1919-1939 TURKEY-USSR RELATIONS

World War I had different effects on different states. Turkey and Russia can be given as an example. These countries were affected in different ways but they started to get closer and develop their relations. In this extended essay; the political, military and cultural aspects of the relationship between Turkey and Russia in the period of 1919-1939 was examined. This is an important interval since it includes the fall of former empires of both countries: The Ottoman Empire and the Russian Empire. After the collapse of these empires, the newly formed governments for both sides were united. The Bolshevik ideology and Turkish National Struggle allied against their common enemy Imperialism, despite the discrepancy of the regimes. The fight of Soviet Union against Imperialism was a political one whereas Turkey was trying to gain its independence. In this period, Soviet Russia’s aim was to convert the regime in Turkey to socialism but Turkish government has used that hope as a trump card to gain Russia’s support. The reason behind narrowing the aspects and period of time was to investigate topics more detailed and deeply. While studying this period when the relations between Turkey and Russia have reached its climax, books, periodicals of the period and websites were used as sources. The periodicals are especially important since they are considered as first hand sources which convey the most accurate information