German Weapons and Ammunition in the Turkish War of Independence

At the end of the First World War, due to the conditions of the Armistice of Mudros, which was signed with the Entente Powers, the Ottoman State had to cut all ties with its Allies -Germany and Austriaand had to deport all the soldiers and civilians of these states, who held important positions during the war. In the face of negative mood generated by the Armistice and the occupations of Entente Powers in Anatolia, the Turkish people started the armed resistance under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Pasha. Majority of the weapons that the Turkish people used during the War of Independence were German weapons. A part of these weapons were remains of weapons used in Anatolia during the First World War (and a great deal of effort was given for these weapons to stay in Anatolia); another part of them were bought particularly from Germany after the opening of the Turkish Grand National Assembly. In this study, we will try to establish which fronts these German weapons and other ammunition were sent during the years of the Turkish War of Independence and the quantity of weapons and other ammunition received from Germany. We will also adress financial aspects of these German munitions, which were bought by the Turkish side. The fact that the Turkish people, when faced with the incapability of the Ottoman State after the Armistice of Mudros, began to organize an armed resistance against the Entente Powers in order to protect their country, clearly indicates that the Turkish people did not comply with the outcome of the First World War. Within this period, the Entente Powers - Britain, France, Greece, Italy - were in the position of occupying states, thus the German weapons and ammunition, which were to be used against them by the Turkish people, signify a particular importance. Furthermore the existence of various contacts between Ankara government and Germany during the period of the Turkish War of Independence, indicates that an unnamed secret alliance continued