The Powder Keg of Europe in 1914
The summer of 1914 found Europe balanced precariously on the edge of war. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo on June 28 had set in motion a series of diplomatic crises that would soon engulf the continent. While most eyes focused on the tensions between Austria-Hungary and Serbia, and the complex web of alliances between the great powers, another drama was unfolding that would have profound consequences for the course of World War I – the fate of the German battlecruiser SMS Goeben.
This powerful warship, accompanied by the light cruiser SMS Breslau, represented Germany’s naval presence in the Mediterranean. Under the command of Admiral Wilhelm Souchon, these ships would soon become the unlikely catalyst that brought the Ottoman Empire into the war, dramatically altering the strategic balance in the Middle East and the Black Sea region.
The Mediterranean Chessboard
In early August 1914, as European powers began mobilizing their armies, the Goeben found itself in a precarious position. Cut off from German ports and pursued by superior British naval forces, Souchon faced a critical decision. The traditional options – attempting to break through to the Atlantic or seeking shelter in neutral ports – offered little hope of survival for his ships.
Meanwhile, in Constantinople, Ottoman leaders were engaged in their own strategic calculations. The Young Turk government, led by the triumvirate of Enver Pasha, Talat Pasha, and Cemal Pasha, saw in the European conflict both danger and opportunity. Germany had been cultivating closer ties with the Ottoman Empire for years, sending military advisors like Liman von Sanders to modernize the Turkish army. Now, with war breaking out, both sides saw potential benefits in closer cooperation.
The Desperate Dash to Constantinople
Souchon’s epic voyage from the western Mediterranean to the Dardanelles became one of the most dramatic naval episodes of the early war. Harried by British pursuers, short on coal, and with failing boilers, the Goeben and Breslau nevertheless managed to evade destruction through a combination of skillful seamanship, daring decisions, and no small amount of luck.
The British Mediterranean Fleet, commanded by Admiral Archibald Berkeley Milne, failed to intercept the German ships despite several opportunities. Conflicting orders from London, cautious leadership, and some remarkable coincidences all contributed to what Winston Churchill would later call “a disaster for Britain.”
Diplomatic Maneuvers in Constantinople
While Souchon’s ships raced eastward, intense negotiations were underway in the Ottoman capital. The German ambassador, Baron Hans von Wangenheim, pressed the Turks to honor a secret alliance signed on August 2. However, Ottoman leaders, particularly Grand Vizier Said Halim Pasha, were hesitant to commit to war without guarantees of territorial gains and protection against Russian attack.
The arrival of the German ships forced the issue. On August 10, after tense deliberations, Enver Pasha authorized the Goeben and Breslau to enter the Dardanelles, effectively violating Ottoman neutrality. This decision would have far-reaching consequences, though its full implications were not immediately apparent to all parties involved.
The Transformation of the Goeben
Once safely in Ottoman waters, the German ships underwent a remarkable metamorphosis. To maintain the fiction of Ottoman neutrality, they were nominally transferred to the Turkish navy, with the Goeben becoming Yavuz Sultan Selim and the Breslau renamed Midilli. The crews donned fezzes over their German uniforms, and Admiral Souchon was appointed commander of the Ottoman navy.
This charade fooled few observers, but it provided the Young Turk government with political cover as they gradually moved toward open belligerency. The presence of these powerful warships, crewed by experienced German sailors, dramatically shifted the naval balance in the Black Sea, where Russia’s fleet had previously enjoyed dominance.
The Black Sea Raid and Ottoman Entry into the War
On October 29, 1914, the former Goeben led a surprise attack on Russian ports in the Black Sea, shelling Sevastopol, Odessa, and Novorossiysk. This provocation, ordered by Enver Pasha and executed by Souchon without full cabinet approval, forced the Ottoman Empire into the war as Germany’s ally.
The attack had immediate consequences. Russia declared war on November 2, followed by Britain and France on November 5. The Ottoman Sultan, as Caliph of Islam, declared a jihad against the Entente powers, hoping to stir up Muslim populations in British India, French North Africa, and Russian Central Asia.
Strategic Consequences
The Ottoman entry into the war created new fronts that would tie down hundreds of thousands of Entente troops. The Gallipoli campaign, the Caucasus front against Russia, and the Mesopotamian campaign all diverted resources from the Western Front. The closure of the Dardanelles cut off Russia from its allies, contributing to the supply shortages that would fuel revolution in 1917.
The Goeben itself remained a potent symbol of German-Ottoman cooperation throughout the war. Though damaged by mines and lacking proper maintenance facilities, it continued to operate in the Black Sea, a constant threat to Russian shipping and coastal cities.
Legacy of the Goeben Incident
The story of the Goeben’s escape and its role in bringing the Ottoman Empire into World War I highlights several important aspects of the conflict:
1. The global nature of the war, which extended far beyond the Western Front
2. The importance of naval power in diplomatic and strategic calculations
3. The role of individual decisions in shaping historical outcomes
4. The unintended consequences that often flow from military and political decisions
In many ways, the Goeben incident encapsulates the improvisational nature of the early war period, when traditional diplomatic and military protocols gave way to bold gambits and rapid decision-making. The consequences would reshape the Middle East, contributing to the fall of the Ottoman Empire and the creation of the modern Middle Eastern state system.
The Goeben/Yavuz survived the war and served in the Turkish navy until 1950, becoming the longest-serving dreadnought-type warship in history. Its journey from German battlecruiser to Turkish flagship symbolizes the complex alliances and unexpected outcomes that characterized World War I and its aftermath.