Railroad Terminal of Haydarpaşa, Germany-Turkey Flirtation

Haydarpaşa Terminal, 06.05.2016 Source: Ahmet Abbasoğlu

Updated 17.02.2017

The terminal was the glorious start of a railroad between Istanbul and Baghdad, strenghtening the cables that conduct the influence of Bab-ı Ali (the Grande Porte) deep into the Middle East. The Germans undertook the project to bolster their relationship with the Ottomans. It was the result of such dynamic politics and a fine balance game that made the Ottomans last against the Great Powers which it could be counted marginally as one. Against the Russians Ottoman Empire first counted for the British and then Germany at the end of the 19th century and the start of the 20th was forcing to push the meter of favour to themselves. It was a complicated multiplayer game.

Route of the Proposed Berlin to Baghdad Railway 1914 (from Roland G.Usher The Story of the Great War  New York  1919)

Wilhelm came to Istanbul three times. The first time in 1889 he gained the contract to sell German rifles to the empire and in the second the promise of Istanbul-Baghdad railroad bid to German companies. Thus the Germans were winning twice in that case. They were profitting from the bid and also were stretching their hands out to the Persian Gulf.

Abdulhamid II and Wilhem II portrayed posing arm in arm, a close friendship.
Source unknown

The Fountain in Sultanahmet was a symbolic gesture of the good will between Germany and the Ottoman State while the partnership was building up. It bore the signatures of Wilhelm II and Abdulhamid II opening in 1901 with an official ceremony.

Opening of the German Fountain, 1901

The Istanbul-Baghdad railroad and the terminal of Haydarpaşa were the incentives offered the Turks by the Germans. Ottoman Empire was about to make an impulsive move when they were at the start of the 20^th century. This relationship gaining momentum during Abdulhamid's reign was turning from cordial into one of admiration for the Germans and a quick way to grasp the lost lands from the Great Powers when İttihat and Terakki Cemiyeti (Progress and Union Party) deposed the Sultan with a coup d'etait. The sick man of Europe was about to give his last breath with some drama that was called The First World War.

Abdulhamid II and Wilhem II on the left