"Turkish Army of WW2" Topic

"This is one of the more obscure armies of WW2. Not least because they declared war against the Axis in February 1945, and didn't get any fighting units into action before VE Day. However, that doesn't quite mean that they didn't fire a shot in anger, and there are many times when they came close to joining the conflict, under pressure from both sides. While most historians, with some justification, sniff at 'what-ifs', the wargamer can indulge quite happily.

That said, there are a few challenges. There are no Osprey books with shiny colour plates, in fact, very little published material at all, even in Turkish. My main source was a handbook written for the British War Office (in the National Archives), probably by a military attache attached to the embassy. I also think he made a few mistakes, which doesn't make matters easier. I am working on a more detailed study, which i hope will help.

There are pictures, although in black and white, and a few items of militaria. We can reasonably assume that the posed public relations photos show the smartest and best equipped troops. There are some pictures of troops on campaign suppressing a rebellion prior to the war, which back up the British handbook's view that rank and file troops were provided with "very shoddy, ill-fitting clothes which in most cases, look extremely shabby, more especially in the east."…"

Balkan Military History

link

Armand

Very interesting. Thanks for posting this.

As he says, there were a number of times the Turks could have gotten into the conflict, some better for the Turks than others. Interesting project, though a bit unusual, even by the standards of somebody with a WWII Greek army.

Grelber

Good information and does spark interest.

Presumably the Greeks were a likely opponent ?

I would also think the Russians who be good opponents. Early war when Hitler and Stalin were carving up eastern Europe.

Glad you like them boys…

Armand