"The expansionist ambition of the young German Empire was primarily directed toward the Ottoman lands... It would not be wrong to say that the influence it established in these countries constitutes the very history of Germany in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The exact same holds true for late Ottoman history," explains İlber Ortaylı.

During the era when the Ottoman Empire opened its doors to the Western world, Germanic culture and political strategy assumed a uniquely powerful role. Arriving late to the global colonial scramble dominated by the British and French, Germany was forced to engineer a new breed of influence policy. This strategic closeness rapidly evolved into a shared destiny leading up to the First World War—a deep-rooted partnership that extended far beyond mere military and political alliances, ultimately culminating in the simultaneous collapse of both great empires.

In this meticulously researched study, master historian Ortaylı brings his rigorous scholarly perspective and captivating prose to explore every dimension of German penetration into the Ottoman world. Drawing upon a vast array of archival documents, economic situation reports, and contemporary propaganda tracts, German Influence in the Ottoman Empire provides an extraordinarily compelling look at an alliance that defined an era and permanently altered the course of modern history.