the beginnings of ottoman-german partnership - Bilkent University

to be headed for a major war. The CUP leaders felt that the social and economic
development of the Empire would be impossible without a strong army, given the
fragility of its situation. The help came from Germany, which in fact saw the Empire
as no more than a potential satellite useful for German economic investment and for
the supply of raw material. It therefore opposed concessions to its still-potential allies,
Italy and Austria-Hungary. 136 The disastrous Ottoman losses in the Balkan Wars,
however, made the Germans, especially the Kaiser, think that partition of the
Ottoman Empire was inevitable and that all means should be used in order to limit the
resulting benefits which might flow to Germany's historic enemy. Instead of acting as
the Ottomans’ big brother, therefore, Germany was ready to cooperate with the
British in dividing what was left in the possession of the Sultan so long as the real
benefits were kept out of the hands of the Russians.
136 BOA, HR. SYS., Dosya: 217, Gömlek: 68.
62