„Chory człowiek (Europy)” I morze – koncepcje rozwoju I działania floty osmańskiej na początku XX wieku
The “Sick Man of Europe” and the Sea – Concepts in the Development and Activity of the Ottoman Navy at the Beginning of the 20th Century

Summary/Abstract: Abdülhamid II inherited a navy which in terms of quantity was considered to be the third in the world, but as a result of defeat in war with Russia (1877–1878) he was forced to push it to the background and to deal urgently with the reconstruction of his land forces. For 30 years his ships were not to leave Constantinople, which was to have a devastating effect on their technical condition as well as on the training level of naval personnel. Thus it was his successor Mehmed V who faced the necessity of reconstruction of the Ottoman Navy. The Turks applied for substantive assistance to London and as a result three consecutive British Naval Missions were sent to Constantinople for the period 1909–1914. Cultural differences and discrepancies regarding the concept of navy development made the cooperation between the parties unharmonious. The insincerity of intentions on the side of the British, a clear conflict of interests as well as a conscious diversification of weapon deliveries and the employment of foreign experts applied by the Turks were to play an important role too. Despite being completely unprepared for any military conflict, both during the Balkan Wars and the Great War the Ottoman Navy did its job surprisingly well.

• Details
• Contents