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X H‹CAZ DEM‹RYOLU FOTO⁄RAF ALBÜMÜ C
construct the Ottoman railways. Whilst every
European country was approaching for the
investment on railways, according to their own
political and economical gains, the Ottoman
statesmen were trying to keep a balance
between western interests and the Ottomans’
military and economic interests. Because of
this delicate relationship in the international
arena The Ottoman State was walking on a
tight-rope; trying not to make one European
company more advantageous than another in
relation to railway concessions.
Sultan Abdulhamid the Second pursued a
‘balanced policy’ and this was going to give
economic advantage to an emerging super
power of Europe; Germany. Germany coming
late to the colonial scene, towards the end of
the 19 th century, cast eyes on the prosperous
and fertile Ottoman land, in order to benefit
from their overground and underground
resources. The German researchers sent to
Anatolia (1885-1888) prepared a report
emphasising the rich resources of wheat and
cereal, and cotton as an essential product
necessary for the German textile industry. The
discovery of petroleum and stone-coal was
important for the German industry. Unlike
Britain, France and Russia, Germany had no
interest in the Ottoman Lands. Because of
this, the Sublime
Porte was
inclined to favour
her. According to
the Padishah,
“The Germans
were only after
economic and
financial
advantages,
whereas the other
great powers are
racing with each other to divide the Ottomans
from within”.
Exactly 100 years ago, the German Emperor
Wilhelm the Second visited ‹stanbul for a
second time. His visit was a turning point in
the Ottoman-German political and trade
relationship. After the Anatolian Railway
construction and management (1888), in 1898
came the Baghdad Railway concessions. The
largest concessions given to a foreign capital
were to Germany.
Wilhelm the Second set out for a trip inside
Anatolia on 21 st October 1898. A private train
was allocated by the Anatolian Railway
Company; and during his journey he observed
the German Railway entrepreneurship.
His visit turned out to be a show of force
against other European countries. Wilhelm the
Second made a speech in Damascus in front
of Salahadden Ayyubi’s tomb, and thanked
Sultan Abdulhamid for his hospitality and
declared his friendship with the Padishah and
his 300 million Muslim subjects.
The Baghdad Railway project was going to
connect Germany to the Gulf via ‹stanbul. The
Western powers became irritated; Britain
suspected that the railway would allow
Germany to take her influence to the Middle
East and from there she might threaten India in
the future. France also was thinking along the
same lines because of her interest in Syria and
Palestine. Russia was also against the Baghdad
Railway crossing from eastern towns.
The construction of the
Baghdad Railway started in
1903. From time to time the
construction slowed down,
due to concessions given to
the western powers to soften
their reactions to the project.
This railway would carry
economic and political
competition between
Germany and Britain into the
First World War.
On 2 nd of May 1900 Sultan Abdulhamid the
Second, after signing the “Baghdad Railway”
agreement with Germany, he announced his
dream of constructing the line: The Hejaz
Railway. In a way it was the extension of the
19