the beginnings of ottoman-german partnership - Bilkent University

B. The Ottoman Empire Before July 1914
The CUP, which was the actual ruler of the Ottoman Empire following the Raid on
the Porte, consolidated its grip on power in early 1914. During this time the CUP
went through intense discussions regarding the appointments to principal positions in
the government. When Enver returned from Edirne, Talat, one of the most powerful
members of the Committee, informed him that they wanted him to become Minister
of War. 137 The other contender for the ministry was Cemal, who had been promoted
to the rank of colonel at the same time as Enver, on December18, 1913. 138
Current Minister of War Ahmed İzzet Paşa had opposed the CUP's desire to
begin reforming the Ottoman army by forcing its senior officers into retirement. He
was therefore forced to retire in favor of Enver, so the first step in the reform process
could begin. 139 The CUP's desire to substitute Enver for the current Minister of War
Ahmet İzzet Paşa resulted from their desire to begin reforming the Army by
forceably retiring its senior officers, most of whom were long past their prime, an
idea which Ahmed İzzet had resisted. 140 Talat got Cemal to agree by offering him the
position of Minister of the Navy.. Appointment as Minister of War required the rank
of Brigadier General, however, while Enver still was only a Colonel. The CUP
solved this problem by increasing his seniority level on the grounds of his services in
both the Tripolitanian and Balkan wars. In three days, therefore, Cemal and Enver
were both promoted to the rank of Brigadier General, thus making possible their
137
Aydemir, pp. 411-415.
138
Aydemir, p. 427.
139
The CUP’s thought of removing A. İzzet Paşa dated back as early as November 1913 as seen in
Enver’s private letters. Aydemir, pp. 422-427.
140
Halil Menteşe, Osmanlı Mebusan Meclisi Reisi Halil Menteşe’nin Anıları, (İstanbul: Hürriyet
Vakfı Yayınları, 1986), p. 180.
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