Let's start with the conclusion: whether it is an individual or a nation, a weak nation has never had the right to choose its own destiny.
The Arab world, a geographical concept before World War I, was only part of the three major parts of the Ottoman Empire: the Balkans of Europe, Anatolia proper, and the Arab region.
They have long since lost the glory of their ancestors for 500 years, and the Arabs are only responsible for chanting scriptures and selling camels, and they have no strength to compete with the Ottoman Empire, but they also live a peaceful and peaceful life (nomadic migration).
On June 28, 1914, the bullet fired by the Serbian youth Princip changed everything, and World War I broke out.
1. Why was Ottoman Turkey involved in World War I?
In general, it was the result of the secret diplomacy of the Ottoman ruling party, the United Progressive Party.
1. Ottoman-German League.
Enver Pasha proposed to the German ambassador the creation of an Ottoman-German alliance, and the Grand Vizier Said-Halim Pasha made a similar proposal to Austria-Hungary. After the outbreak of war, the Ottomans promised to support Germany in negotiations. With the Sultan's ratification, the three countries signed the Triple Pact on 2 August. However, the official Ottoman position was armed neutrality.
2. Britain and France ignored.
After the Balkan Wars, the Ottomans proposed closer relations with Britain, France, and Russia, but received no response.
3. Germany's long-term support and infiltration.
In the thirtieth century of the 19th century, especially since the Treaty of Berlin in 1880, Germany gave military training to the Ottoman Army, which was of more importance to a country that was extremely dependent on the army, than Britain and France. In addition, Germany also had important investments in the Ottomans, the Berlin-Baghdad railway.
4. Britain's rampant hegemony was also an important factor in the Ottomans' fall towards Germany.
On July 28, 1914, the British detained two warships commissioned by the Ottoman Navy.
On October 29, 1914, the Ottoman navy shelled Odessa and other Russian ports, and on November 2, Tsarist Russia declared war on the Ottomans, and on the 5th, Britain and France declared war on the Ottomans.
On November 7, 1914, the Ottoman Sultan declared a "holy war", calling on all Muslims, especially those colonized by Britain, France, and Russia, for the first time in history, to rise up against the infidels.
2. Which is stronger, the sick man of East Asia or the sick man of West Asia?
In terms of force value, it must be Ottoman strong, just look at the First World War, the Battle of Dardanelles, that is, the Battle of Gallipoli.
In this battle from 1915 to 1916, the Ottoman Turks hardened the 500,000 allied forces of Britain, France, Australia, New Zealand and Inca, and won a big victory over the Entente ** team.
In 1915, Gemal Pasha failed his expedition to Egypt and returned to Syria to begin his rule, believing that the Arabs were about to launch an uprising, impose a repressive rule, introduce the Turkish language, and raise taxes.
Gemmar's rule in Syria has provoked Arab resentment, but it has not yet translated into nationalist sentiment in the eyes of Europeans.
After the major defeat of the British at Gallipoli, a familiar figure began to appear: the British governor in the Egyptian colony: Henry McMahon.
3. The collusion of the great powers.
After a series of diplomatic twists and turns, the diplomatic moves and agreements are as follows:
1. Anglo-French Treaty.
Britain, France and Russia signed the Secret Treaty of Constantinople in March-April 1915, in which Britain and France agreed to hand over Istanbul and the straits to ** after victory.
The following month's Treaty of London recognized southwestern Anatolia as Italy's sphere of influence. Both France and Britain wanted to acquire Syria, and while the relevant agreements and agreements concerning the Arab provinces discussed currency, Russia demanded the acquisition of northeastern Anatolia, which borders its borders. Complicated by the Palestinian question after the war, Britain feared that the Ottoman sultan-caliphate would affect millions of Muslims under British rule, so they began negotiations with Sharif Hussein to discuss the establishment of an Arab caliphate and an independent Arab state.
2. Hussein-McMahon letters.
McMahon quietly contacted Sharif ibn Ali, suggesting that Britain could provide the necessary support if Ali was willing to confront a common enemy.
In order to ensure that there was some room for negotiation, McMahon wrote: "We accept the scope of the territory you have proposed. Britain has always had the right to act freely in the region in question, and therefore would not harm the interests of our ally, France. McMahon also declared, "[He] made the following pledges in the name of the British Empire** ......."”
In vague terms, Ali's desire to establish a unified Arab state (an independent Arab state in the "Fertile Crescent" and the Arabian Peninsula after the war) was fooled.
3. The Sykes-Pico Agreement.
On May 16, 1916, the agreement was officially signed in London. The agreement was endorsed by the British and French in exchange for the annexation of northeastern Anatolia.
the western coastal areas of Lebanon and Syria (including Cilicia), which were in direct French possession;
the central and southern parts of Iraq and the Palestinian ports of Haifa and Acre, which were in direct British possession;
Palestine is internationally administered;
the establishment of an independent Arab State or an independent Arab Confederation in eastern Syria and Mosul (collectively referred to as "Area A") and northern Iraq and Transjordan, collectively referred to as "Area B";
"Zone A" and "Zone B" were divided into French and British spheres of influence, respectively.
4. Balfour Declaration.
On November 2, 1917, British Foreign Secretary Aj.Balfour sent a letter to L., vice-president of the Zionist Union in Great Britainw.Rothschild. The letter came to be known as the Balfour Declaration.
The Balfour Declaration was the first declaration by a major world nation to formally support the return of Jews to Palestine and establish a "national home".
Fourth, the great Arab uprising
On 5 June 1916, the Arab forces of the Hejaz launched an offensive against the Ottoman forces stationed near Mecca. Under the fierce blows of Arab armies and tribal forces, the rule of the Ottoman Empire in the Hejaz quickly collapsed. The rebel army linked the cities of Kegidah, Mecca, Taif and other cities.
In October 1916, Hussein proclaimed himself king of Arabia, but Britain, France, and Italy recognized him only as the ruler of the Hejaz.
In July 1917, Faisal moved his forces north, occupied Aqaba, surrounded Ma'an, and advanced to the mountains of Howran and Druze in Syria to join up with the nationalists there.
In October 1918, Faisal led his troops into Damascus and established the Arab ** led by him, ending the four-century rule of the Ottoman Empire.
By 1918, at the suggestion of the British adviser Lawrence, the rebels launched an all-out attack on Turkey, not only sending raiding teams to completely destroy the Hejaz Railway, but also marching north from the Arabian Peninsula to conquer present-day Palestine, Syria and Lebanon, and the Turkish ruling order in the Middle East completely collapsed.
At the end of World War I, the Arab revolt was completely victorious, and this revolt made a very important contribution to the victory of the Allies.
5. Divide the spoils after the war
1. The Peace Treaty of Paris.
Faisal, who was full of confidence, represented his father at the Paris Peace Conference, but despite the high expectations, his request was ignored and not discussed.
2. The San Remmer Conference.
The Conference approved the final provisions of the peace treaty with Turkey. The conference ostensibly recognized the independence of the Arab states of the "Fertile Crescent," but placed Syria (including Lebanon) under the French Mandate and Iraq and Palestine under the British Mandate. The United Kingdom also has an obligation to realize the Balfour Declaration.
6. Ibn Ali and his sons.
1.Ibn Ali.
In World War I, Ibn Ali proclaimed himself king of the Arabs. He then passed his territory to his three sons.
2, the eldest son Ali. Hussein.
Inherited the territory of the Kingdom of Hejaz. That is, the Red Sea coast of present-day Saudi Arabia.
However, in 1930, it was annexed by the Sultanate of Najd, also supported by the British-backed Saud family.
In 1932, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was formed together with the districts of Jizan and Yasir.
3. Abdullah Hussein.
Second son, Abdullah. In March 1921, Hussein moved to Transjordan under the "help" of the British, becoming King of Transjordan and becoming a puppet of the British.
Later, Transjordan gained independence in 1946 and merged the East and West banks in April 1950 and changed its name to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. (Abdullah.) Hussein was the grandfather of the previous king of Jordan, Hussein).
4. Faisal Hussein (the main leader of the Arab uprising).
Third son Faisal. Hussein was proclaimed king of the Kingdom of Greater Syria in March 1920.
But in April of the same year, Syria was entrusted to France, and Faisal was expelled from Syria.
In August of the same year, he was arranged by the British ** to be the British Mandate of Iraq and became the king of Iraq.
And in 1932, Iraq became independent.
But in 1958, a coup d'état took place in Iraq, killing King Faisal II and Crown Prince Abdullah and other members of the royal family. Faisal is in the same vein.
The dynasty fell and the Republic of Iraq was established.
To sum up: due to a series of controls and competitions by European powers, not counting the Kingdom of Arabia, the Kingdom of Yemen, and the Gulf Emirates of the Arabian Peninsula, by 1923 there were 10 entities in the Arab Asian region that were close to the nature of the state. The fall of the Ottoman Empire did not bring independence and unity to the Arabs, but on the contrary, it completely fragmented the region. It's like a road roller crushing instant noodles and shattering to the ground.
End of this article. Article Reference:
1. "Ottoman Empire 1299-1923".
2. Russia's Middle East Policy
3, "Lawrence of Arabia".
4. "Dividing the Sandbar - The Struggle of Britain and France to Shape the Middle East".
5. Encyclopedia.
At the end of this issue, the next issue will tell the story of the Jews.
My gzh: Herodotus, a 40-year-old real estate man, is not panicked at all, like a tree at the door, the flowers are in full bloom, and the branches are luxuriant. As the Palestinian-Israeli conflict heats up, a special topic on the Middle East has been opened, and this is the thirty-first article. Let's use common sense to fend off the prejudices of the times.