History of the Ottoman Empire during World War I

The Ottoman Empire participated in World War I as one of the Central Powers. The Ottoman Empire entered the war by carrying out a surprise attack on Russia's Black Sea coast on 29 October 1914, with Russia responding by declaring war on it on November 5th, 1914. Ottoman forces fought the Entente in the Balkans and the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I. The Ottoman Empire's defeat in the war in 1918 was crucial in the eventual dissolution of the empire in 1921.

The Ottoman entry into World War I began on 29 October 1914 when it launched the Black Sea Raid against Russian ports. Following the attack, Russia and its allies, Britain and France, declared war on the Ottomans in November 1914. The Ottoman commencement of military action came after three months of formal neutrality, although it had signed a secret alliance with the Central Powers in August 1914.

The political reasons for the Ottoman Sultan's entry into the war are disputed. The Ottoman Empire was an agricultural state in an age of industrialized warfare. The economic resources of the empire were depleted by the cost of the Balkan Wars of 1912 and 1913.

The great land mass of Anatolia was between the Ottoman army’s headquarters in Istanbul and many of the theaters of war. During Abdulhamit II's reign civilian communications had improved, but the road and rail network was not ready for war. It took more than a month to reach Syria and nearly two months to reach Mesopotamia. To reach the border with Russia; the railway ran only 60 km east of Ankara, and from there it was 35 days to Erzurum. The Army used Trabzon port as logistical shortcut to east. It took less time to arrive at any of these fronts from London than from the Ottoman War Department, given the poor condition of Ottoman supply ships.

The Empire fell into disorder with the declaration of war along with Germany. On 11 November a conspiracy was discovered in Constantinople against Germans and the CUP, in which some of the CUP leaders were shot. This followed the 12 November revolt in Adrianople against the German military mission. On 13 November a bomb exploded in Enver Pasha's palace, which killed five German officers but missed the Enver Pasha. These events were followed on 18 November with more anti-German plots. Committees formed around the country to rid the country of those siding with Germany. Army and navy officers protested against the assumption of authority by Germans. On 4 December widespread riots took place throughout the country. On 13 December there was an anti-war demonstration by women in Konak (Izmir) and Erzurum. Throughout December the CUP dealt with mutiny among soldiers in barracks and among naval crews. The head of the German Military Mission Field Marshal von der Goltz had a conspiracy against his life.

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