The Liman Von Sanders Mission Crısıs: Reactions To The Mission, The Stance Of The Ottoman Empire And Germany (November 1913–January 1914)

Abstract

This study aims to conduct a comparative analysis of the Ottoman Empire and Germany’s responses to the international reactions triggered by the arrival of the German Military Reform Mission, led by Liman von Sanders, in Istanbul. The research highlights the mission’s significance in reshaping pre-World War I power dynamics between rival blocs-with some diplomats even regarding it as a catalyst for the seeds of war- particularly focusing on its potential to provoke a conflict between Russia and Germany. It examines the factors that compelled Germany to modify the mission, the Ottoman Empire’s resistance to these changes, and ultimately questions whether these adjustments were imposed by Germany on the Ottomans or whether they constituted a strategic maneuver by the Committee of Union and Progress leadership to create political leverage amid diplomatic pressures.

The mission emerged following the Ottoman Empire’s request for a fully authorized German military delegation to reorganize its army, which had suffered a decisive collapse in the Balkan Wars. The primary point of contention revolved around Liman von Sanders’ appointment as the commander of the First Army Corps, which lay at the heart of Russia’s objections. This development, perceived as an expansion of Germany’s political and military influence over the Ottomans, provoked strong diplomatic protests from Russia and quickly escalated into an international crisis. Initially, Germany resisted these pressures alongside the Ottoman Empire, but mounting diplomatic tensions eventually forced Berlin to retreat. The Ottomans, too, opposed Germany’s demands for a period before ultimately conceding to the modifications.

The study argues that the mission marked a critical turning point not only in the modernization of the Ottoman military but also in the restructuring of Ottoman foreign policy and decision-making mechanisms in alignment with German interests. It demonstrates how power dynamics, diplomatic pressures, and military reform policies became deeply intertwined in Ottoman-German relations. As Germany expanded its military and political influence over the Ottomans during this process, this shift became a key factor influencing the Ottoman Empire’s decision to ally with Germany in World War I. In this regard, the study also seeks to provide a scholarly foundation for debates surrounding Liman von Sanders’ role in the Battle of Gallipoli.

There is no study that would require the approval of the Ethical Committee in this article.

This paper was checked for plagiarism. (https://intihal.net/)

This work is licensed under Creative Commons AttributionNonCommercial 4.0 International License