Abstract:

The Ottoman Empire, which ruled over wide geographies for more than six hundred years, gave importance to its military organization in every period. The wars, which resulted in successive defeats, prompted the Ottoman Empire to closely follow the developments in the European military organization since the 18th century. For this purpose, first of all, military experts from England and France were invited to the Ottoman country. However, II. Abdulhamid, who did not like the attitude of England and France in the Berlin Treaty, which was signed at the end of the 1877-1878 Ottoman-Russian War, turned his direction to Germany. The aim of the sultan was to develop the Ottoman army, and the aim of the German officers and military-technical experts who came to the Ottoman Empire was to serve the German economy by preparing the infrastructure for arms orders. Although Abdulhamit was aware that the Ottoman country was being turned into a market for German weapons, he continued his relations with Germany. Accordingly, in line with the interests of the two states, the Ottoman Empire frequently ordered military weapons and ammunition from Germany, especially the German Mauser Factory, in the last quarter of the 19th century. The arms trade played an important role in the diplomatic relations between the Ottoman Empire and Germany. Orders gradually reached the capital of the Ottoman Empire. In this study, in the light of the documents obtained from the Ottoman Archives of the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey, the German-made weapons that came to the warehouse of the Maçka Armory, known as Silahhane-i Amire, on January 1st, are discussed. 19th century evaluated. The bureaucracy of the arrival, inspection and storage of the ammunition was emphasized.

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