Cihâd-ı Ekber Bağlamında I. Dünya Savaşı’nda Libya’da Türk-Alman-İtalyan Faaliyetleri ve Senûsî Direnişi
Ekim 1912 tarihli Uşi antlaşmasıyla Osmanlı Devleti Libya’dan çekildi ve Kasım 1914’te ilan edilen Cihat Beyannamesi her tarafta olduğu gibi Libya’da da camilerde okundu. Başlangıçta İtalya cihat kapsamına alınmadı. İtalya ise Ağustos 1915’te Osmanlı Devleti’ne savaş ilan etti. Cihat faaliyetleri, başlangıçta İtalyanları Libya’da tedirgin ettiyse de harbin gidişatını değiştiremedi. Bu çalışmada, Savaş yıllarında Libya’da cihat propagandası, Türk-Senusi ittifakı ve Fransız-İngiliz karşı faaliyetleri araştırmamızın konularıdır. Bu araştırma, kronolojik olarak 1915-1918 yıllarını kapsamaktadır. Ayrıca Türk ve Fransız arşivleri, gazeteler ve araştırma eserlerine dayanmaktadır.
Turkish–German–Italian Activities in Libya During the First War in the Context of the Holy War and Senusi Resistance
The Ottoman Empire withdrew from Libya with the signing of the Ouchy Treaty in October 1912. The Jihad Declaration, which was proclaimed in November 1914, was read in mosques in Libya and other regions. Italy was initially excluded from the scope of jihad. In August 1915, the Italia declared war against the Ottoman Empire. Although the jihad activities made the Italians uneasy in Libya at the beginning, they could not change the course of the war. In this work, we focus on the jihad propaganda in Libya during the war years, the Turkish– Sennusi alliance, and the French–British counter activities. Specifically, this work covers the period of 1915–1918. It is also based on Turkish and French archives, as well as newspapers and research works.
After the industrial revolution, the Ottoman Empire entered Italy. Italy then set its sights on the Mediterranean after receiving approval from Europe’s great powers. However, Italy faced France as her rival. As the smallest imperialist state in Europe, Italy then focused on Tunisia for the supply of the raw materials needed for its growing population and industry. However, when France entered Tunisia in 1881, he tried his luck in Abyssinia in the 1880s. Unable to hold on here, it entered Libya on September 29, 1911 with various excuses. The most important factor in Italy’s entry into Libya was Libya’s geographic proximity to Italy. Italy occupied Libya in October 29, 1911. The officers sent to Libya included Mustafa Kemal Pasha, Enver Pasha, and other important officers. With the start of the Balkan wars, the Ottoman State could not continue the war with the Italians in Libya and thus withdrew from Libya under the Ushi Treaty, which was signed in October 18, 1912. This occupation was a rehearsal for the “Cihâd-ı Ekber: Holy War,” which was declared in the Great War. Italy declared war on Turkey in August 1915. The Ottoman Empire joined the First World War as an ally of Germany, and during this period, Jihad-ı Akbar was declared. Immediately thereafter, Turkey, with the support of the Germans, sent funds, weapons, ammunition, and officers to Senusi’ in Tripoli, which is known as Libya today, and then used the weapon of jihad against the Italians. Italy declared war on Turkey on August 23, 1915, and Libya tried to benefit from the Sheik of Senusi. Ahmed Senusi came to Istanbul just before the publication of the jihad fatwa and opened a discussion with the Ottoman government. The Ottoman government had already sent jihad propagandists to Islamic lands, including Libya, before the war. The declaration of jihad in Libya was translated into Arabic and read in all mosques. Although Italians were initially exempted from jihad in Libya, they continued to send underhanded weapons, ammunition officers, etc. Since she declared war on Turkey in August 1915, Italy became the target of the jihad in Libya. After the declaration of war, the Ottoman General Staff established the “North African Groups Command” and assigned Nuri Bey, the brother of Enver Pasha, as its head. Libya’s indigenous troops (Senusis) and mujahids were subordinate to this command. The Iraqiborn Ottoman officer Cafer el Askeri and other Arab officers also trained Sanusi forces and tribes according to the Ottoman warfare order. The language of instruction was Turkish. Weapons, ammunition, and money were provided by Teşkilat-ı Mahsusa. The Senusians did not initially intend to fight Britain, which controlled Egypt at that time; they were mainly against the Italians. However, Special Organization agents were constantly provoking the Senusis, and German agents were sending weapons and ammunition via submarines. As a result, when the Sanusi forces made a sudden raid on the British, Anglo-Sanusi clashes began, but the British had the upper hand. However, the chances of jihad success in Libya were very poor. Weapons and ammunition were sent to Tripoli via submarines. At the beginning of the war, the brother of Enver Pasha, Nuri Bey, was sent to Libya to manage the war while Prince Osman Fuad was sent to reconcile the tribes. Despite the refusal of the Sheik of Senusi, he was pressured by the German and Ottoman officers to attack the British. Although successful moves were made initially, the British later gained an edge. Ahmed Şerif Senusi was replaced by his uncle Sayyid Idris, who preferred to negotiate with the Italians. Toward the end of the war, Ahmet Şerif Senusi was invited by Enver Pasha to Istanbul to be sent to Islamic lands. However, this attempt was rejected by Sultan Vahdeddin. After the Armistice of Mudros, Libya was given to Italy through the Sevres Treaty. In 1919, the Republic of Tripoli was established in Misrata, but it was short lived. Some of the ulama who were in Istanbul for the propaganda of the Holy War were captured by the British. The Holy War in Libya had no chance of succeeding.
