WI: Axis Turkey

This runs into the problem of most threads about 'What if Country X joined the Axis?' Yes, there are several ways that Turkey could help the Axis position. On the other hand, it's very hard to see what the Turks could gain from it, and more to the point how their government could possibly change to the extent they'd be interested.

The Ottomans were dead, overthrown by the nationalists running Turkey in WWII- they don't want the empire's territories.
Enver Pasha is dead- the Kemalists are not pan Turkists.

The only thing Turkish entry into the Axis would gain them is a war with literally all their powerful neighbours. If the Axis was clearly winning- the Russians back to the Urals, the Med closed off- then the Turks would jump in to preserve national sovereignty like they did OTL.

Otherwise, forget it.
 
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I agree. Unless Hitler is past the Urals and sweeping the Caucasus, they will keep their heads and just trade and allow spies to follow one another.
 
Under İsmet İnönü administration, Turkey would not join the Axis (or Allies). He was very cautious and would do anything to avoid war.

For an Axis Turkey you would need two things and even with them, the chances are very slim.

1. Atatürk lives 5-10 years longer and he is healthy when the war breaks out,
2. France does not allow Hatay Province to join Turkey.

First one is easy as he was 57 when he died but honestly I am not sure about the second one.

So if during or after the fall of France, Atatürk thinks he can get Hatay by force (and if he believes France and Britain will not escalate) he might try it.

Even with this scenario, which I have to repeat very unlikely, I can not see Turkey declaring war on Soviet Union.
 
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