WI the Ottoman empire joined the Entente?

IMO it would take the failure of the "young turks" takeover. More sensible officials would most likely join the Entente or just stay out of World War I. Or thats just my opinion. What do you think?:confused:
 
IMO it would take the failure of the "young turks" takeover. More sensible officials would most likely join the Entente or just stay out of World War I. Or thats just my opinion. What do you think?:confused:

Without the Gobben their would a neutral Ottomans I think
 
IMO it would take the failure of the "young turks" takeover. More sensible officials would most likely join the Entente or just stay out of World War I. Or thats just my opinion. What do you think?:confused:

Most of the Young Turks were pro-Entente, to some extent because the Hamidiyan regime was perceived to be pro-German, but also because the Young Turks were liberal democrats and had greater sympathy with Britain & France.

Sensible officials would have stayed out, but Britain seemed to be inclined to do everything possible to alienate Ottoman opinion.

If the Ottomans had joined the Entente, Bulgaria would also join, or at least stay out.

If Bulgaria joined, then Ottoman troops would have been sent to defend Serbia, surely a rather large irony. If Bulgaria stayed neutral, I'm not sure what the Ottomans could really contribute, except sending some excellent troops to help out elsewhere. Probably they would be used mostly on the Eastern Front to bolster Russia. Another massive irony.

Ottoman entry on the side of the Entente would free up massive Indian, British, Imperial, and Russian forces for use elsewhere. It would allow much better communications and supply for Russia, and Russian exports from the Black Sea.

Still, the best strategy, by far, would have been to stay out entirely, remove all traces of Western interference in internal affairs, trade like hell with both sides, then jump in when it was clear who would win.
 
So have Churchill not impound the world largest and most powerfull dreadnought?

I don't know, this was a difficult but probably unavoidable decision.

It didn't need to be done in such a preemptory way. He could have purchased the ships outright and offered to build two new ones when the war was over. That would have mollified Ottoman Opinion.

Churchill has contempt for the Ottomans, which cost him his career for decades.
 
Still, the best strategy, by far, would have been to stay out entirely, remove all traces of Western interference in internal affairs, trade like hell with both sides, then jump in when it was clear who would win.

Query: If the Ottomans staid out altogether, would Entente ships be permitted to pass the straits? Also, would Bulgaria have joined the CP with the Ottomans neutral?
 
Query: If the Ottomans staid out altogether, would Entente ships be permitted to pass the straits? Also, would Bulgaria have joined the CP with the Ottomans neutral?

Not Entente warships.

Bulgaria would have to be insane to join the CP with the Ottomans neutral. If they did, that would produce a rather large incentive for the Ottomans to enter on the side of the Entente - they could get Eastern Thrace back.
 
Not Entente warships.

Bulgaria would have to be insane to join the CP with the Ottomans neutral. If they did, that would produce a rather large incentive for the Ottomans to enter on the side of the Entente - they could get Eastern Thrace back.

Is there any chance the Ottomans could try to start a separate war with Bulgaria while the great powers were too busy with the World War to intervene?
 

Hashasheen

Banned
Is there any chance the Ottomans could try to start a separate war with Bulgaria while the great powers were too busy with the World War to intervene?
Maybe to avenge their losses in the Balkan wars.

I think besides removing the Western limits on them, the might finish off the Wahabis and just watch with interest.
 
Is there any chance the Ottomans could try to start a separate war with Bulgaria while the great powers were too busy with the World War to intervene?

Probably not, unless the Bulgarians joined the CP. The Ottomans were keen to build good relations with Bulgaria, and the Powers generally never allowed the Ottomans to get any lost territory back; if they attacked Bulgaria for no reason , they would face possible action by the Powers once the War was over.

I think the Ottomans would be a lot more likely to go after the Saudis, and try to extend control over Kuwait, the Dodecanese, and Cyprus through diplomacy.
 
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