Entente Ottomans

What if the Ottoman Empire joined the Entente during the Great War?

I imagine this would require avoiding the CUP coup. Maybe the British not impounding their dreadnought as well.

Their likely territorial aims would be
-Rhodes (which was still nominally Ottoman until WWI)
-Cyprus (also nominally Ottoman)
-Eastern Aegean Islands (disputed with Greece).
-Kars and Batumi (skeptical the Russians would hand this over).

They likely would want the reversal of unfair trade conditions, the forgiving of debts, and regaining autonomy in internal affairs with regards to things like Mount Lebanon.

The opportunity to declare that the Ottomans no longer owe anything to Germany or Austria and to nationalize the Berlin-Baghdad railway would likely be a boon for Istanbul.


Russia and Serbia likely benefit the most from this as they'd be able to devote more troops to fighting Austria and Germany. Bulgaria likely stays neutral or joins the entente here. Meanwhile the Ottomans likely just send troops to the western front as I can't see them wanting to fight alongside Russia or Serbia.
 
I think the most likely way for this to happen is Bulgaria attacks Ottomans, but I may be wrong. ALso what drives Greece to CP?
 

NoMommsen

Donor
What if the Ottoman Empire joined the Entente during the Great War?

I imagine this would require avoiding the CUP coup. Maybe the British not impounding their dreadnought as well.
Erhmm, which of the CUP coups do you mean ?

Whatever, no CUP in power would mean a VERY weak ottoman goverment, internally as well as externally.
What would most likely help the Entente path/wishes of OTL :
  • ottoman neutrality for
  • no costs at all (almost), but
  • definitly NOT a reversal of the capitulations (unequal treaties) and
  • definitly NOT any territorial goodies like
Their likely territorial aims would be
-Rhodes (which was still nominally Ottoman until WWI)
-Cyprus (also nominally Ottoman)
-Eastern Aegean Islands (disputed with Greece).
-Kars and Batumi (skeptical the Russians would hand this over).
The Entente did NOT want the ottoman on their boat, just "swimming " behind them ... for being "fished" and dismanteled afterwards.

"-Rhodes (which was still nominally Ottoman until WWI)"
Owned by Italy a much more "worthy" potential ally they tried to attrac
"-Cyprus (also nominally Ottoman)"
more or less a british possesion ... why the heck would/should the brit give this away
"-Eastern Aegean Islands (disputed with Greece).
Same as with Greece
"-Kars and Batumi (skeptical the Russians would hand this over)."
... very skeptical. The russian WANTED something/a lot from the Ottoman Empire (like control of the straits, control/"protection" of the christians in the OE [armenians and the territories they live in]) instead of giving them something
 
Erhmm, which of the CUP coups do you mean ?

Whatever, no CUP in power would mean a VERY weak ottoman goverment, internally as well as externally.
What would most likely help the Entente path/wishes of OTL :
  • ottoman neutrality for
  • no costs at all (almost), but
  • definitly NOT a reversal of the capitulations (unequal treaties) and
  • definitly NOT any territorial goodies like
The Entente did NOT want the ottoman on their boat, just "swimming " behind them ... for being "fished" and dismanteled afterwards.

"-Rhodes (which was still nominally Ottoman until WWI)"
Owned by Italy a much more "worthy" potential ally they tried to attrac
"-Cyprus (also nominally Ottoman)"
more or less a british possesion ... why the heck would/should the brit give this away
"-Eastern Aegean Islands (disputed with Greece).
Same as with Greece
"-Kars and Batumi (skeptical the Russians would hand this over)."
... very skeptical. The russian WANTED something/a lot from the Ottoman Empire (like control of the straits, control/"protection" of the christians in the OE [armenians and the territories they live in]) instead of giving them something
Well France and UK did not exactly concern themselves too muchwith what Russia wanted. They could value Ottomans support and agree to pressure Russia into giving them some concessions.
The hard part is getting Greece to go CP so that Ottomans even have a reason to fight for the entente. The other most likely situation is if the Ottomans are attacked first but Bulgaria or MAYBE Spain if they stay allied to CP.
 
Well without the Ottomans and/or Bulgaria, Austria-Hungary and Germany will try to push Italy into joining. The Central Powers may have shortened battlelines, but they have also allowed the Entente to focus more ships and men on the front lines. More ships and men flowing into Serbia and maybe trying to take out A-H fleet.
 
Australia loses Anzac Day, since there would be no Gallipoli campaign.

Speaking of Gallipoli...

With the Ottoman Empire as a member of the Entente, Russia will continue to be supplied through the Dardanelles. With British arms and supplies, the Russians have a better chance at fighting the Germans and the Austro-Hungarians, which would've made the Dardanelles a target for German submarines or even a reverse Gallipoli, with the Central Powers attempting to knock Turkey out of the war.
 
"-Cyprus (also nominally Ottoman)"
more or less a british possesion ... why the heck would/should the brit give this away
Did Cyprus have any value beyond fleet basing? The British had previously returned the Ionian Islands to Greece on the condition that they retained Corfu.
 
The Russian economy doesn't collapse, as it can still export grain and other foodstuffs via the Black Sea (in addition to being able to import supplies), which had ripple effects for the rest of the Entente, in terms of finance, and should drastically improve Russian performance on the battlefield and on the home front.
 

yourworstnightmare

Banned
Donor
If the Ottomans were Entente aligned they would probably not join the war. And Bulgaria wouldn't join if they risk being attacked by a Entente aligned Ottoman Empire in the back (And if Bulgaria don't join Greece won't).
 

NoMommsen

Donor
Did Cyprus have any value beyond fleet basing? The British had previously returned the Ionian Islands to Greece on the condition that they retained Corfu.
as the other islands there were rather useless ... what a "generous" "gift" by the brits.

Isn't fleet basin just in front of Suez as well as the Palestine, Syrial "Little Armenia" (kilikian coast) not enough value ?
Also being a formidable place for concentration of "exeditionary" forces and sustainuing them in the said regions ?
 
as the other islands there were rather useless ... what a "generous" "gift" by the brits.
I made no such value judgement, I'd ask that you refrain from putting words in my mouth.

Additionally, a quick double check of the facts reveals that I was mistaken, Corfu was in fact handed over, same as the rest of the Islands. Make whatever moral judgement you want of that.

Isn't fleet basin just in front of Suez as well as the Palestine, Syrial "Little Armenia" (kilikian coast) not enough value ?
One doesn't need an entire island for that, a coastal exclave like what the UK has there now would work just as well.

Also being a formidable place for concentration of "exeditionary" forces and sustainuing them in the said regions ?
Egypt, which they already occupy, acts as a better staging ground, and a coastal exclave on Cyprus would work well enough as a logistical depot if they needed to supply a force in Syria.
 
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