MOBILIZING THE MUSLIMS: OTTOMAN-GERMAN PROPAGANDA IN WORLD WAR I


UÇAN C.

Cihannüma: Tarih ve Coğrafya Araştırmaları Dergisi, vol.9, no.1, pp.25-35, 2023 (Peer-Reviewed Journal) identifier

Abstract

On 2 August 1914, the Ottoman Empire and the German Empire agreed on an alliance, and the Ottoman Empire officially entered into World War I on 29 October 1914 as one of the Central Powers. In November, jihad was proclaimed by the Ottoman Sultan. The Ottoman and German governments published pamphlets, leaflets, and newspapers to mobilize Muslims in India, Egypt, and other dependencies of the Allies. They aimed to incite mutiny among native populations in their armies, foster Pan-Islamism, or create pro- German sentiments. While some of the propaganda materials invited Muslims to holy war, others used the Caliphate and the Ottoman Empire as a bridge to reach the Muslims. This article examines German and Ottoman propaganda to mobilize Muslims against the Allies.