Romanian Perceptions of Türkiye and Its Role in the Black Sea (November 1940-June 1941)

Abstract

In November 1940, the direct German-Soviet bilateral contacts revealed some substantial differences of interest, mainly concerning the Black Sea basin and the Balkan Peninsula. The relations between Germany and the USSR would become increasingly cold and difficult, culminating in the launch of Operation Barbarossa, on 22 June 1941. The intensification of the German-Soviet differences was seen as an encouraging development by both Romania and Türkiye, as both Pontic states had been subject to expansionist tendencies of the USSR, manifested in various forms and, in Türkiye’s case, lacking concrete results.Our article briefly presents Romanian perceptions of Türkiye’s importance and conduct in the region, within the context of a shrinking Romania that had become part of the Berlin-Rome Axis system, while Türkiye was striving to maintain its neutrality, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Among the sources we consulted, a number of documents from Romanian diplomatic and military archives ought to be mentioned.