The Black Box of the Great War

Published by Arab Scientific Publishers, "The Black Box of the Great War" (Arming the Sultan) by Dr. Naci Yorulmaz reveals the behind-the-scenes dynamics of German arms exports to the Ottoman Empire from the reign of Sultan Abdulhamid II to WWI. Based on rich archival research from Istanbul, Berlin, and Essen, Yorulmaz demonstrates how defense contracts with German giants like Krupp and Mauser morphed into deep geopolitical alliances, ultimately drawing the Ottomans into World War I. The book highlights the defense industry as a primary instrument of foreign policy and national sovereignty, connecting WWI arms diplomacy to modern geopolitical conflicts and arms trade realities.

It delivers a masterclass in military history and political economy, showing how arms sales dictate foreign policy and shape historical turning points.

Historians of WWI and the Ottoman Empire, political scientists, researchers in military history and defense economics, and readers interested in geopolitics and international relations.