OSMANLI DEVLETİNİN I. DÜNYA HARBİ ESNASINDA YAŞADIĞI KÖMÜR SIKINTISI VE ALINAN

Abstract

In this study, the difficulties that the Ottoman Empire faced in coal production during the First World War and the measures taken to overcome these difficulties and the results will be presented. Eregli Coal Mines in Eregli coal basin were the major coal mines in the Ottoman Empire. The coal production from this mine couldn’t meet the need of the state fully but it was almost enough. The coal production in Eregli basin was recorded to be 904.000 tons in 1911, 810.00 tons in 1912, 826.000 tons in 1913, 674.000 tons in 1914, 420.000 tons in 1915, 208.000 tons in 1916, 158.000 tons in 1917 and 186.000 tons in 1918. During this period, domestic consumption increased to the highest level with 1.069 million tons in 1911. Production has declined rapidly during World War I, because it couldn’t continue normally. For this reason, it was started to burn wood in the trains. Even the ferries of Sirket-i Hayriye were obliged to burn olive pomace. Some administrative arrangements were made due to the coal shortage during the war and War Coal Centre was founded and it took charge of all the affairs related to coal. Also, new coal mines were opened and even coal was purchased from Germany. In spite of the regulations and measures taken, the coal shortage continued during the war.