ABSTRACT
The Central Powers, –
Germany secured a hasty secret alliance with Turkey on August (p. ). It stipulated that the two powers would remain neutral in the conflict between Austria-Hungary and Serbia; but that if Russia intervened with active military measures Germany would intervene on the side of Austria-Hungary and the alliance with Turkey would become active. The German military mission was to exercise in the event of war an ‘effective influence’ over the Turkish army, and Germany undertook to defend Ottoman territory if it were threatened. Turkey did not enter the war straight away but took a number of steps against the Entente Powers: two German warships were sheltered and transferred to the Turkish navy in August, and on September the Straits were closed, thus cutting the supply route to Russia. By the end of October Turkey actively entered the war on the side of Germany and Austria-Hungary and began operations against Russia. A new alliance was signed by Turkey and Germany in January and Austria-Hungary adhered to it in March .
