Why did ottoman joind Germany in WW1?

Answer 1

In the late 1800s when European nations were choosing sides and joining one alliance or another, no one wanted an alliance with the Ottoman Turks. The Ottoman Empire was the "sick man" of Europe, it was said, weak and decaying, afflicted with a dynastic system which inevitably led to weak rulers, who would then be overthrown by some vigorous new "strong man", a "man on horseback". The Ottoman Empire had a long history of conflict with the Russians, as the Russians were perpetually seeking a "warm water port", and the Ottomans held the outlet from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. Of all the nations of Europe the Ottomans were closest to Germany. German engineers had built the Turkish railway system and the Turkish telephone system. Nevertheless, for the first few months after WWI began, Turkey remained neutral.

The immediate reason for the end of neutrality and the joining with the Central Powers had to do with the epic voyage of the German naval ship, the battlecruiser SMS Goeben. The Goeben reached Constantinople in late August, 1914, and was "transferred" to the navy of Turkey and renamed. But the German captain and crew continued to operate the ship, which they took into the Black Sea, and bombarded the Russian base at Sevastopol. This forced the Turks into the war on Germany's side. See "Related Link" below for more information on the SMS Goeben.