Arming the Sultan: German Arms Trade and Diplomacy in the Ottoman Empire Before World War 1

At the beginning of the nineteenth century, the Ottoman armaments trade was entirely self-sufficient. But by the end of the century, it was almost entirely under German control. How did Germany under Chancellor Bismarck manage to conquer what had until then been an extremely competitive military market? Focusing on the reign of Sultan Abdülhamid between 1876 and 1909, Naci Yorulmaz's book explores the determining factors that influenced the development of the Ottoman armaments market. While acknowledging the importance of political and economic factors, Arming the Sultan concentrates on the personal relationships which shaped the development of the arms trade, including the bonds between arms-makers and the government, between German politicians and Ottoman grandees, and even the private relationships between Kaiser Wilhelm I, Otto von Bismarck and the Sultan. Yorulmaz's innovative book suggests that the value of these relationships has been overlooked, and ensured German success over British, French and American competition.