Britain, Turkey, and the Soviet Union, 1940-45 : strategy, diplomacy, and intelligence in the Eastern Mediterranean

This book draws on the latest archival releases -- including those from the secret world of British intelligence -- to offer the first comprehensive analysis of Anglo-Turkish relations during the Second World War, with a particular emphasis on Turkey's place in the changing relationship between Britain and the Soviet Union. Britain, Turkey and the Soviet Union, 1940-45 explores the role of Turkey in British strategy and diplomacy during the Second World War. Drawing on the latest archival releases, including those from the secret world of British intelligence, it offers the first comprehensive analysis of Anglo-Turkish relations during the period. It bridges a significant gap in the international history of the 1940s 'between world war and cold war', addressing Turkey's place in British strategy at three key stages in the war effort - in the Balkans in the winter of 1940-41, on the 'Northern Front' in 1941-42, and in the Eastern Mediterranean in 1943. Tamkin addresses Turkey's prominent role in British post-war planning from the summer of 1943, and demonstrates some of the emerging strategic dilemmas in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East, which dominated British foreign policy after 1945 "Britain, Turkey and the Soviet Union, 1940-45 explores the role of Turkey in British strategy and diplomacy during the Second World War. Drawing on the latest archival releases, including those from the secret world of British intelligence, it offers the first comprehensive analysis of Anglo-Turkish relations during the period. It bridges a significant gap in the international history of the 1940s 'between world war and cold war', addressing Turkey's place in British strategy at three key stages in the war effort - in the Balkans in the winter of 1940-41, on the 'Northern Front' in 1941-42, and in the Eastern Mediterranean in 1943. Tamkin addresses Turkey's prominent role in British post-war planning from the summer of 1943, and demonstrates some of the emerging strategic dilemmas in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East, which dominated British foreign policy after 1945"--Jacket Front Matter....Pages i-xi Introduction....Pages 1-18 Turkey During the Period of Anglo-Russian Antagonism, June 1940 to June 1941....Pages 19-31 The Balkan Front, October 1940 to April 1941....Pages 32-50 Turkey and Britain’s War in the Middle East, May 1941 to November 1942....Pages 51-75 The Churchill Factor: November 1942 to April 1943....Pages 76-106 Turkey and the Anglo-Soviet Alliance, June 1941 to September 1943....Pages 107-117 The Eastern Mediterranean, in Peace and War: May to October 1943....Pages 118-130 Alliance Diplomacy and the Rise of Anglo-Turkish Antagonism, October 1943-September 1944....Pages 131-150 The Balkans, 1944–45....Pages 151-165 Russia, the Caucasus and the Straits, October 1944 to July 1945....Pages 166-188 Conclusion....Pages 189-197 Back Matter....Pages 198-267