After the interesting debate on Portugal I started now I'm turning my attention to Turkey. Mainly because I've just started reading Lord Carver's NAM Book of the Turkish Front 1914-18. I just found this little intro to Turkey in WW2. Turkey - During WW2 “If one defines a successful foreign policy as the pursuit of national interest, then President Inönü‘s conduct of Turkish diplomacy during World War 2 must be judged a triumph. Resisting pressures for an alliance by both the Allies and the Axis, Inönü guided his country along a cautious path of friendly neutrality until the outcome of the war was decided.” William L. Cleveland 13 October 1939: After the treaty between USSR and Germany was signed (23 August 1939), President Inönü singed a treaty with France and Great Britain and obtained financial help. 25 March 1941: Turkey signed a treaty with the USSR which guaranteed that the USSR would not attack Turkey. June 1941: A few days before Germany declared war on the USSR, Turkey signed a treaty with Germany which guaranteed that Germany would not attack Turkey. 23 February 1945: Turkey declared war on Germany, and later on Japan, three months before the armistice. 24 October 1945: Turkey entered the United Nations. I always find it amusing when I read previously Neutral Nations declared war on the Axis Powers in the last few months of WW2. Can anyone elaborate on what pressure was put on Turkey to join either side or what was done conversely to keep them out of the War? Did Turkey have it's eyes on Greek Territory, The Middle Eastern Oilfields or was there internal pressure to keep out after their defeat in 1918? Or will this thread sink with-out trace?
I think Turkey's declaration of war was mostly to enable it to enter the United Nations, not out of any historic enmity with Japan and Germany, nor out of any moral anger over those nations' policies and politics. Turkey regards its contribution to the Korean War as being its major achievement as becoming more than a regional player. They sent an entire brigade group to Korea, which proved one of the most ferocious outfits on the United Nations side. In addition, Turkish POWs, despite suffering the same abuse as American and British POWs, held together.
I like these mentions of different Nations participation in the war. I don't think I've read anything that gives Turkey any mention at all?? WW1 obviously but I'd never even considered them in a 40's context. Nice to be reminded. Mind you cultural imperatives mean we Grow up here with very sketchy knowledge of the Pacific or even Burma and have to play catch up later. Good stuff.
You will enjoy this then Owen. A couple of these are a laugh. Iposted this last year. Poland 1939, 1 September Australia 1939, 3 September France 1939, 3 September United Kingdom 1939, 3 September India 1939, 3 September New Zealand 1939, 3 September Rhodesia 1939, 3 September Nepal 1939, 4 September Newfoundland 1939, 4 September Tonga 1939, 4 September South Africa 1939, 6 September Canada 1939, 10 September Denmark 1940, 8 April Norway 1940, 8 April Greenland 1940, 9 April Faroe Islands 1940, 12 April Belgian Congo 1940, 10 May Belgium 1940, 10 May Luxembourg 1940, 10 May Netherlands 1940, 10 May Free France 1940, 18 June Greece 1940, 28 October Kingdom of Yugoslavia 1941, 6 April Soviet Union 1941, 22 June Tannu Tuva 1941, 25 June until 1944, 11 October Panama 1941, 7 December Philippines 1941, 7 December Costa Rica 1941, 8 December Dominican Republic 1941, 8 December El Salvador 1941, 8 December Haiti 1941, 8 December Honduras 1941, 8 December Nicaragua 1941, 8 December United States of America 1941, 8 December Republic of China 1941, 9 December Cuba 1941, 9 December Czechoslovakia 1941, 16 December Peru 1942, 12 February Mexico 1942, 22 May Brazil 1942, 22 August Ethiopia 1942, 14 December .................................................. .................................................. ..... Iraq 1943, 17 January Bolivia 1943, 7 April Iran 1943, 9 September Italy 1943, 13 October Colombia 1943, 26 November Liberia 1944, 27 January Romania 1944, 25 August Bulgaria 1944, 8 September San Marino 1944, 21 September Albania 1944, 26 October Hungary 1945, 20 January Bahawalpur 1945, 2 February Ecuador 1945, 2 February Paraguay 1945, 7 February Uruguay 1945, 15 February Venezuela 1945, 15 February Turkey 1945, 23 February Lebanon 1945, 27 February Saudi Arabia 1945, 1 March Finland 1945, 3 March Chile 1945, 11 April Argentina 1945, 27 March Mongolia 1945, 9 August
Come on the Winners! The late '45 ones are great, "oh yeah, we were with you all along, we were just....ummmmm...busy,..... by the way........got any aid for an ally?"
Most of the South American countries and Liberia declared war due to American persuasion and threats that they wouldn't be part of the new United Nations. Mongolia was a Soviet satellite and declared war when Stalin turned against the Japanese. Lastly, Finland, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria declared war when they changed sides. In fact for four days Bulgaria was officially at war with both sides.
. In fact for four days Bulgaria was officially at war with both sides. How on Earth did they manage that? Tell me more, please. Actually I looked it up. In 1944 Bulgaria's situation became critical as the Red Army closed in. Bulgaria cautiously moved away from it's German Alliance toward neutrality - the country was technically not at war with the Soviet Union. On August 17th Prime Minister BAGRYANOV declared neutrality. Bulgarian forces disarmed the German forces in the country; the USSR was not prepareed to respect Bulgaria's neutrality. On September 8th, Bulgaria declared war on Germany, now as a Soviet ally, with a new government - Bagryanov had resigned. Bulgaria had managed to transfer from a German to a Soviet alliance without a German occupation. Bulgarian forces accompanied Soviet forces on their further campaign, until Germany surrendered. http://www.zum.de/whkmla/region/balkans/bulgariawwii.html
http://www.testforces.net/eng/niv2.1.php?numMod=3&numSeg=3&numEcr=1433&ordre=3&lesson=3&PHPSESSID=6224d3543daa92186523d069fda605b9 In 1941, in the course of the war, Germany occupied Greece and Yugoslavia. German troops also entered Bulgaria but the country did not participate in the first stage of the war. Still with the hope of regaining its territories, the Bulgarian government declared war on Great Britain and the United States. On several occasions Sofia suffered massive bombings attacks which resulted in great destruction and victims. However, a turn in the course of the war took place in September 1944, when the Soviet army was already on the Bulgarian border on the banks of the Danube. The new pro-Soviet Bulgarian government changed the political direction and declared war on Hitler’s Germany. The Bulgarian army played a decisive role in the end phase of the war when it carried off a heroic victory near the River Drava and greatly contributed to the liberation of Hungary. This change enabled Bulgaria to avoid the serious consequences which the losers suffered and... it preserved its pre-war territories entirely. I never knew that, thanks smc. I've learnt something tonight.
from the begining till end of the war both sides of ww2 wanted Turkey join to ww2. But Turkey president İnönü acted so carefully and never wanted to join to ww2 thanks to god. Alot of reasons Turkey had; 1- Turkey were so weak after 2 wars ( ww1, Turkish independece war) Army was little, had no enough guns, tank.... 2- Turkey changed to system of goverment after Ottoman Empire falls, So New system of goverment need time. While some people in Turkey doesnt want new system, joining to war would be so big adventure and big danger.. 3 - Turkey signed nonaggression treaty with Germany at 1941 There is a picture about nonaggression treaty So what about other side? England wanted Turkey join to war too 2 times. Once meeting was in Adana (Turkey) second meeting was in Cairo (Egypt) But Turkey rejected both of them. Here official history about Turkey during ww2 But you guys if you want i can write unofficial stuff too
Did Turkey have it's eyes on Greek Territory ...... Yes. They ALWAYS have their eyes on Greek Territory. It doesn't matter what war is going on. Dave
Owen Alanbrooke was asked by Churchill to meet the Turks - which he did but summed up their intent within minutes and spent more time looking out the rail carriage window at the various birds......much more interesting.... Cheers
SOE had a couple of 'secret' naval bases in Turkey used by the Levant Schooner Flotilla etc. Main one was at Smyrna
SOE had a couple of 'secret' naval bases in Turkey used by the Levant Schooner Flotilla etc. Main one was at Smyrna Secret naval bases in Turkey? Where and when? I can say that clearly Turkey didnt help to Allies till 1945
There are two good books about 'Neutral' Turkey they are Churchill's Secret War: Diplomatic Decrypts, the Foreign Office and Turkey 1942-44 by Robin Denniston Aegean Adventure 1940-43: And the End of Churchill's Dream by Michael Woodbine-Parish (great stats and gripping story) this book focuses on trying to get Turkey into war by taking Rhodes, Churchill trying to liberate Poland before the Russians did but the Americans vetoed this plan and it was decided to invade the underbelly of Europe through Italy. If the operation went ahead it would have meant Hitler would have to defend 13,000 miles from Finland to Istandbul.
I do know that in 1939-40 they ended up with three Spitfire Is....one originally meant for Poland, and the first two of a 15-strong order; the rest of the order however was cancelled and the aircraft re-serialled and issued to Fighter Command... Noone apparently knows what happened to the ex-Polish aircraft, but the other two certainly soon went U/S/ for want of parts, within three months or so...and eventually were "given back" to the RAF; I don't know how they were got to Egypt - but Neville Duke delivered them to the RAF's "Top Gun" Fighter School at El Ballagh during his training "rest" from operational duty in the Delta, and they were used there for some time. (It also appears that there was at least one RAF pilot assisting in training the Turkish Air Force in the early war period, maybe more...) Later in the war, Turkey was sold 48 MkV's and two PR versions...which seem to have joined another mysterious and otherwise unaccounted-for Spitfire the Turks somehow ended up with - an early PR mishmash of bits from various marks! The MkVs ended up in "mixed" squadrons...flying alongside FW 190s sold to them by the Germans! :p Through the war, the main belligerents' policy on Turkey seems to have vacillated somewhat..depending on how important Turkey seemed to be at various stages of thewar; sometines they attempted to browbeat...sometimes they attempted to bribe! Usually by dint of offering to sell or give them weapons... In 1943 they received 56 PzIIIs from Germany, for example - and also in 1943, in the spring, 15 PzIV Ausf Gs were sent to the Turks! EDIT: just remembered....didn't we build and deliver a submarine to them in 1939-40?
I do know that in 1939-40 they ended up with three Spitfire Is....one originally meant for Poland, and the first two of a 15-strong order; the rest of the order however was cancelled and the aircraft re-serialled and issued to Fighter Command... Noone apparently knows what happened to the ex-Polish aircraft, but the other two certainly soon went U/S/ for want of parts, within three months or so...and eventually were "given back" to the RAF; I don't know how they were got to Egypt - but Neville Duke delivered them to the RAF's "Top Gun" Fighter School at El Ballagh during his training "rest" from operational duty in the Delta, and they were used there for some time. (It also appears that there was at least one RAF pilot assisting in training the Turkish Air Force in the early war period, maybe more...) Later in the war, Turkey was sold 48 MkV's and two PR versions...which seem to have joined another mysterious and otherwise unaccounted-for Spitfire the Turks somehow ended up with - an early PR mishmash of bits from various marks! The MkVs ended up in "mixed" squadrons...flying alongside FW 190s sold to them by the Germans! :p Through the war, the main belligerents' policy on Turkey seems to have vacillated somewhat..depending on how important Turkey seemed to be at various stages of thewar; sometines they attempted to browbeat...sometimes they attempted to bribe! Usually by dint of offering to sell or give them weapons... In 1943 they received 56 PzIIIs from Germany, for example - and also in 1943, in the spring, 15 PzIV Ausf Gs were sent to the Turks! EDIT: just remembered....didn't we build and deliver a submarine to them in 1939-40? German parachutist had training in Turkey before ww2. This not a secret. By the way Turkey sold wheat to germans and chromes too. Turkey promised to Allies in 1943 for joining to war but wanted machine guns for weak Turkish army.But it never happend. At least Turkey joined to war didnt fight as you know. So what happend after it? Turkey joined to Korean war coz for becoming Nato member. Then They accepted Turkey as Nato member. Yes Axis and Allies donated alot of machine guns to Turkey but all of them were old, used and as wreckage.
