The Berlin-Baghdad Express : The Ottoman Empire and Germany’s Bid for World Power

The modern Middle East was forged in the crucible of the First World War, but few know the full story of how war actually came to the region. As **Sean McMeekin** reveals in this startling reinterpretation of the war, it was neither the British nor the French but rather a small clique of Germans and Turks who thrust the Islamic world into the conflict for their own political, economic, and military ends. __The Berlin–Baghdad Express__ tells the fascinating story of how Germany exploited Ottoman pan-Islamism in order to destroy the British Empire, then the largest Islamic power in the world. Meanwhile the Young Turks harnessed themselves to German military might to avenge Turkey’s hereditary enemy, Russia. Told from the perspective of the key decision-makers on the Turco-German side, many of the most consequential events of World War I—Turkey’s entry into the war, Gallipoli, the Armenian massacres, the Arab revolt, and the Russian Revolution—are illuminated as never before. Drawing on a wealth of new sources, McMeekin forces us to re-examine Western interference in the Middle East and its lamentable results. It is an epic tragicomedy of unintended consequences, as Turkish nationalists give Russia the war it desperately wants, jihad begets an Islamic insurrection in Mecca, German sabotage plots upend the Tsar delivering Turkey from Russia’s yoke, and German Zionism midwifes the Balfour Declaration. All along, the story is interwoven with the drama surrounding German efforts to complete the Berlin to Baghdad railway, the weapon designed to win the war and assure German hegemony over the Middle East. The Modern Middle East Was Forged In The Crucible Of The First World War, But Few Know The Full Story Of How War Actually Came To The Region. As Sean Mcmeekin Reveals In This Startling Reinterpretation Of The War, It Was Neither The British Nor The French But Rather A Small Clique Of Germans And Turks Who Thrust The Islamic World Into The Conflict For Their Own Political, Economic, And Military Ends. The Berlin-baghdad Express Tells The Fascinating Story Of How Germany Exploited Ottoman Pan-islamism In Order To Destroy The British Empire, Then The Largest Islamic Power In The World. Meanwhile The Young Turks Harnessed Themselves To German Military Might To Avenge Turkey's Hereditary Enemy, Russia. Told From The Perspective Of The Key Decision-makers On The Turco-german Side, Many Of The Most Consequential Events Of World War I -- Turkey's Entry Into The War, Gallipoli, The Armenian Massacres, The Arab Revolt, And The Russian Revolution -- Are Illuminated As Never Before. Drawing On A Wealth Of New Sources, Mcmeekin Forces Us To Re-examine Western Interference In The Middle East And Its Lamentable Results. It Is An Epic Tragicomedy Of Unintended Consequences, As Turkish Nationalists Give Russia The War It Desperately Wants, Jihad Begets An Islamic Insurrection In Mecca, German Sabotage Plots Upend The Tsar Delivering Turkey From Russia's Yoke, And German Zionism Midwifes The Balfour Declaration. All Along, The Story Is Interwoven With The Drama Surrounding German Efforts To Complete The Berlin To Baghdad Railway, The Weapon Designed To Win The War And Assure German Hegemony Over The Middle East. - Publisher. Prologue : The View From Haydarpasha -- The Kaiser, The Baron And The Dragoman -- Berlin To Baghdad -- Young Turks And Old Caliphs -- A Gift From Mars : German Holy War Fever -- The War For The Porte -- The First Global Jihad : Death To Infidels Everywhere! (unless They Be Germans, Austrians, Hungarians, Americans Or - Possibly - Italians) -- Parting The Red Sea -- An Austrian In Arabia -- Showdown At The Suez Canal -- Gallipoli : From Disaster To Triumph -- The Blood Of The Prophet -- The Shia Stratagem -- To The Gates Of India -- Trouble On The Baghdad Railway -- The Reluctant Mahdi -- Iranian Implosion -- Betrayal In Mecca -- The Holy War Devours Its Children -- Consolation Prize? The Race For Baku -- Epilogue : The Strange Death Of German Zionism And The Nazi-muslim Connection. Sean Mcmeekin. First Published In The United Kingdom In 2010 By Penguin Books Ltd. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "The modern Middle East was forged in the crucible of the First World War, but few know the full story of how war actually came to the region. As Sean McMeekin reveals in this startling reinterpretation of the war, it was neither the British nor the French but rather a small clique of Germans and Turks who thrust the Islamic world into the conflict for their own political, economic, and military ends. The Berlin-Baghdad Express tells the fascinating story of how Germany exploited Ottoman pan-Islamism in order to destroy the British Empire, then the largest Islamic power in the world. Meanwhile the Young Turks harnessed themselves to German military might to avenge Turkey's hereditary enemy, Russia. Told from the perspective of the key decision-makers on the Turco-German side, many of the most consequential events of World War I -- Turkey's entry into the war, Gallipoli, the Armenian massacres, the Arab revolt, and the Russian Revolution -- are illuminated as never before. Drawing on a wealth of new sources, McMeekin forces us to re-examine Western interference in the Middle East and its lamentable results. It is an epic tragicomedy of unintended consequences, as Turkish nationalists give Russia the war it desperately wants, jihad begets an Islamic insurrection in Mecca, German sabotage plots upend the Tsar delivering Turkey from Russia's yoke, and German Zionism midwifes the Balfour Declaration. All along, the story is interwoven with the drama surrounding German efforts to complete the Berlin to Baghdad railway, the weapon designed to win the war and assure German hegemony over the Middle East."--Descripción del editor The modern Middle East was forged in the crucible of the First World War, but few know the full story of how war actually came to the region. As Sean McMeekin reveals in this startling reinterpretation of the war, it was neither the British nor the French but rather a small clique of Germans and Turks who thrust the Islamic world into the conflict for their own political, economic, and military ends. "The Berlin-Baghdad Express" tells the fascinating story of how Germany exploited Ottoman pan-Islamism in order to destroy the British Empire, then the largest Islamic power in the world. Meanwhile the Young Turks harnessed themselves to German military might to avenge Turkey s hereditary enemy, Russia. Told from the perspective of the key decision-makers on the Turco-German side, many of the most consequential events of World War I Turkey s entry into the war, Gallipoli, the Armenian massacres, the Arab revolt, and the Russian Revolution are illuminated as never before. Drawing on a wealth of new sources, McMeekin forces us to re-examine Western interference in the Middle East and its lamentable results. It is an epic tragicomedy of unintended consequences, as Turkish nationalists give Russia the war it desperately wants, jihad begets an Islamic insurrection in Mecca, German sabotage plots upend the Tsar delivering Turkey from Russia s yoke, and German Zionism midwifes the Balfour Declaration. All along, the story is interwoven with the drama surrounding German efforts to complete the Berlin to Baghdad railway, the weapon designed to win the war and assure German hegemony over the Middle East. Bogen beskriver tysk-tyrkiske eller snarere tysk-osmanniske relationer fra 1889 til afslutningen af 1. Verdenskrig. Disse relationer begynder med Kejser Wilhelms besøg i Istanbul (Constantinople) i 1889, hvor han fascineres af orienten. I 1898 gennemfører Kejseren igen et stort besøg i Mellemøsten, hvor han blandt andet besøger Jerusalem og Damaskus, hvor Saladins grav beses. Kejseren sponserer ved denne lejlighed et mausoleum til graven og hædres efterfølgende. Ved denne lejlighed holder han en af sine kendte taler, hvor han gør sig til protektor for alle muslimer, hvilket skaber bekymring i Frankrig, Storbritannien og Rusland, der alle har store muslimske mindretal. Det følges op et par år senere, hvor Tyskland får koncession til at bygge en jernbane fra Istanbul til Bagdad. Allerede i 1871 var der fundet store mængder olie i det nuværende Kurdistan og desuden havde det osmanniske rige betydelige mængder af råstoffer, der var vigtige for tysk industri. Ved starten af 1. Verdenskrig søgte Tyskland at rejse den muslimske verden mod Frankrig, Rusland samt Storbritannien. Det var dog en begrænset succes. Til sidst nævnes, at zionismen oprindeligt blev støttet af Tyskland, men denne dagsorden blev overtaget af Storbritannien i slutningen af 1. Verdenskrig. Hitlers specielle relationer til den muslimske verden er således grundlæggende en videreførelse af kejsertidens specielle relationer til det osmanniske rige