When Turkey finally declared war on Germany in the closing days of WW2, what pratical military aid to the allied cause could they contribute, leaving aside the economic benefits. Was the Turkish military anythig to right home about?
Andy H
Turkey's declaration of war
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gabriel pagliarani
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Cardinal Pacelli (later Pope Johannes XXIII) "legatus apostolicus" in Ankara during the war wrote the answer to your post: Von Papen, German Ambassador, was working about a retreat or escape of Nazi leaders in a neutral state as Ankara was. Allied Secret Services thought it was Turkey, in the while Odessa was preparing the escape in South Brasile, Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina. The Turkish government entered in war only in the attempt to avoid all the suspects about it.
Aenigma scored 0 - Pope Pius XII scored 1
Aenigma scored 0 - Pope Pius XII scored 1
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gabriel pagliarani
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evidently I am not so confident like you are with Popes' surnames.February 23 Turkey declared war on Germany and Japan effective Mar. 1, 1945. This declaration of war was a necessary precondition for participation in the Conference on International Organization, held in San Francisco in April 1945, from which the United Nations (UN) emerged. Turkey thereby became one of the fifty-one original members of the world organization. This also strengthened Turkey's position in regard to any possible Soviet moves aimed at gaining access to the Dardanelles.
By this time the Turks had recieved a variety of equipment from both the Allies and Axis, including
Sten smg
Thompson smg
Bren mg
P I A T
25 pdr guns
48 Bishop SP guns
57mm AT guns
162 bofors 40mm
68 vickers 3.7in AA guns
150 Daimler Dingoes
25 M4A2
up to 50 Valentine IX
c 190 Valentine II and III
222 M3A1 Stuarts
34 Pz IIIJ
37 Pz IVH
60 Hurricane IIB and C for army co-op
19 Blenheim V for bomber - recce
15 Beaufighter X anti shipping
72 Baltimores
21 Beauforts
72 Fw 190 A3
104 Spitfire V
5 B24D from US bombers that made emergency landings
plus a variety of equipment purchased pre war or recieved earlier in the war.
c 1940:
The regular army consisted of:
3 Armies
9 corps
18 infantry divisions
3 mountain brigades
5 cavalry divisions
The navy:
Yavuz (ex Goeben)
2 1904 light cruisers
4 modern destroyers
13 submarines
3 mtb
3 small modern minelayers
The Air Force:
4 Air regt
4 army co - op companies
total of c 370 aircraft
The armoured equipment sent to Turkey was used to form 2 armoured brigades and an armoured division.
The air force expanded to 6 regiments, a maritime Bn and a heacy bomber company.
All in all not a great addition to Allied strength but should the Turks have had to fight their performance in the Gallipoli campaign and in Korea suggest that they would have been tough opponents whatever equipment they had available.
By this time the Turks had recieved a variety of equipment from both the Allies and Axis, including
Sten smg
Thompson smg
Bren mg
P I A T
25 pdr guns
48 Bishop SP guns
57mm AT guns
162 bofors 40mm
68 vickers 3.7in AA guns
150 Daimler Dingoes
25 M4A2
up to 50 Valentine IX
c 190 Valentine II and III
222 M3A1 Stuarts
34 Pz IIIJ
37 Pz IVH
60 Hurricane IIB and C for army co-op
19 Blenheim V for bomber - recce
15 Beaufighter X anti shipping
72 Baltimores
21 Beauforts
72 Fw 190 A3
104 Spitfire V
5 B24D from US bombers that made emergency landings
plus a variety of equipment purchased pre war or recieved earlier in the war.
c 1940:
The regular army consisted of:
3 Armies
9 corps
18 infantry divisions
3 mountain brigades
5 cavalry divisions
The navy:
Yavuz (ex Goeben)
2 1904 light cruisers
4 modern destroyers
13 submarines
3 mtb
3 small modern minelayers
The Air Force:
4 Air regt
4 army co - op companies
total of c 370 aircraft
The armoured equipment sent to Turkey was used to form 2 armoured brigades and an armoured division.
The air force expanded to 6 regiments, a maritime Bn and a heacy bomber company.
All in all not a great addition to Allied strength but should the Turks have had to fight their performance in the Gallipoli campaign and in Korea suggest that they would have been tough opponents whatever equipment they had available.
In practical terms, Turkey could do virtually nothing against Germany. By March 1, 1945, the Axis had withdrawn completely from Greece and Yugoslavia, and Bulgaria was already on the Soviet side.
Since none of the Balkan countries wanted Turkish troops passing through their territory (especially Greece) the Turks had no way to get to the battlefront in Austria and Hungary by land. And none of the Turkish planes except the handful of B24's had the range to reach Axis territory.
The Allies could have shipped Turkish troops to the Italian front if they had wanted to, but either they didn't see the need or the Turks didn't want to go.
The Turks themselves were mainly concerned to keep the Soviets out of their territory and become a Western ally rather than a Soviet satellite.
It is interesting that Turkey declared war on Japan as well as Germany. I wonder, if the invasion of mainland Japan planned for 1946 had actually gone ahead, would Turkey have sent a token force to participate?
Since none of the Balkan countries wanted Turkish troops passing through their territory (especially Greece) the Turks had no way to get to the battlefront in Austria and Hungary by land. And none of the Turkish planes except the handful of B24's had the range to reach Axis territory.
The Allies could have shipped Turkish troops to the Italian front if they had wanted to, but either they didn't see the need or the Turks didn't want to go.
The Turks themselves were mainly concerned to keep the Soviets out of their territory and become a Western ally rather than a Soviet satellite.
It is interesting that Turkey declared war on Japan as well as Germany. I wonder, if the invasion of mainland Japan planned for 1946 had actually gone ahead, would Turkey have sent a token force to participate?