Background Occupation of Constantinople

greek aviators @ san stefano airfield, after mudros armistice

the ottomans estimated population of constantinople in 1920 between 800,000 , 1,200,000 inhabitants, having collected population statistics various religious bodies. uncertainty in figure reflects uncounted population of war refugees , disagreements boundaries of city. half or less muslim, remainder being largely greek orthodox, armenian orthodox, , jewish; there had been substantial western european population before war.

legality of occupation

the armistice of mudros, defined end of world war ottoman empire, mentions occupation of bosphorous fort , dardanelles fort. on october 30, 1918, somerset gough-calthorpe, british signatory stated triple entente s position had no intention dismantle government or place under military occupation occupying constantinople . verbal promise , lack of mention of occupation of constantinople in armistice did not change realities ottoman empire. admiral somerset gough-calthorpe puts british position no kind of favour whatsoever turk , hold out no hope them ottoman side returned capital personal letter calthorpe, intended rauf orbay, in promised on behalf of british government british , french troops used in occupation of straits fortifications. small number of ottoman troops allowed stay on in occupied areas symbol of sovereignty.

sultan s position

according sir horace rumbold, 9th baronet, british ambassador constantinople (1920–1924), sultan mehmed vi had never grasped or accepted kemalism, national perspective of turkish national movement. never perceived significance of military , political events following armistice of mudros, failing realise partitioning of ottoman empire reflection of captivity. him, , close circle formed , represented turks. there group of real turks loyal , working save empire @ cost. based on individual activities, of turkish revolutionaries fell in/out of sultan s definition of turk. according rumbold, sultan claimed mustafa kemal macedonian revolutionary of unverified origin, bekir sami kunduh ossetian , other individual revolutionaries turkish-speaking albanians, circassians, etc. moreover, rumbold maintained sultan thought resistance against allies support found in bolsheviks bring turkey same fate azerbaijan democratic republic, had become azerbaijan ssr. ideology behind sultan s perception of events had taken different path.

in following years, enver pasha went moscow , later central asia, ultimate intention regain power (against allies) using bolsheviks through organization of union of islamic revolutionary societies , affiliated party of people s councils. turkish national movement did not give way bolsheviks instead made peace allies. enver pasha killed fighting red army. atatürk s reforms abolished caliphate , khilafat movement did not save ottoman caliph.