The rise and fall of British influence on the Turkish Armed Forces (1937–1959)

Abstract

(online only)This study examines the evolution of British influence on the Turkish Armed Forces between 1937 and 1959, in the context of equipment, organization and doctrine. On the eve of the Second World War, British influence was primarily evident in the air power through the transfer of doctrine and equipment, while German dominance persisted particularly within the army. During the war, British influence deepened, spreading to the land, air and naval power through military aid, training missions, infrastructure projects and the transfer of doctrine, reaching its peak in 1945. However, the British limited capacity and unmet Turkish expectations constrained this influence. In the post-war period, the commencement of American military aid to Turkey and the establishment of the American Military Assistance Mission (JAMMAT) rapidly eroded British dominance through military aid mechanisms. By the early 1950s, British influence had largely collapsed, persisting only partially within the navy.