Turkey in WW2

Owen · 22-04-2006, 12:23 AM

After the interesting debate on Portugal I started now I'm turning my attention to Turkey. Mainly because I've just started reading
Lord Carver's NAM Book of the Turkish Front 1914-18.
I just found this little intro to Turkey in WW2.

Turkey - During WW2

“If one defines a successful foreign policy as the pursuit of national interest, then President Inönü‘s conduct of Turkish diplomacy during World War 2 must be judged a triumph. Resisting pressures for an alliance by both the Allies and the Axis, Inönü guided his country along a cautious path of friendly neutrality until the outcome of the war was decided.” William L. Cleveland

13 October 1939: After the treaty between USSR and Germany was signed (23 August 1939), President Inönü singed a treaty with France and Great Britain and obtained financial help.
25 March 1941: Turkey signed a treaty with the USSR which guaranteed that the USSR would not attack Turkey.
June 1941: A few days before Germany declared war on the USSR, Turkey signed a treaty with Germany which guaranteed that Germany would not attack Turkey.
23 February 1945: Turkey declared war on Germany, and later on Japan, three months before the armistice.
24 October 1945: Turkey entered the United Nations.

I always find it amusing when I read previously Neutral Nations declared war on the Axis Powers in the last few months of WW2.
Can anyone elaborate on what pressure was put on Turkey to join either side or what was done conversely to keep them out of the War?
Did Turkey have it's eyes on Greek Territory, The Middle Eastern Oilfields or was there internal pressure to keep out after their defeat in 1918?

Or will this thread sink with-out trace?

Kiwiwriter · 22-04-2006, 06:31 PM

I think Turkey's declaration of war was mostly to enable it to enter the United Nations, not out of any historic enmity with Japan and Germany, nor out of any moral anger over those nations' policies and politics.

Turkey regards its contribution to the Korean War as being its major achievement as becoming more than a regional player. They sent an entire brigade group to Korea, which proved one of the most ferocious outfits on the United Nations side. In addition, Turkish POWs, despite suffering the same abuse as American and British POWs, held together.

Story · 24-04-2006, 02:51 AM

From the Greeks - http://www.hri.org/docs/turkey.WWII.html

Owen · 24-04-2006, 10:28 AM

Thanks for that Story. Lots of info there, had a quick read will dip in and out of it again.

von Poop · 24-04-2006, 10:40 AM

I like these mentions of different Nations participation in the war. I don't think I've read anything that gives Turkey any mention at all?? WW1 obviously but I'd never even considered them in a 40's context. Nice to be reminded.
Mind you cultural imperatives mean we Grow up here with very sketchy knowledge of the Pacific or even Burma and have to play catch up later.
Good stuff.

spidge · 12-05-2006, 05:01 PM

[quote=Owen D]

Quote:

I always find it amusing when I read previously Neutral Nations declared war on the Axis Powers in the last few months of WW2.

You will enjoy this then Owen.

A couple of these are a laugh. Iposted this last year.

Poland 1939, 1 September
Australia 1939, 3 September
France 1939, 3 September
United Kingdom 1939, 3 September

India 1939, 3 September
New Zealand 1939, 3 September
Rhodesia 1939, 3 September
Nepal 1939, 4 September

Newfoundland 1939, 4 September
Tonga 1939, 4 September
South Africa 1939, 6 September
Canada 1939, 10 September

Denmark 1940, 8 April
Norway 1940, 8 April
Greenland 1940, 9 April
Faroe Islands 1940, 12 April

Belgian Congo 1940, 10 May
Belgium 1940, 10 May
Luxembourg 1940, 10 May
Netherlands 1940, 10 May

Free France 1940, 18 June
Greece 1940, 28 October
Kingdom of Yugoslavia 1941, 6 April
Soviet Union 1941, 22 June

Tannu Tuva 1941, 25 June until 1944, 11 October
Panama 1941, 7 December
Philippines 1941, 7 December
Costa Rica 1941, 8 December

Dominican Republic 1941, 8 December
El Salvador 1941, 8 December
Haiti 1941, 8 December
Honduras 1941, 8 December

Nicaragua 1941, 8 December
United States of America 1941, 8 December
Republic of China 1941, 9 December
Cuba 1941, 9 December

Czechoslovakia 1941, 16 December
Peru 1942, 12 February
Mexico 1942, 22 May
Brazil 1942, 22 August
Ethiopia 1942, 14 December
.................................................. .................................................. .....
Iraq 1943, 17 January
Bolivia 1943, 7 April
Iran 1943, 9 September
Italy 1943, 13 October

Colombia 1943, 26 November
Liberia 1944, 27 January
Romania 1944, 25 August
Bulgaria 1944, 8 September

San Marino 1944, 21 September
Albania 1944, 26 October
Hungary 1945, 20 January
Bahawalpur 1945, 2 February

Ecuador 1945, 2 February
Paraguay 1945, 7 February
Uruguay 1945, 15 February
Venezuela 1945, 15 February

Turkey 1945, 23 February
Lebanon 1945, 27 February
Saudi Arabia 1945, 1 March
Finland 1945, 3 March

Chile 1945, 11 April
Argentina 1945, 27 March
Mongolia 1945, 9 August
__________________

von Poop · 12-05-2006, 05:18 PM

Come on the Winners!
The late '45 ones are great,
"oh yeah, we were with you all along, we were just....ummmmm...busy,..... by the way........got any aid for an ally?"

lancesergeant · 12-05-2006, 06:59 PM

[quote=spidge]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Owen D

You will enjoy this then Owen.

A couple of these are a laugh. Iposted this last year.

Poland 1939, 1 September
Australia 1939, 3 September
France 1939, 3 September
United Kingdom 1939, 3 September

India 1939, 3 September
New Zealand 1939, 3 September
Rhodesia 1939, 3 September
Nepal 1939, 4 September

Newfoundland 1939, 4 September
Tonga 1939, 4 September
South Africa 1939, 6 September
Canada 1939, 10 September

Denmark 1940, 8 April
Norway 1940, 8 April
Greenland 1940, 9 April
Faroe Islands 1940, 12 April

Belgian Congo 1940, 10 May
Belgium 1940, 10 May
Luxembourg 1940, 10 May
Netherlands 1940, 10 May

Free France 1940, 18 June
Greece 1940, 28 October
Kingdom of Yugoslavia 1941, 6 April
Soviet Union 1941, 22 June

Tannu Tuva 1941, 25 June until 1944, 11 October
Panama 1941, 7 December
Philippines 1941, 7 December
Costa Rica 1941, 8 December

Dominican Republic 1941, 8 December
El Salvador 1941, 8 December
Haiti 1941, 8 December
Honduras 1941, 8 December

Nicaragua 1941, 8 December
United States of America 1941, 8 December
Republic of China 1941, 9 December
Cuba 1941, 9 December

Czechoslovakia 1941, 16 December
Peru 1942, 12 February
Mexico 1942, 22 May
Brazil 1942, 22 August
Ethiopia 1942, 14 December
.................................................. .................................................. .....
Iraq 1943, 17 January
Bolivia 1943, 7 April
Iran 1943, 9 September
Italy 1943, 13 October

Colombia 1943, 26 November
Liberia 1944, 27 January
Romania 1944, 25 August
Bulgaria 1944, 8 September

San Marino 1944, 21 September
Albania 1944, 26 October
Hungary 1945, 20 January
Bahawalpur 1945, 2 February

Ecuador 1945, 2 February
Paraguay 1945, 7 February
Uruguay 1945, 15 February
Venezuela 1945, 15 February

Turkey 1945, 23 February
Lebanon 1945, 27 February
Saudi Arabia 1945, 1 March
Finland 1945, 3 March

Chile 1945, 11 April
Argentina 1945, 27 March
Mongolia 1945, 9 August
__________________

Uruguay 1945 15 February - Just as well they scuttled the Graf Spee when they did.

smc · 14-05-2006, 12:05 AM

Most of the South American countries and Liberia declared war due to American persuasion and threats that they wouldn't be part of the new United Nations. Mongolia was a Soviet satellite and declared war when Stalin turned against the Japanese. Lastly, Finland, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria declared war when they changed sides. In fact for four days Bulgaria was officially at war with both sides.

Owen · 14-05-2006, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smc

. In fact for four days Bulgaria was officially at war with both sides.

How on Earth did they manage that? Tell me more, please.
Actually I looked it up.

Quote:

In 1944 Bulgaria's situation became critical as the Red Army closed in. Bulgaria cautiously moved away from it's German Alliance toward neutrality - the country was technically not at war with the Soviet Union. On August 17th Prime Minister BAGRYANOV declared neutrality. Bulgarian forces disarmed the German forces in the country; the USSR was not prepareed to respect Bulgaria's neutrality. On September 8th, Bulgaria declared war on Germany, now as a Soviet ally, with a new government - Bagryanov had resigned. Bulgaria had managed to transfer from a German to a Soviet alliance without a German occupation. Bulgarian forces accompanied Soviet forces on their further campaign, until Germany surrendered.

http://www.zum.de/whkmla/region/balk...gariawwii.html

22-04-2006, 12:23 AM	#1 (permalink)
Owen Top Moose Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Under the stairs Posts: 9,306	Turkey in WW2 After the interesting debate on Portugal I started now I'm turning my attention to Turkey. Mainly because I've just started reading Lord Carver's NAM Book of the Turkish Front 1914-18. I just found this little intro to Turkey in WW2. Turkey - During WW2 “If one defines a successful foreign policy as the pursuit of national interest, then President Inönü‘s conduct of Turkish diplomacy during World War 2 must be judged a triumph. Resisting pressures for an alliance by both the Allies and the Axis, Inönü guided his country along a cautious path of friendly neutrality until the outcome of the war was decided.” William L. Cleveland 13 October 1939: After the treaty between USSR and Germany was signed (23 August 1939), President Inönü singed a treaty with France and Great Britain and obtained financial help. 25 March 1941: Turkey signed a treaty with the USSR which guaranteed that the USSR would not attack Turkey. June 1941: A few days before Germany declared war on the USSR, Turkey signed a treaty with Germany which guaranteed that Germany would not attack Turkey. 23 February 1945: Turkey declared war on Germany, and later on Japan, three months before the armistice. 24 October 1945: Turkey entered the United Nations. I always find it amusing when I read previously Neutral Nations declared war on the Axis Powers in the last few months of WW2. Can anyone elaborate on what pressure was put on Turkey to join either side or what was done conversely to keep them out of the War? Did Turkey have it's eyes on Greek Territory, The Middle Eastern Oilfields or was there internal pressure to keep out after their defeat in 1918? Or will this thread sink with-out trace?

22-04-2006, 06:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
Kiwiwriter Very Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Newark, NJ, and Christchurch, NZ Posts: 2,431	Turkey "at war" I think Turkey's declaration of war was mostly to enable it to enter the United Nations, not out of any historic enmity with Japan and Germany, nor out of any moral anger over those nations' policies and politics. Turkey regards its contribution to the Korean War as being its major achievement as becoming more than a regional player. They sent an entire brigade group to Korea, which proved one of the most ferocious outfits on the United Nations side. In addition, Turkish POWs, despite suffering the same abuse as American and British POWs, held together. __________________ "My intensity is intense." -- Roger Clemens "We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender." -- Winston Churchill. "I am not a hero. The heroes are all dead. I am a survivor." -- Sgt. William Guarnere, Easy Company, 506th Parachute Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. Check out my little contributions to World War II history at my web pages: World War II Plus 55 or http://davidhlippman.wildbillguarnere.com

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24-04-2006, 02:51 AM	#3 (permalink)
Story Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 32	From the Greeks - http://www.hri.org/docs/turkey.WWII.html

24-04-2006, 10:28 AM	#4 (permalink)
Owen Top Moose Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Under the stairs Posts: 9,306	Thanks for that Story. Lots of info there, had a quick read will dip in and out of it again.

24-04-2006, 10:40 AM	#5 (permalink)
von Poop I Like Tanks Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Perfidious Albion. Posts: 8,367	I like these mentions of different Nations participation in the war. I don't think I've read anything that gives Turkey any mention at all?? WW1 obviously but I'd never even considered them in a 40's context. Nice to be reminded. Mind you cultural imperatives mean we Grow up here with very sketchy knowledge of the Pacific or even Burma and have to play catch up later. Good stuff.

12-05-2006, 05:18 PM	#7 (permalink)
von Poop I Like Tanks Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Perfidious Albion. Posts: 8,367	Come on the Winners! The late '45 ones are great, "oh yeah, we were with you all along, we were just....ummmmm...busy,..... by the way........got any aid for an ally?"

14-05-2006, 12:05 AM	#9 (permalink)
smc Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Brighton Posts: 70	Most of the South American countries and Liberia declared war due to American persuasion and threats that they wouldn't be part of the new United Nations. Mongolia was a Soviet satellite and declared war when Stalin turned against the Japanese. Lastly, Finland, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria declared war when they changed sides. In fact for four days Bulgaria was officially at war with both sides.

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