Bulgarian-Turkish relations in the summer of 1915
Main Article Content
Abstract
In the year 1915 special attention was paid to neutral Bulgaria, which each
side, the Entente and the Central powers, hoped to attract by means of territorial concessions. Bulgarian aspirations were Macedonia, the Dobrudža, parts of Northern Greece and Turkish Thrace. During unofficial talks in May 1915 the Bulgarian diplomat Kolušev asked for the Enos-Midya line as compensation for neutrality. When official negotiations started on July 8th, Turkey refused especially the cession of Edime and Kirk-kilise and asked for an offensive-defensive alliance. But after talks with his German ally, it was willing to cede the west of the river Meriç, including the railway line to the port of Dede-Agaç, an important place after the straits were closed. After interruptions secret talks between Radoslavov’s delegate Tjufekčiev and Enver Paşa and German and Austrian intermediaries during July and August led to success. On September 6th a treaty was signed (on the same day the Bulgarian-German treaty was signed). Bulgaria received Thrace west ofTundža and Meriç and by this gained the direct railway line to the Aegean port of Dede-Agaç. Turkey achieved one of the most important aims, the land connection to Germany. Turkey’s ability to conduct war in 1915 depended on this reopening of the “Balkanstraße”.
side, the Entente and the Central powers, hoped to attract by means of territorial concessions. Bulgarian aspirations were Macedonia, the Dobrudža, parts of Northern Greece and Turkish Thrace. During unofficial talks in May 1915 the Bulgarian diplomat Kolušev asked for the Enos-Midya line as compensation for neutrality. When official negotiations started on July 8th, Turkey refused especially the cession of Edime and Kirk-kilise and asked for an offensive-defensive alliance. But after talks with his German ally, it was willing to cede the west of the river Meriç, including the railway line to the port of Dede-Agaç, an important place after the straits were closed. After interruptions secret talks between Radoslavov’s delegate Tjufekčiev and Enver Paşa and German and Austrian intermediaries during July and August led to success. On September 6th a treaty was signed (on the same day the Bulgarian-German treaty was signed). Bulgaria received Thrace west ofTundža and Meriç and by this gained the direct railway line to the Aegean port of Dede-Agaç. Turkey achieved one of the most important aims, the land connection to Germany. Turkey’s ability to conduct war in 1915 depended on this reopening of the “Balkanstraße”.
Article Details
Issue
Section
Articles