INTRODUCTION

A fascinating 'What if" of WWII is the effect of the entry of Turkey into the conflict as an active participant on the side of the Axis powers (Turkey did enter the war in February, '45, on the side of the Allies but too late to have any effect). This scenario is not as unrealistic as may first appear. Of all of the major participants in the European theater of operations, only Germany had never been at war with Turkey. In fact, Germany and Turkey had maintained close and friendly ties for well over a century at the time WWII broke out. One third to one half of all of Turkey's raw material exports went to Germany between 1900 and 1939. German military missions had reorganized the Turkish army before WWI, and were still present in the 1930s. The Berlin Bagdad Railroad (built by Germany) connected the hearts of the two countries, and German governments from Kaiser Wilhelm II to Adolf Hitler sent their best diplomats to Constantinople and Ankara.

Turkish mistrust of her neighbors was equally apparent, certainly in the case of Russia. In the 19th century Russia and Turkey fought no less than five wars. Most of the fighting took place on the Caucasian frontier which was the main route of Russian expansion. Russia also coveted the Turkish Straits (Bosporus and Dardanelles), the only outlet for the Black Sea Fleet. In WWI Turkey joined Germany in her fight against Russia, but was also embroiled with the Western Powers and lost miserably.

While her defeat in WWI made Turkey wary of again joining Germany in a large conflict, especially if it involved Russia and France, the enmity between Turkey and Russia would encourage her to attempt to avenge the five previous defeats. At the same time, the Turks feared age-old rivalries with the Greeks and Bulgarians. There was even some suspicion in 1939 of the overreaching power of the Germans. These conflicting concerns explained in part the great uncertainty of Turkish involvement in WWII.

Turkish Entry In the Russian Campaign:

The following rules will deal strictly with Turkish entry on the side of Germany in the Russian campaign. Rules are included to deal abstractly with the possibility of a Western Allied declaration of war on Turkey and intervention. As such you will need Fire In the East, Scorched Earth and the Near East games to use these rules.

I. Setup

Set up FITE/SE normally using either the 1941 or 1942 setups given in SE with the following additions:

A. Lay all three maps (20, 21, & 22) from NE so that their northern edges connect with the southern edges of FITE/SE maps. Note that SE map 9A overlies the NE maps to a great extent. To save space, maps 20 and 21 may be folded along the 26XX line as only the top halves will be used. Although Iran is not absolutely vital, I encourage use of the entire Iranian map, 22.

B. Set up Turkish forces (neutrality watch) per rules in NE. For best playing also set up the Iranians. Using the NE Iran invasion option is strongly recommended.

II. Turkish Entry

B. TURKISH ENTRY Turkish entry is possible from Jun II, 41 until Jan II, 43 inclusive. The following rules apply to this period:

On Turn II of each month, beginning with Jun II, 41, the Axis player rolls two dice. On a roll of 11 or 12 Turkey will declare war on the Soviet Union (only). This roll is modified as follows:

-1 if Iran is occupied by the Allies. (Use the Iran invasion rules in NE if possible. Historically the occupation was completed on the Aug II, 41 turn.)

-1 if Syria is occupied by the Allies (after Jul II, 41).

Note: Unless the NE Iran invasion option is used, it will be impossible for Turkey to enter the war under this section after Aug II, 41.

C. SPECIAL 1942 ENTRY - The zenith of Axis fortunes on all fronts occurred during 1942, and consequerly the likelihood of a Turkish alliance was most promising during this period. The following rules reflect these favorable conditions.

1. Axis units have captured Odessa, Sevastopol and Rostov-na-Don and cut all communications lines between Moscow and the Transcaucasus Military District - or

2. The Axis have captured all hex of Moscow.

When either of the above criteria a met the Axis player may begin rolling two dice on the 11 turn of each month On a roll of 6 through 12 Turkey will declare war on the Soviet Union. The special rule applies during all of 1942, and Jan, 43.

III. Turkish Restrictions Upon Entry

B. MOBILITY RESTRICTIONS - Due to Turkish fear of a Western Allied invasion the following rules apply:

1. All units that set up in Thrace (European Turkey, that area on the European side of the Straits) must remain in Thrace.

2. All units that set up in ports on the Bosporus, Aegean or Mediterranean and in hexes 3B:5030 and 20:0231 must remain in place. In addition, the Turks must maintain at least 3 REs of units in every port along these shores (this means that upon full mobilization some units must be allocated to ungarrisoned ports on the Mediterranean). These units are upgraded as normal.

3. A minimum of 21 REs of units must be maintained within 6 hexes of the Turkish-Syrian and/or Turkish-Iraqi frontiers west of the XX30 hex row. These units may not move or attack until a Russian or British unit comes within 3 hexes of them. The Turkish garrison in the port of Iskenderun, hex 20:2903, does not count towards the garrison requirement on the IraqiSyrian border even though the port does lie within 6 hexes of the border. (NOTE: If either of the above garrison requirements are not met there is a chance of Turkish surrender if the Western Allies declare war.)

4. One air unit must be stationed in Constantinople. All others may be placed at any airbase in Turkey.

C. LIMITED TURKISH OBJECTIVES Turkey would act as the Finland of the southern front. It had only limited war objectives and as such the following rules apply:

1. Turkish units may only operate in Russia south of the C weather line and in Iran. They may not enter Bulgaria, Greece, Syria or Iraq.

2. Turkish units may only stack with each other and with German units. They may attack in conjunction with any Axis units, including air support.

3. A maximum of 12 REs of Axis units may operate within Turkey. For purposes of this rule an air unit is considered I RE in size. (The Turks preferred Axis air units to more threatening ground troops on their soil.)

D. RAIL CAPACITY - Turkish rail capacity is 12 REs per turn. Axis units entering Turkey from Europe ignore this limit.

IV. Supply

B. SPECIAL TURKISH DEFENSIVE SUPPLY - The Turks have historically been tenacious defenders, especially when fighting on their own territory. To reflect this, when a Turkish unit is defending within the frontiers of Turkey it is always considered to be in supply for defensive purposes (only) when it can trace a line of communications of any length to a Turkish supply source.

V. Naval Rules

A. RUSSIAN SAFE ZONE - Two hexes from Sevastopol and Odessa, one hex from all other Russian ports. In addition, until Rostov-na-Donu falls or one shore of the Kerch Straits is German occupied, the entire Sea of Azov is a safe zone.

B. TURKISH DEFENSE - Russian naval units may not move within three hexes of Constantinople due to strong naval defenses in the Straits.

VI. Western Allied Intervention

A. DETERMINING WESTERN ALLIED DECLARATION OF WAR - Provided Turkey has joined the Axis, beginning on Jan 1, 43 the Soviet player rolls two dice on the first turn of every other month. On a roll of 2 through 5 the Western Allies intervene. This roll is modified as follows:

-4 if Axis units have entered Turkey (once Axis units enter Turkey this modifier applies for the rest of the game, even if the units leave).

-3 if Turkish units enter Iran (this modifier applies only while the units remain in Iran).

B. EFFECT OF THE DECLARATION OF WAR

1. Turkey can no longer receive air .unit reinforcements.

2. The British Iranian garrison is immediately available. The units available are those used in the invasion of Iran (listed in the NE rules or as used in the invasion option) and appear in any Iranian city south of Tehran. They may only be used in Iran, Turkey or Russia north of the 26XX line of maps 20, 21 and 22. They may not stack with Russian units or participate in the same combat.

VII. Western Allied Invasion

A. DETERMINING THE INVASION The Soviet player rolls two dice every turn following a Western Allied declaration of war, starting with the third turn after declaration. On a roll of 2 through 4 the Allies will launch an invasion. The dice roll is modified by -1 in 1944.

B. EFFECTS - The superb Turkish defensive terrain and great distances would have meant a long campaign. Therefore an invasion would probably not have spelled sudden death for Turkey. Still, it would have had an adverse effect on the Turkish-Russian campaign.

1. All further Turkish reinforcements and replacements are lost.

2. All Russian naval restrictions in the Black Sea are lifted except that the Turks have a safe zone of two hexes from Constantinople.

3. The Turks must immediately upgrade their Syrian-Iraqi frontier garrison to at least 45 REs of ground units. German units may be used for this purpose.

4. Turkish garrisons in ports must be raised to 6 REs. German units may be used.

5. One Turkish air unit per turn must be withdrawn from the Russian front and sent to the Syrian- Iraqi frontier or the southern or Bosporus coasts until all Turkish air units are based there. German air units may be substituted for Turkish air units.

6. The allowance of Axis REs that can operate in Turkey is raised to 28.

VIll. Turkish Defection

1. No German units are in supply east of the Dnieper River and south of hex row 06XX on maps 3B and 4A (the row running through Kiev) inclusive, and

2. At least 4 dot or reference cities in Turkey are occupied by supplied Russian units; -OR

1. No German units are in supply east of the Dnieper, per above, and

2. A Western Allied invasion has occurred, and

3. At least two dot or reference cities in Turkey are occupied by Russian units in supply; -OR

1. Constantinople is occupied by a supplied Russian unit; -OR

1. An Allied invasion has occurred, and;

2. The pre-invasion garrison requirements were not met at the time of the invasion.

B. EFFECTS - When an armistice is declared, all non-isolated Turkish units outside Turkey must move by the shortest route into non-occupied Turkish home territory. Russian units in Turkey may move within Russianheld territory in Turkey, but may not advance further. Any Axis units must move by the shortest route out of Turkey. Any isolated Turkish units are eliminated.

C. TURKISH DECLARATION OF WAR ON GERMANY - Whether or not Turkey was involved in the war to date, if a Russian unit in supply moves to within three hexes of any hex of Berlin, Turkey will declare war on Germany (note: this rile will not affect play in FITE/SE unless an additional map is attached on the western edge). The same mobility restrictions apply, except that Turkish units may enter Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary. IX. Notes on Strategy

AXIS - The Turks will be a great help to the Axis if used properly, but don't overestimate the ability of the Turkish army to single-handedly win the war for you. Due to the excellent defensive value of the Caucasian Mountains there will be no repeat of the Mongol Horde in the form of the Turkish army sweeping across the Don Steppes on its way to meet the Germans at Stalingrad. Unless you are a lucky roller and get the Turks in the first few months of the campaign, much will already have been won before Turkey enters the conflict. Chances are German units will be on the shores of the Caspian Sea (you basically have to do this to cut communications lines to meet the 1942 Special Entry requirements) when Turkey declares war. The Turks will act mainly as the "anvil" on which the German hammer will crush the Russian army in the Caucasus. They will greatly help to break up any Russian bastion in the Caucasus and secure the German flank. The Turks will also prove helpful to draw off a few potential reinforcements from day one of Barbarossa, for who knows when you might roll that 12?

Tactically, you should run as many units as possible, given mobility limits, to the Russian frontier and cross in force. Given the poor supply lines there (to say the least) you should be able to take Yerivan and Leninakan, and possibly Batumi, and threaten Tbilisi and the lower Black Sea coast. You should not attack Russian units in Iran (they will be coming out at you in any case) or allow German units into Turkey unless victory is at the door and a final thrust will end the campaign. Western Allied involvement is not a pleasant prospect. Once the Western Allies declare war and conduct an invasion the Turks are not necessarily out of the war, but they may very well have to go over to the defensive. If possible, send the maximum allowable number of German REs to Turkey, but not to fullfill garrison requirements. Poorer Turkish infantry can do that. By the way, don't waste German armor in the Caucasus on either front. Armor in the mountains and cities is almost useless.

SOVIET - Turkish entry into the war will not bring about the downfall of the Workers' Paradise, but it will proffer some considerable problems. You don't want to lose the Caucasus region with its oil fields, but you also don't want to pour too many units into a gigantic pocket when they are sorely needed elsewhere. If Turkish entry comes after the Germans have cut communications lines to the Caucasus, you should withdraw what units are left in this giant pocket into mountainous terrain. Hold major cities and passes and try to attack with a relief force from the area of Astrakhan south to reopen the Caspian rail line. You will still be receiving reinforcements and replacements in the North Caucasus and Transcaucasus MDs, and you could pull out any units you might have in Iran if necessary. An attack out of northern Iran would also be possible, as the Turks will hesitate to follow you back into Iran and risk Western Allied intervention. Remember, however, that most of your units will be out of supply.

Tactically, don't waste units by placing too many on "guard duty" in the Caucasus early in the campaign. The chances of a Turkish invasion in 1941 are almost nil and you will know when, in 1942, the danger increases. The best setup is to place a few good mountain or regular 4-6 infantry divisions in key places, such as Yerivan and along rail lines. A few defensive artillery units, such as the old 2- 3-8s, can support key positions and an independent mountain brigade here and there in isolated mountain areas on the frontier will slow any flanking attempt. Also base one or two good fighters along the frontier to keep the Turkish air force at bay, and you might even try basing part of the Russian Black Sea Fleet at Batumi for the extra artillery support (this will also keep it out of range of most German air units.

X. Designer's Notes

One variance that I have wanted to try is to combine Western Desert and Torch with the module above. You could then operate with the Allied units in the Middle East up until 1943. This would give you the option of actually seeing what a TurkishAllied conflict in Syria and Iraq would be like. Who knows, you might be able to play out the Hitler fantasy scenario of linking up German forces coming across the Caucasus with Rommel's army coming out of Egypt. But alas we stray from the main topic. While I have spent some considerable time researching this subject area, it is of course incomplete. I would be interested in hearing from any players who improve upon my rules or develop alternatives. I hope that this option, and the reading list below, will help you enjoy playing FITE/SE even more.

LIST OF READING

Lothar Krecker, Deutschland und die Turkei im Zweiten Weltkdea
Frank G. Weber, The Evasive Neutral
Edward Weisband, Turkish Foreian Policy. 1943-1945
Seth Arsenian, "Wartime Propaganda in the Middle East,"
The Middle East Journal, Vol.11, p.417 W.E.D.
Allen & Paul Muratoff, Caucasian Battlefields

Response: Letter to Editor (Europa #3)