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SMS Breslau - Re-named Midilli for the Ottoman Fleet - WW1
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SMS Breslau - Re-named Midilli for the Ottoman Fleet - WW1
SMS Breslau was a Magdeburg-class cruiser of the Imperial German Navy, built in the early 1910s. Following her commissioning, Breslau was assigned to the Mittelmeerdivision (Mediterranean Division) in response to the Balkan Wars. After evading British warships in the Mediterranean to reach Constantinople, Breslau (along with the SMS Goeben) was transferred to the Ottoman Empire in August 1914, to entice the Ottomans to join the Central Powers in World War I. The Breslau was renamed Midilli and saw extensive service with the Ottoman fleet, primarily in the Black Sea against the Russian Black Sea Fleet. The ship was mined and sunk in January 1918 during the Battle of Imbros, with the loss of the vast majority of her crew. Date: circa 1915
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© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection
Ahead Breslau Cruiser Magdeburg Mediterranean Fleet Ottoman
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SMS Breslau: From Imperial German Navy to Ottoman Fleet in World War I This evocative photograph captures the SMS Breslau, a Magdeburg-class cruiser of the Imperial German Navy, during its tenure with the Ottoman Fleet in the Black Sea, following its transfer in August 1914. Originally named SMS Breslau, the ship was commissioned in the early 1910s and assigned to the Mittelmeerdivision (Mediterranean Division) in response to the Balkan Wars. In a daring move to entice the Ottoman Empire to join the Central Powers in World War I, the Breslau (along with the SMS Goeben) was transferred to the Ottoman Empire, where it was renamed Midilli. The Breslau's new name and allegiance were not without consequence. The ship saw extensive action in the Black Sea, primarily against the Russian Black Sea Fleet. With its powerful guns and agile maneuverability, Midilli became a formidable addition to the Ottoman Fleet. This photograph, taken circa 1915, depicts the Midilli steaming ahead full speed, embodying the determination and resolve of the Ottoman Navy during this pivotal period in history. The ship's sleek lines and impressive silhouette are a testament to the advanced naval technology of the time. Tragically, the Midilli's story did not end on a victorious note. In January 1918, during the Battle of Imbros, the ship was mined and sunk, resulting in the loss of the vast majority of her crew. Despite this, the legacy of the SMS Breslau/Midilli lives on as a symbol of the complex and intriguing alliances that shaped the course of World War I.
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