Nazi trade

During World War II, Turkey produced approximately 20% of the global chromite ore supply (estimates range from 16%-19% of global economic output). It was a crucial ingredient in the production of military products such as tanks (since stainless steel contains up to 18% chromium); which 33% of chromium ore bought from Turkey by Nazi Germany was directed to by 1944. In 1933, Nazi Germany bought 11.7 tonnes of chromium ore, and between January and August 1939, just prior to the invasion of Poland, it bought 96.2 tonnes. From 1936, 64,500 metric tonnes (mt), 58,400 mt (1937), 68,500 mt (1938) and 114,500 mt (1939) of chromite ore were sold.

## Anglo-Turkish Treaty

Britain was so worried about Turkey's exports to Nazi Germany that they offered a £16 million pound deal, with at least £6 million pounds going towards military purchases in May 1938. By January 1939, the Germans tried to outbid the British, offering RM 150 million reichmarks, with at least RM 60 million reichmarks dedicated to military products, in addition with offers to buy agricultural products, at 30% above global market prices. Throughout the war however, Turkey was not significantly developing any proper political relations with the Nazi empire. The British exploited this by forming an Anglo-Turkish Treaty in May 1939, much to Germany's annoyance. The Nazis protested by not honouring their arms exports at all, and after Turkey had refused to renew the August 1939 trade agreement between the two, but eventually settled their differences.

The importance of this trade is emphasised by the fact that the Germans had heavily traded with Turkey well before the outbreak of World War II. In 1939, the Turkish population census recorded that there were 17,820,950 Turkish citizens living in the country, with 13,475,000 million (70%) living in rural areas. As a result, self sufficiency proved impossible given how spread the Turkish population was outside of it's Urban areas. For this reason, the Turks needed foreign currency to shore up their accounts in a short amount of time. Germany came to it's aid, supplying 78% of it's wool yarns and tissues, 69.7% of it's iron and steel, 61% of it's machines and apparatus, and 55.4% of it's chemicals. In return, the Germans bought 75% of new wool, 70% of it's cotton, and 70% of it's chrome.

## Gold

Trade was brisk, between 1939 and 1943, the gold reserves of the secular Turkish republic rose from $88 million dollars to $221 million dollars. This was the fourth largest increase in gold reserves out of the five neutral nations, which one historian has claimed is linked as evidence to the extent of Nazi looting during the war (not all of the $221 million dollars was made from Nazi Germany).

The largest increase of gold was witnessed by Switzerland at 537%, whereas Turkeys was 133%. In terms of the amount of gold Turkey made from Germany, in 1939, the secular republic only had 27.4 tonnes of gold (27.400 kg), but by 1945 it accumulated a healthy 216 tonnes (216,000 kg) of gold bullion. Although it was not known to the Turks, it is alleged some of the gold came from concentration camps. If trade was in todays prices, this amounts to $8.7 billion dollars in gold trade in total. However others claim that Turkey never received more than $15 million dollars in gold (most of which was said to have been looted in Belgium). Turkey never returned, nor was asked to return, any gold.

## References

1. ↑ http://materiaislamica.com/index.php/History\_of\_Turkey\_During\_World\_War\_II\_(1933—1952)