The War Between Britain And Turkey During World War II

During the Second World War, Turkey, the one which across Asia and Europe, has custody of the Turkish Straits and important material chrome, was the focus of contention of the strong powers. But Turkey did not want to be drawn into the war. So the issue of Turkey in combat is one of the important subjects on modern international relations. While Britain was the only state of the Antifascist Alliance to insist draw Turkey over to its side. Therefore this text want to analyze the reason why Britain insist to have Turkey come into the war, and whether this policy is successful through discussing during the Second World War British different attitudes towards the Turkey in the different periods.The thesis includes three chapters. The first chapter describes British attitude towards Turkish neutrality in the early of the war, and its effect. As early as in the beginning of1939, Britain hoped to draw Turkey over to its side. But after the breakout of the war, Turkey chose the moderate position. After the broke of negotiation with Soviet, Turkey signed a mutual agreement with Britain and France on October19,1939, while it didn't want to perform treaty responsibility, just wanted to get aid. So Turkey took whether Turkish performance of the duty presupposes British sufficient aid, and Turkey never involves in any actions which opposing Soviet as the excuses not go to war. There is little Britain can do about it. After the outbreak of the Soviet-Germany war, because of the distrust towards Soviet, Turkish neutrality inclined to favor Germany. Britain took a lot of measures to prevent Turkey falling into the Germanic arms.In the wake of war's turning point, Britain made an utmost effort to encourage Turkey to go to war, for implanting the Balkan strategy. However, according to a series of failure, such as Adana Conference, the meeting in Cairo, Britain realized that Turkey would never to go to war until the Alliance win a the decisive victory. So Britain adopted the "aloofness" to Turkey.But the rapid spread of the Soviet influence in Balkan get on British nerves. Basing on the consideration about British long term interest in the Balkan, Britain decided to change the active policy towards Turkey, and yet Britain unwilling to entangle with Turkey at the aid problem. So after the break of the Second Front, Britain encouraged Turkey to break off the relation with Germany, rather than declare war. At Yalta Conference Britain make an utmost effort to help Turkey acquire the seat at the United Nations.Turkey, which is located at Eurasian juncture, has important influence for British maritime lifeline. During the war, Britain wanted to pull Turkey into the war, but the progress was slow. There are two reasons, one of them is that considering itself benefit, Turkey didn't want to go into the war until the war situation clear. So Turkey asked harsh materials requirements, thus delayed going to the war. The other one is that British strength was not strong. Until the war was about to end, when Turkish coming into the war had little impact to the war, Britain drew Turkey over on its side, for the scruple to Soviet. But what was out of the British anticipation was that it would give Turkey to America for its power couldn't counter Soviet individually after the war. In general, it is can't to evaluate British policy to Turkish neutrality during the war just use purely neither successful nor failure, because although Britain can't let Turkey go into the war in good time, finally include Turkey into the its forces range.