3 – Inclusive Diplomacy (1)
Inclusive Diplomacy (1)
SMS Goeben, a battleship of the German Imperial Navy, in the Mediterranean.
Geographically, the Mediterranean was an “other’s lake” that had little relevance to the German Empire. The entrances, Gibraltar and Suez, were under the influence of Britain and France, and the rights they held in the region were accessible through the railways acquired by the Ottoman Empire.
However, the Mediterranean was a strategically crucial point for Berlin that could not be ignored in terms of economy, military, politics, and diplomacy. German shipping lines were also heavily used in the Mediterranean. Taking these reasons into consideration, the German Navy established a Mediterranean Squadron in 1912 during the First Balkan War and stationed their forces permanently in the region.
The newly established German Mediterranean Squadron consisted of the battleship Goeben and the cruiser Breslau, a small force but still significant due to the presence of a flagship battleship.
The admiral commanding this small fleet at the time of the outbreak of war was Admiral Wilhelm Anton von Gauché. Having calculated only the date of his safe return to his homeland, the admiral was surprised by the sudden news of war and took refuge in the port of Pola in Austria before returning to his homeland, proceeding to Gibraltar to return.
“To think that war breaks out just as the relief is around the corner. There’s no luck or geography in it.”
“Don’t say unlucky things. If the negotiating countries declare war, we’ll be like mice trapped in a cage.”
Although there had been no declaration of war from the Allies so far, everyone agreed that they would soon become enemies. The admiral wanted to quickly escape to the Atlantic before the negotiating countries acted hostilely. The presence of British battleships chasing them from afar made them anxious.
“If the Strait of Gibraltar is blocked, we are dead men. Don’t save coal, go full speed ahead!”
“Yes. Engines, full speed ahead!”
Unfortunately, the Mediterranean Fleet was destined to remain in the Mediterranean. Just as they were about to reach the eastern waters of Gibraltar, an important message arrived from headquarters.
It was an order from the Navy Minister, instructing them to head to Constantinople, now that an alliance had been established with the Ottoman Empire.
“Head to Constantinople? Isn’t that the same as going back to the negotiating table?”
“It’s an order from headquarters. Follow the command!”
The Admiral turned the key as ordered, but luck was not on their side. On August 4th, when France declared war on Germany, the fleet found themselves surrounded by enemies in the western Mediterranean, which was now under the control of the French Navy. While the presence of British battleships in the distance was bothersome, Britain had not yet declared war on Germany.
The Admiral decided to take bold action. As the two fleets passed each other, Goben increased her speed to the maximum. Fortunately, the British warships were not fast enough to chase Goben.
“We managed to shake them off for now, but it’s not enough. We’ll attack a few ports to divert their attention and escape through the Strait of Messina.”
Following the Admiral’s orders, Goben bombarded the port of Philippeville, while Breslau targeted the port of Bone.
“They’re German ships!”
The French were astonished by the audacious attack of the German warships, which boldly entered the harbor and fired their cannons.
Bang! Bang!
“Fire! Destroy them all!”
Although they fell short of their original plan of using 12-inch guns, the 11-inch guns mounted on the Moltke-class battleships themselves were a disaster. Goben’s five 11-inch gun turrets unleashed relentless firepower.
Under the fierce bombardment of the German warships, the French fleet quickly turned into a field of smoke. Thousands of tons of coal intended for the French fleet went up in flames. The French coastal batteries and torpedo boats defended the harbor, but they needed more firepower to withstand the onslaught of the battleships.
The German fleet burned down the smoke-covered harbor and calmly sailed away.
“How dare they cause such havoc in our own backyard with just two ships?”
“The Germans’ intentions are obvious. They plan to attack the harbor, divert our attention, and then escape to Gibraltar.”
“That’s a reasonable assumption.”
Taken aback by the audacious attack of the German fleet, the French Navy, fearing total destruction, dispatched a fleet to the west.
It wasn’t that the German fleet didn’t consider the possibility of escaping through the Strait of Messina. However, it was hard to expect common sense from those audacious men who had entered the Mediterranean Sea, the French Navy’s Lake, and looted as soon as the war broke out. If they missed their movements and tried to escape to the Atlantic, it would be a disaster. Despite this, the French Navy was in a disadvantaged position compared to Germany’s main fleet. Thanks to the French being scared, Goben and Breslau were able to reach the Strait of Messina, north of Sicily.
The problem was what came next. On August 5th, an unexpected obstacle occurred in the plan of the fleet, which was trying to replenish coal at Messina Harbor in Italy. Despite being a member of the Triple Entente, Italy conveyed its intention to remain neutral and ordered the fleet to evacuate the harbor within 24 hours.
“You are also a member of the Triple Entente, is it reasonable for them to demand that you evacuate our allied warships within 24 hours?”
The admiral protested directly, but Italy’s attitude was firm.
Despite this, because British warships were waiting on both sides of the strait to monitor them, the Germans were anxious.
“What about the coal loading?”
“We haven’t loaded even a third yet.”
“Damn Italians!”
They received coal from the anchored German merchant ship, but 24 hours was too short a time limit. When the battleship sailed, it piled coal up to the deck, but Goben had no coal to pile up on the deck. It was difficult to continue the journey to Constantinople with the coal they barely loaded.
However, it was difficult to transfer the remaining coal outside the harbor, as it would be difficult to avoid sinking if they were attacked by the French fleet. France was likely aware that the German warships had dropped anchor at Messina Harbor.
Meanwhile, while the Ottoman Empire declared neutrality from the naval fortress, an order was given to continue advancing towards Constantinople, ignoring their neutrality.
In response, Captain Richard Ackermann of Goben argued that they should head to Pola in Austria with a convoy.
“Goben needs repairs. If the Ottomans don’t cooperate properly, going to the allied country is the best option.”
If it weren’t for the Sarajevo incident in June, Goben was scheduled to be replaced by its sister ship Moltke and receive maintenance in the homeland. That’s how many minor issues had accumulated on the ship.
There were voices opposing the journey to Pola as well.
“Pola is a glass bottle called the Adriatic Sea. Once the French seal the lid, there won’t be another chance to get out. We have to go to Constantinople.”
In fact, just considering the main ships of the French Mediterranean Fleet, there were two Dreadnought-class battleships and ten Pre-Dreadnought-class battleships. If they were determined, it wouldn’t be difficult for them to blockade the Adriatic Sea.
“Your Excellency, where should we go? To Pola? To Constantinople?”
It would be convenient for maintenance if they went to Pola.
But can a fleet that can’t move still be called a fleet?
The Admiral recalled the sight of German warships in the Mediterranean rotting away on the coast throughout the war. After much deliberation, he came to a conclusion.
“Send a message to the naval base. Prepare coal transport ships in Greece. We are heading to Constantinople.”
On August 6th, when the Admiral made his decision, the German fleet immediately changed course to the east.
As the British battleships tried to follow them from a distance, the British had no intention of engaging the German fleet, fortunately.
The British fleet, consisting of four armored battleships and eight destroyers, continued to monitor them and persistently pursued the Goeben.
The Admiral was uneasy about the presence of the British warships circling around him throughout the voyage. Although they didn’t fire any shells, just the exchange of signals could turn them into enemies at any time. Even just looking at the Union Jack on their mast made him break out in a cold sweat.
“If we can’t shake them off, our safety may be threatened. We must be prepared for some risks.”
The Admiral ordered to spare no coal and to give full power, even if there were problems with the engines.
There were armored cruisers and light cruisers that could reach a maximum speed of 27 knots. Thanks to devouring coal to the point of the boilers almost bursting, the fleet was able to shake off the British traps in just one day. If that hadn’t happened, three more battleships would have joined, but that didn’t happen.
Of course, the fact that the British were not in a state of war meant that they didn’t take any actions beyond monitoring.
The Mediterranean squadron crossed the eastern Mediterranean, evading the watchful eyes. Their final destination was the serene capital of the Ottoman Empire, Constantinople.
*
August 9, 1914, Ottoman Empire, Istanbul, Topkapi Palace, Imperial Secret Service.
Constantinople, the capital of the Ottoman Empire, which had briefly found peace after the Balkan Wars, was unexpectedly turned upside down. The waves of the incident were not small enough for British, French, Russian, and German ambassadors to enter one after another through the gates of the Pasha, which had been peaceful for a while after the Tanzimat Reforms.
Just a few hundred years ago, foreign diplomats who entered through the gates of the Pasha were in awe of the grandeur of the Ottoman Empire, but now it was the opposite. Ottoman bureaucrats greeted foreign ambassadors with tense faces.
The first person to enter was Hans Freiherr von Wangenheim, the German ambassador to Constantinople. The straightforward German ambassador, as soon as he met with the Grand Vizier, requested permission for the Goeben and Breslau, two warships that had entered Ottoman waters in the name of the alliance, to dock in Constantinople.
“This is the right we naturally demand as a party to the alliance.”
Sid Halim Pasha, who was completely unaware of the secret alliance led by Enver Pasha, realized the existence of a secret agreement when he heard a shocking revelation.
Halim sent the German ambassador back with a promise to discuss the matter with the government, but he could not help but be taken aback by the objections from the ambassadors of the Great Powers that kept flooding in.
Especially the reaction of Russian ambassador Mikhail Nikolaevich von Giers was like an erupting volcano.
“We have received confirmation from Athens that the German fleet is passing through Greece and approaching the Dardanelles. What does their action mean? Can we assume that Constantine has decided to be friends with Berlin? If that’s the case, I will say it clearly. Constantine needs to know that Sebastopol is closer than Wilhelmshaven or Kiel. If you give the order, our fleet will deploy battleships to blockade Constantinople as early as tomorrow.”
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The Russian ambassador’s statement was nothing short of a blatant threat.
In fact, the Black Sea Fleet had already raised anchor and was preparing to set sail.
“We have no intention of confronting Russia. It seems that Your Excellency suspects an agreement between Berlin and me, but I have never heard of such discussions.”
“I also want to trust Your Excellency’s words. However, doesn’t the situation make us suspicious? It is uncomfortable for our Russia, which is threatened by the situation that jeopardizes the freedom of passage through the Bosporus and the Dardanelles, guaranteed by the Adrianoople Treaty. Your Excellency says it is not the case, but if Constantinople accepts the German fleet into its harbor, we cannot help but doubt the sincerity of the Ottoman Empire toward St. Petersburg. I will ask again. Are you trying to blockade the straits by siding with Germany? If you want to prove the Ottoman Empire’s goodwill toward St. Petersburg, immediately stop the German fleet’s voyage and drive them away.”
The demeanor of the individual ambassador was oppressive and rude. Nevertheless, the Grand Vizier could not reveal his emotions.
Even though the Ottoman Empire, which had been trampled to the bone during the Russo-Turkish War just a few decades ago, wanted to stand up proudly, it was difficult to do so.
Of course, there was a reason why the Russian ambassador was being more aggressive than usual. The situation was facing the possibility of the Black Sea, where almost all imports and exports were conducted, being blocked, and it was strange that there was no reaction.
Even if Russia had no reason to be rude, it was a country that was prepared to be rude.
“We absolutely have no intention of doing that. Your Majesty and the Imperial Secret Service also support neutrality.”
“I must convey this firmly to Enver Pasha as well.”
“I intend to do so.”
Grand Vizier Sid Halim Pasha was exhausted by the chaos, but the turmoil did not end with this.
* * *
1) Commerce raiding: A strategy to disrupt the enemy’s trade, maritime transportation, and logistics. It usually involves the use of submarines or armed merchant ships, but battleships or cruisers can also be deployed.
2) According to the Hague Convention, an armed warship is obliged to leave a neutral port within 24 hours.