the beginnings of ottoman-german partnership - Bilkent University

Intelligence Service, which had organized the counter-revolution. 82 Germany, on the
other hand, supported the suppression of the counter-revolution and the restoration of
the Constitutional Regime. Whereas France and England had denounced the rising of
Turkish nationalism and pan-Islamic revival, for Germany it was good news as
Germany’s policy in the Near East was based upon strengthening the Ottoman
Empire. 83
After the suppression of the counter-revolution, the Young Turk military
leaders began to intervene in political affairs while taking control of various
important posts. Chief-of-Staff İzzet Paşa requested the government to bring Colmar
Von der Goltz back to Istanbul as military advisor for a new effort to reorganize the
Ottoman army. The Ottoman government officially applied for his services to the
German government in May 1909. Von der Goltz agreed to undertake temporary
service in the Ottoman Empire and he came to İstanbul in June 1909. 84 Besides his
military duties, German Chancellor von Bülow also ordered von der Goltz to do
everything he could to influence the Ottomans to favor Germany in economic and
political matters as well .He thus had to do all he could to restore the Anatolian
railroad concessions as well as to secure Ottoman purchases of German arms and
armaments 85 In addition to the appointment of Goltz, Germany also agreed to
dispatch eleven military officers to serve in the Ottoman Army for a term of three
years. Colmar von der Goltz and the German military officers came to Turkey in
October. In addition, fourteen Ottoman military officers were sent to Germany for
advanced military education. 86
82 Yalman, pp. 178-179.
83 Earle, pp. 222-223.
84 Wallach, p. 81.
85 Rathmann, p. 108.
86 Wallach, p. 85.
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