What gains did the Ottoman Empire hope to Gain by Joining the Central Powers?

by CoolDude777777777
Zooasaurus

I'll try to answer your question, sorry if it doesn't satisfy you. I will just details Ottoman war aims during the war, and well, primary Ottoman war aims during the initial stages of the war was just two, and is relatively simple. Survival and economic independence

Survival

The most important and obvious objective was first to preserve the integrity and independence of the empire. This is quite difficult since the Ottoman Empire was essentially in a diplomatic isolation since 1877, when the British refused to aid them in a war against the Russians. Their diplomatic isolation become clearer during the Scramble of Africa, when European powers disregarded the treaties made during the Berlin Conference and claimed lands which supposedly goes to the Ottomans. The Balkan Wars further showcased this, where from their perspectives the Great Powers applied a double standard to the conflict and ignored established international law. Just prior to the Balkan Wars the Powers had issued a collective note affirming the status quo of the Ottoman boundaries in Europe. Once the Balkan allies emerged victorious however, the powers changed course and officially recognized the Balkan states’ territorial gains. When protested, the Powers especially Britain and Russia responded that they were anticipating an Ottoman victory and stated that the declaration’s purpose had been to preclude any kind of Ottoman territorial acquisition. The Powers, instead of trying to preserve the integrity of the Ottoman Empire as they had previously done, they had accommodated themselves to the idea that the multinational empire was disintegrating. Aware of this situation and feared partition by Britain, Russia, and France, the Porte was anxious to enlist the support of at least some of the Great Powers, even if that meant joining a war. During this precarious time, a German alliance seemed to offer security against the territorial aspirations of all the other Powers. In Ottoman eyes, Germany was the only Power which had no apparent territorial interest in the Ottoman Empire that would respect the integrity and survival of the empire in return for an alliance. At the same time Ottoman leaders were hoping to reinforce their regional security by constructing a Balkan pact with Romania and Bulgaria and here too they would need Germany’s support. It was a gamble, but one which offered a chance of winning and security. In hindsight we know the Ottomans backed the wrong horse, but this ignored the psychology of Ottoman government which at the time had this ingrained suspicion of Russia and other Great Powers. Contrary to popular belief, Pan-Islamism, Pan-Turkism, or irredentism doesn't play a major role in the Ottoman decision for war, despite the spirit of intikam (revenge) still being a burning issue in all levels of society.

Economic Independence

The second aim was the economic independence of the empire and the creation of a modern economic system by radical reforms. One of major aims of Ottoman entrance to the war was to abolish the irksome capitulations that had strangled the empire's economy for decades. Though the Ottoman economy had experienced a growth in the late 19th century, the Balkan Wars once again ruined the economy and with the July crisis it crippled altogether. Most western-owned businesses completely stopped their activities and international maritime transportation and trade came to a halt. It was only by signing the alliance with Germany that the Ottoman government was able to raise a foreign loan. These experiences convinced the government that the empire had to do all it could to establish an independent and viable economy and that this could not wait for the end of the war. The Capitulations were unilaterally abolished just before the empire entered the war and many radical economic reforms were enacted once hostilities started. After all, the firstmost condition of August 5 agreement was the German support for the abrogation of Capitulations.

Expansion of War Aims During the War

As the war progressed, sacrifices and costs increased, and an excellent performance by the Ottoman armies at the field expanded the initial war goals. Not that there was any desire to abandon the original aims, but the double victories of Gallipoli and Kut and the apparent success of the Ottoman Army in diverting Entente divisions from the Western front encouraged the Ottoman government not only to demand concrete promises of support in recovering the occupied provinces but also to reconsider the question of territorial expansion. For some, the acquisition of the northern Aegean islands had now become a necessity. At first, the recovery of the Aegean Islands were uncertain because of Greek neutrality, but the entry of Greece into the war finally removed all Ottoman inhibitions about it. In the east, the Russian Revolution provided the Ottomans an opportunity of territorial expansion. Ottoman leaders were at first still cautious of the situation, and used this opportunity to reclaim provinces and frontiers lost after the war of 1877. However after the relatively easy advance and recapture of some former provinces they modified their plans to include assistance for independence movements in the Caucasus and the creation of a buffer zone uniting a number of Muslim groups. The Germans, however, were uneasy from the start about the Ottomans’ expansion of war aims against Russia, and the two then started trying to outmanoeuvre each other in the Caucasus.

Sources:

The Ottoman Road to War in 1914 by Mustafa Aksakal

The Purpose of the First World War: War Aims and Military Strategies edited by Holger Afflerbach

Why did the Ottomans enter a European War in 1914? New sources, new views by Mustafa Aksakal