Based off this thread. How far back would the POD have to be? How much benefits would Turkey bring to the Axis in the war?
Turkey has no interest at all to join the Axis Powers. What the hell are they going to get by being on the receiving end of Soviet armies on their eastern border marching and occupying their country?
I guess you *could* have something involving the Treaty of Sevres leaving Turkey much more smaller than it is in OTL.
I suppose if Ataturk doesn't recover the 1878 territories in the Caucasus, but that'd likely butterfly the Nazis and WWII. Maybe if the UK somehow starts seriously oppressing the Cypriot Turks?
What about something like what happened to Finland? Rather than the winter war, Stalin decides he wants to bully Turkey into accepting...something. Perhaps regard the Dardanelles Straits? A territorial dispute Stalin wants settled favorably? Anyway, an alt-Winter War occurs with Turkey (the Summer War?) and Turkey gives into Soviet demands, but then ally with Germany for Barbarossa. The main difference with Finland is that Turkey may also need to fight against the Western allies in this scenario.
I like this. Seems most probable.
WIth Barbarossa or right after.
Better security if the Hitler makes an offer just as the tanks start rolling.
Historically Stalin did want some things in the Straits, and raised the issue with the Nazis. After World War II the Soviets made some border demands on the Turks that pushed them into the anti-Soviet camp. All of that does mean that the idea of more or bigger demands by the Soviets prior to Barbarossa is not totally impossible.
The Turks also did have some claims on former Ottoman territories that they might have pushed if they thought they could get away with it. They actually did take over a little area of disputed territory on the Syrian border. They also eyed oil rich parts of Northern Iraq that were majority Kurdish, but with a large Turkish minority. After the Germans invaded the Soviet Union, the Turks floated the possibility of taking over Soviet territories with various Turkish-speaking groups. I'm not sure how serious they were in that.
The Germans were interested in drawing the Turks into the war on their side, and the Turks were willing to give lip service to the possibility. There were a couple of problems though. They were not likely to enter the war while it was not clear who would win. Also, some parts of the German government was trying to draw Arab nationalists into alliance with the Germans, and the closer Germany got to the Turks, the more Arab Nationalists feared that if Germany won the Turks would regain control of at least some Arab lands. That limited what the Germans were willing to offer the Turks.
There is actually a book out on Turkish diplomacy during World War II called "The Elusive Neutral" that goes into the diplomatic maneuverings in depth. It's a little muddy in places, but gives some good insights.
Historically Stalin did want some things in the Straits, and raised the issue with the Nazis. After World War II the Soviets made some border demands on the Turks that pushed them into the anti-Soviet camp. All of that does mean that the idea of more or bigger demands by the Soviets prior to Barbarossa is not totally impossible.
The Turks also did have some claims on former Ottoman territories that they might have pushed if they thought they could get away with it. They actually did take over a little area of disputed territory on the Syrian border. They also eyed oil rich parts of Northern Iraq that were majority Kurdish, but with a large Turkish minority. After the Germans invaded the Soviet Union, the Turks floated the possibility of taking over Soviet territories with various Turkish-speaking groups. I'm not sure how serious they were in that.
The Germans were interested in drawing the Turks into the war on their side, and the Turks were willing to give lip service to the possibility. There were a couple of problems though. They were not likely to enter the war while it was not clear who would win. Also, some parts of the German government was trying to draw Arab nationalists into alliance with the Germans, and the closer Germany got to the Turks, the more Arab Nationalists feared that if Germany won the Turks would regain control of at least some Arab lands. That limited what the Germans were willing to offer the Turks.
There is actually a book out on Turkish diplomacy during World War II called "The Elusive Neutral" that goes into the diplomatic maneuverings in depth. It's a little muddy in places, but gives some good insights.