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United States during the Turkish War of Independence

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A ceremony in Bandırma displaying Greek and American flags (July 1920)

During the First World War, the Ottoman Empire and the United States fought from opposite sides, but they never officially declared war on each other. However, American ships carried weapons for the Entente during the Gallipoli campaign.[1]

The Ottoman Empire and its allies were eventually defeated and the Armistice of Mudros was signed. The Entente requested that Istanbul, the Marmara Region and Greater Armenia be under the control of an American mandate.[2][3] Some Turkish communities even defended the idea of the whole of Anatolia being controlled by the United States.[3]

The United States reportedly helped the Entente during the Turkish War of Independence; American aid included but wasn't limited to logistical support. USS Arizona and 3 other American warships provided protection to the Greeks during the Greek landing at Smyrna.[4] On 7 June 1922, Greek warships (including the cruiser Georgios Averof) and the American destroyers USS Sands, USS McFarland and USS Sturtevant bombarded the port city of Samsun to help the Pontic Greek rebels in the region.[5] Four Turkish civilians were killed and 3 others were injured in the bombardment, and the assault also caused large scale damage in the city, destroying dozens of buildings.[6]

List of Battleships

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USS Noma in front of Dolmabahçe

Many American warships served in Turkish territorial waters between 1908 and 1923. The most important ones can be listed as;[7]

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ Cevizoğlu 2007, p. 54.
  2. ^ New York Times (Archive), British would keep Sultan in Europe - Want him to retain the semblance of Power in Constantinople, 20 May 1919
  3. ^ a b New York Times (Archive), Turkish tangle is still unsolved, 26 May 1919
  4. ^ New York Times, Smyrna is taken away from Turkey, 17 May 1919
  5. ^ Cevizoğlu 2007, p. 66.
  6. ^ Cevizoğlu 2007, p. 77.
  7. ^ Cevizoğlu 2007, p. 64-65.
  8. ^ Department of the Navy - Naval Historical Center, Burning of the French Transport Vinh-Long, 16 December 1922

Sources

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  • Cevizoğlu, Hulki (2007). 1919'un Şifresi (Gizli ABD İşgalinin Belge ve Fotoğrafları). Ceviz Kabuğu Yayınları. ISBN 9789756613238.
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