “With all but the British”.
2.)The British refused to dock at the same time as the Germans.
3.)Instead, they docked immediately after ‘in order to wipe out any impression the Germans might have made, or, as the Kaiser said, ‘to spit in the soup.’
What was the Goeben and why was First Lord of the British Admiralty Winston Churchill so intent on having it “shadowed”? Describe the epic “flight” of the Goeben and the Breslau.
A.)The Goeben was a German battle cruiser. It weighed 23,000 tons; it was as large as a dreadnought. Recorded trial speed of 27.8 knots.
B.)First Lord Churchill ordered that the Goeben be shadowed for these reasons:
1.)The main one being: fear that it should attack the French transports
- The French transports consisted of the French Colonial core.
- Over 80,000 men
- 3 divisions
- Many believed the importance of the Colonial core was of the utmost importance. “The presence or absence of an entire army corps from its designated place in the line could be decisive upon the French plan of battle…” which, in turn, was believed to be a/the determining factor in the outcome of the war.
- Played a key role in the ever failing pursuit of the Goeben
- Blinded the British to the idea that the Goeben was running a political mission more than a military mission.
2.)The second being that the Goeben was 1 of 2 German Warships in the Mediterranean. The other being the Breslau
- (again the purpose for their presence was originally to be ready to attack the French transports)
C.)The “flight” of the Goeben and the Breslau was indeed of epic proportions.
1.) Admiral Souchonand the Goeben started off in the Strait of Messina(the strait between Italy and Sicily).
a.)Original intent: refuel
b.)Italian neutrality prevented this, but arrangements were made with a German merchant Steamer and Souchon obtained 2000 tons of coal
2.) The Chatham was sent to pursue them there but missed them by 6 hours
3.) Admiral Milne (currently located in Constantinople), of England, finally acted upon the commands from Churchill about pursuing the Goeben
a.) unsure of location or plans due to the failure of the Chatham
b.) assumed the Goeben was to attack French Transport, then to Gibraltar and the open sea
4.) Again the Goeben had been sighted near Italy, this time near Brindisi and with its partner ship the Breslau.
a.) French Commander In Chief, admiral Boue` de Lapeyrere, received the go ahead to “open hostilities” and he was to “stop them”. “…he was to protect the transports by covering them, not by convoy.”
b.)This he ignored due to the “doubtful role” of the British. He continued with convoys.
5.) Souchon left Messina a bit before Lapreyrere had begun forming the convoys. The French fleet and the Goeben and Breslau were now moving towards the same targets (Oran, Algiers, and Philippeville) and went on for the next 24 hours.
a.) at 6:00PM Souchon was informed that war had been declared on France
b.)Souchon’s speed was faster
c.)As he enclosed on the goal of a fire fight with France, he was ordered to “proceed at once to Constantinople”.
d.) he decided to keep on course to attack the French. Ran up the Russian flag.Approached within range.Opened fire.
e.) after this shelling of Phillipeville by the Goeben and the shelling of Bone by the Breslau, the Admiral Souchon turned to go back to Messina to refuel. Then to Constantinople(1,200 mi.)
6.)First opportunity to stop the Goeben lost- Admiral de Lapeyrere assumed that the two ships would continue westward to the Atlantic.
a.) He failed to dispatch scouts in the event that the two German ships should go eastward.
b.) When they did not cross paths, French Admiral did not seek them out.
7.) Second opportunity lost- during the night between August 3 and 4th, the two German ships and the two British ships, the Indomitable and the Indefatigable, had passed, coming within 8,000 yards of each other. ‘Well within range’.
a.) The two British ships turned to pursue the German ones. Souchon focused on speed.
b.) Admiral Milne informed the Admiralty that the two ships were “shadowing Goeben and Breslau”, though failed to give direction. Left Admiralty to think they were going west.
c.) Churchill requested that the British ships should be able to fire upon the German ships if the Germans should intend ‘further evil upon the French’. Irrelevant and declined as well
8.) Pursuit across the open water
a.) Dublin joins in the pursuit
b.) Souchon drove his ship to its full capacity (24 knots due to damage)
c.) Indomitable and Indefatigable drop out of range.
d.) upon arriving at Sicily, German ships escape into the fog.
e.) now that the England was at war and the ships could attack, the opportunity was gone.
9.) Admiralty order of the British says to respect Italian Neutrality, stay 6 mi. off the shore to prevent an accident.
a.) The heavy warships guard the western exit of Messina—still believe the Goeben and the Breslau intended to go west.
b.) 2 days pass
c.) Souchon ran into trouble with neutrality laws of Italy, crew worked to absolute limit. Only 1500 tons had been collected (not enough to reach the Dardanelles).
d.) 2 messages received by Souchon during this time
i.) Orders to go to Constantinople were cancelled (caused by divided council in Turkey)
ii.) Austrians could give no naval help
e.)He considered his options. Boilers couldn’t get the speed to escape the enemies and get him to Gibraltar. Couldn’t hold up in Pola (no help from Austria). Continued on to Constantinople. His purpose: “to force the Turks, even against their will, to spread the war to the Black sea against their ancient enemy, Russia.”
10.) Souchon led a diversion in the remaining light. He left to appear to go to the Adriatic. They had to escape pursuit to meet up with a collier to provide coal to make the journey.
a.) were pursued by the Gloucester.
b.) despite reports, Milne waited, patrolling west of Sicily in the event that the Goeben would turn back around and head west.
c.) the Goeben, unable to lose the pursuer had to change course.
11.) a series of failures from Troubridge (commander of English ships in the Adriatic) (believed the Goeben to be a superior force didn’t attack) (third lost opportunity), they believed that the Goeben was going to turn and attack and did NOT realize she was fleeing. Deemed the pursuit lacking an imperative urgency.
12.) Continued pursuit by the Gloucester caused a skirmish to break out. Neither side hit, but the Goeben had to turn around to return fire and couldn’t waste coal to pursue.
a.) The pursuit continued until Milne called it off. He forbid that it continue past Cape Mattapan at the tip of Greece.
b.) allowed the Goeben to restock on coal unhassled.
13.) As Milne and his battleships reached halfway between Greece and Malta, he received a message that was actually an error made by a clerk saying that Austria had declared war on England. He called in Troubridge and co. and the Gloucester to a position where they wouldn’t be cut off from Malta. They remained there for 24 hours. By the time the error was corrected and the pursuit resumed, the trail of the Goeben and the Breslau was over 40 hours old.
a.) the Goeben lost this timewhile waiting for instructions from Turkey.
b.) British began closing in again.
c.) at the last minute, vague instructions came through. Proceeded to the Dardanelles
d.) the British still unsure about the intent of the two sheps went to make sure that they did not exit the Aegean Sea. Cruised the exit all day.
14.) At 9pm, August 10, the Goeben and Breslau entered the Dardanelles
What solution was reached when the Goeben and Breslau sailed through the Dardanelles and reached Constantinople under Turkish Protection?
Turkey still wanted to be neutral. They asked Germans to disarm the two ships “temporarily and superficially only”. The Germans replied with ‘absolute refusal’.
Instead it was decided that it was a sale of the two ships to the Turks and that was only a delivery of the ships. This idea was received well by all, especially after the ‘acquisition of the two Turkish warships by the British. The ships were renamed, they flew the Turkish flags, and the crew (still German) wore the Turkish fezzes.
What did the British refuse to do that Russia and France were willing to do with Turkey?
The British “could not bring themselves to bargain or pay for the neutrality of their onetime protégé.” It was said by the French president that the French “moved heaven and earth” to keep Turkey neutral, and even the Russians, long time enemies of Turkey, were ready to renounce their claims on Constantinople.
What event finally brought about a declaration of War against Turkey by Russia, Britain, and France? How long after the start of the war did this declaration take place?
1.) The former Goeben and Breslau commanded by Admiral Souchon, along with several Turkish torpedo boats, entered the Black Sea and shelled Odessa, Sevastopol, and Feodosia. This caused some loss of civilian life and the sinking of a Russian gunboat.
2.)Russia declared war on Turkey on November 4, and Britain and France on November 5. This happened roughly 3 months after the start of the war (July 28) due to the events at Sarajevo.
What did blockage of the Black Sea mean for Russia in terms of ports?
Blockage of the Black sea for Russia was awful.
a.)Forcedthe Russians to rely on port of Archangel (icebound half the year) and on Vladivostok (8000 miles from the battlefront)
b.) exports dropped by 98% and imports dropped by 95%.
These effects had extreme consequences for Russia.
How does Tuchman describe the impact of the voyage of the Goeben? What long-range connection does she make?
1.)Tuchman describes the impact as negative. She lists examples that were true tragedies and that resulted in large loss of life and poor conditions for many people.
- Gallipoli, the diversion of Allied strength in the campaigns of Mesopotamia, Suez, and Palestine, the ultimate breakup of the Ottoman Empire, and the subsequent history of the Middle East.
- The final ‘event’ in that list is the long range connection that she makes. When traced all the way back, the flight of the Goeben facilitated the events that took place subsequently in the Middle East.