the beginnings of ottoman-german partnership - Bilkent University

unfamiliar reforms that were being applied. As a result, following the Young Turk
Revolution in 1908-1909, most of the Ottoman press began to advocate that the
German officers be dismissed. 30
During Abdulhamid II’s reign, the German officers also served in the
Ottoman Navy. After serving several years, Captain Starcke returned to Germany in
1891. In his place, Lieutenant Commander Kalau von Hofe was assigned in 1892.
Despite a few quarrels with the Minister of Navy, Hasan Paşa, he carried out useful
service during his years in the Ottoman Empire. 31
During most of the 19 th century, it was Great Britain that protected the
Ottoman Empire, albeit for its own purposes, fearing that otherwise Russia and
France would dominate the lines of communication through the Middle East to India.
Britain, however, preferred the Ottoman Empire to be weak so that it could control it
or at least influence its policies. But the replacement of Benjamin Disraeli’s
Conservative government with the Liberals of William Gladstone marked a
significant change in British policy, away from supporting Ottoman integrity to one
of supporting the nationalist ambitions of the minorities of the Ottoman Empire, even
though this could well increase Russian influence in the area.
Ottoman suspicions of changing British policies and intentions were
stimulated originally by Britain’s insistence on occupying Cyprus in return for its
role defending the Ottomans at the Congress of Berlin. Subsequent British
occupation of Ottoman Egypt (1882) confirmed these fears and caused the Ottomans
think about a new protector. 32
30
Wallach, p. 75-77.
31
Wallach, pp. 88-90.
32
Bayram Soy, ‘II. Wilhelm, Weltpolitik ve II. Abdülhamid’, Türkler (Cilt 13), (Ankara: Yeni
Türkiye Yayınları, 2002), p. 14.
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