| Hysteria Part 2. Hidden Motives: Millions of Murders from the Orient Express |
One of the motives for the First World War less publicized in the USA was the
planned construction of a Baghdad to Berlin Railway in the dying Ottoman Empire
in the late 19th and early 20th century. It would connect the famed Orient Express
with the Constantinople Baghdad line. Engineered by Wilhelm von Pressel in 1872,
it would have been largely under German control. In 1888, Sultan Abdul Hamid II.,
left, turned to Deutsche Bank's George von Siemens for help financing this project.
planned construction of a Baghdad to Berlin Railway in the dying Ottoman Empire
in the late 19th and early 20th century. It would connect the famed Orient Express
with the Constantinople Baghdad line. Engineered by Wilhelm von Pressel in 1872,
it would have been largely under German control. In 1888, Sultan Abdul Hamid II.,
left, turned to Deutsche Bank's George von Siemens for help financing this project.
By 1888, Germans had received permission from the Turks for
the Anatolian Railway Company and began work. By 1896, they
completed the railway line from Angora to Konya. These lines
were the first two sections of the anticipated Baghdad Railway.
The Germans then engineered other lines at a very high cost.
With the proposed new railway, Germany could establish a port
on the Persian Gulf and the Ottoman Empire could assert
economic control over Arabia and perhaps even extend it beyond
into Egypt, which was under British control.
the Anatolian Railway Company and began work. By 1896, they
completed the railway line from Angora to Konya. These lines
were the first two sections of the anticipated Baghdad Railway.
The Germans then engineered other lines at a very high cost.
With the proposed new railway, Germany could establish a port
on the Persian Gulf and the Ottoman Empire could assert
economic control over Arabia and perhaps even extend it beyond
into Egypt, which was under British control.
In 1901, Germany reported on vast supplies of petroleum around
the Tigris and Euphrates, and in 1902 the Ottoman government
granted a German firm the concession to lay new track eastward
from Ankara to Baghdad. Financial difficulties and problems
tunneling through the Taurus Mountains made progress slow.
the Tigris and Euphrates, and in 1902 the Ottoman government
granted a German firm the concession to lay new track eastward
from Ankara to Baghdad. Financial difficulties and problems
tunneling through the Taurus Mountains made progress slow.
The building of the line from Konya to Mosul and Bagdad and Basra continued, but by 200
back-breaking, expensive kilometers at a time. When the Ottoman Government gave permission for
the railway line from Konia to Baghdad in 1903, Russia, France, and Britain became alarmed
because a Baghdad to Berlin Railway might threaten their power. Russia would have suffered
economically from increased German trade in and beyond the Caucasus and into northern Persia
( Iran ). France was still bent on revenge with Germany and anxious to enrich herself. Britain had
already committed herself at a great cost to maintaining a choke hold on her possessions.
back-breaking, expensive kilometers at a time. When the Ottoman Government gave permission for
the railway line from Konia to Baghdad in 1903, Russia, France, and Britain became alarmed
because a Baghdad to Berlin Railway might threaten their power. Russia would have suffered
economically from increased German trade in and beyond the Caucasus and into northern Persia
( Iran ). France was still bent on revenge with Germany and anxious to enrich herself. Britain had
already committed herself at a great cost to maintaining a choke hold on her possessions.
While on the surface Great Britain shrewdly supported the project, watching
Germans foot the bill for laying the rails and pouring money into the
project,apprehension simmered beneath because this railway might one day
compete with British trade in Mesopotamia, plus it bypassed British tariffs.
Therefore, Britain was silently making deals with France, eyeing eventual free
access by sea to the oil fields of Persia and fast access by rail along the Gulf
coast. She was also picking up more global investors in her interests.
Germans foot the bill for laying the rails and pouring money into the
project,apprehension simmered beneath because this railway might one day
compete with British trade in Mesopotamia, plus it bypassed British tariffs.
Therefore, Britain was silently making deals with France, eyeing eventual free
access by sea to the oil fields of Persia and fast access by rail along the Gulf
coast. She was also picking up more global investors in her interests.
In 1914, the German government was forced to concede that those areas would remain exclusively
under British financial control. The Germans, who had spent a fortune by now, perhaps in vain,
were also required to have two British members sit on the Baghdad Railway Company board and
had to agree not to extend the railroad past Basra or establish a port or railway terminus anywhere
along the Gulf without British approval. Meanwhile, Britain was bankrupt by January 1914, and
when Bank of England notes consequently became emergency legal tender, all gold was removed
from circulation and England’s gold reserves went to the Rothschild's Bank of England to use for
profit-producing warfare.
under British financial control. The Germans, who had spent a fortune by now, perhaps in vain,
were also required to have two British members sit on the Baghdad Railway Company board and
had to agree not to extend the railroad past Basra or establish a port or railway terminus anywhere
along the Gulf without British approval. Meanwhile, Britain was bankrupt by January 1914, and
when Bank of England notes consequently became emergency legal tender, all gold was removed
from circulation and England’s gold reserves went to the Rothschild's Bank of England to use for
profit-producing warfare.
Thus, while many contentious economic and colonial issues between the French, German and British
governments such as the financing of the Berlin-Baghdad railway appeared as "resolved" before the
outbreak of war, an undercurrent of major diplomatic tensions, scheming and plotting bubbled. The
Baghdad railway was soon to be disingenuously portrayed as a "threat of German domination" in
Asia Minor at the same time there was a wave of anti-British and pro-German feelings among the
Egyptian middle class who had developed passionate interests in German success. Kaiser Wilhelm
became "Hacı Wilhelm" in some circles and a thought of as a "great protector of Islam" while the
Turks were guessing that Moslems of India and Egypt were about to revolt and overthrow their
English masters.
governments such as the financing of the Berlin-Baghdad railway appeared as "resolved" before the
outbreak of war, an undercurrent of major diplomatic tensions, scheming and plotting bubbled. The
Baghdad railway was soon to be disingenuously portrayed as a "threat of German domination" in
Asia Minor at the same time there was a wave of anti-British and pro-German feelings among the
Egyptian middle class who had developed passionate interests in German success. Kaiser Wilhelm
became "Hacı Wilhelm" in some circles and a thought of as a "great protector of Islam" while the
Turks were guessing that Moslems of India and Egypt were about to revolt and overthrow their
English masters.
By 1915, the railway was in four sections and had big gaps of some 300 miles between the various
railroad lines as well as incomplete tunnels. The American ambassador in Constantinople from 1913
to 1919 was investor and businessman Henry Morgenthau. He spread many false and frightening
claims, including the "fact" that the Turkish Sultan had a plan of operation for the "assassination and
extermination of all Christians except those of German nationality." German interests in the region
were now presented as "imperialistic" and "expansionist" by the entrenched imperialistic and
expansionist powers who did not want anybody having a "place in the sun" but themselves.
railroad lines as well as incomplete tunnels. The American ambassador in Constantinople from 1913
to 1919 was investor and businessman Henry Morgenthau. He spread many false and frightening
claims, including the "fact" that the Turkish Sultan had a plan of operation for the "assassination and
extermination of all Christians except those of German nationality." German interests in the region
were now presented as "imperialistic" and "expansionist" by the entrenched imperialistic and
expansionist powers who did not want anybody having a "place in the sun" but themselves.
Addendum: With the start of war, work on the line was accelerated because of its potential strategic importance, and the
railway became booty to be won. By the end of the war in 1918, the line had been extended from the Bosporus to
Nusaybin, several hundred miles short of Baghdad. In 1919, the Treaty of Versailles of course cancelled all German rights
to the Baghdad Railway as Turkey, Italy and France gleefully tried to gobble up interest in the railway by various
clandestine means, and talks dragged on until after 1923. Redrawn boundaries after the Versailles Treaty deprived
Germany of 27% of its coal supplies, and demanded such large coal exports from Germany that she could not meet her
own energy needs. The remaining unfinished stretch and a subsequent extension to the port of Basra near the Persian Gulf
were eventually completed by Syria ( where France took control ) and Iraq ( which Britain controlled ), both having been
formed after the dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire. Not until the years 1936 to 1940 did the Iraqi state built the
Baghdad course to the end. On July 15, 1940 the first passenger train ran from Istanbul to Baghdad. Today, one still can
see the German architecture of the late 19th and early 20th century in the stations and buildings all along the route.
railway became booty to be won. By the end of the war in 1918, the line had been extended from the Bosporus to
Nusaybin, several hundred miles short of Baghdad. In 1919, the Treaty of Versailles of course cancelled all German rights
to the Baghdad Railway as Turkey, Italy and France gleefully tried to gobble up interest in the railway by various
clandestine means, and talks dragged on until after 1923. Redrawn boundaries after the Versailles Treaty deprived
Germany of 27% of its coal supplies, and demanded such large coal exports from Germany that she could not meet her
own energy needs. The remaining unfinished stretch and a subsequent extension to the port of Basra near the Persian Gulf
were eventually completed by Syria ( where France took control ) and Iraq ( which Britain controlled ), both having been
formed after the dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire. Not until the years 1936 to 1940 did the Iraqi state built the
Baghdad course to the end. On July 15, 1940 the first passenger train ran from Istanbul to Baghdad. Today, one still can
see the German architecture of the late 19th and early 20th century in the stations and buildings all along the route.
Tremendous growth of the German economy had been made possible by the clever development
of the German banking system, and throughout the era, Deutsche Bank was a leader in electrical
development. It formed finance and holding companies, issuing bonded loans and shares for the
construction of power plants, tramways, electric railways and municipal lighting systems, even
investing in the Edison General Electric Company in the United States. By 1897, there were 750
power plants located across Germany and the bank even built a power plant in Argentina. These
banks not only controlled credit but also dominated the capital market. If Germany did not wish to be
forced into the position of a second or third rate power in this era of colonialism, it had to enlarge its
economic sphere and create a self-sufficient economic area in order to ensure access to raw materials
and protect its exports.
of the German banking system, and throughout the era, Deutsche Bank was a leader in electrical
development. It formed finance and holding companies, issuing bonded loans and shares for the
construction of power plants, tramways, electric railways and municipal lighting systems, even
investing in the Edison General Electric Company in the United States. By 1897, there were 750
power plants located across Germany and the bank even built a power plant in Argentina. These
banks not only controlled credit but also dominated the capital market. If Germany did not wish to be
forced into the position of a second or third rate power in this era of colonialism, it had to enlarge its
economic sphere and create a self-sufficient economic area in order to ensure access to raw materials
and protect its exports.
France had establish a foothold in northern Africa as early as the 17th Century and an influence in
Algeria and Tunis in 1881. In 1882, England took Napoleon's old domain of Egypt in 1897 and
through it found a way to rule Sudan. The two rivals made a deal as early as 1904 which gave
England a free hand in Egypt in exchange for France maintaining authority in Morocco. Russia, by
the start of World War I, had acquired major influence in Central Asia and half of Persia. Britain
held another portion of Persia and administered Egypt, Cyprus, and Aden on the Red Sea, and she
had major influence in Afghanistan. Then, there were the foreign investors.
Algeria and Tunis in 1881. In 1882, England took Napoleon's old domain of Egypt in 1897 and
through it found a way to rule Sudan. The two rivals made a deal as early as 1904 which gave
England a free hand in Egypt in exchange for France maintaining authority in Morocco. Russia, by
the start of World War I, had acquired major influence in Central Asia and half of Persia. Britain
held another portion of Persia and administered Egypt, Cyprus, and Aden on the Red Sea, and she
had major influence in Afghanistan. Then, there were the foreign investors.
Unbeknownst to the Germans and certainly to most Americans, colonialist France and colonialist
Britain made a secret pact in 1916, later called the Sykes-Picot Agreement, by which they connived
to conquer and divide large parts of the Middle East among themselves, redrawing the map of the
Middle East and assigning areas of control and influence to each other using underhanded techniques
such as setting up puppet regimes under Arab monarchs and staging Arab "revolts." The treaty was
hinged on dividing up the remains of the Ottoman Empire once it had been dismantled. Both colonial
powers ended up trying to cheat one another in the process. The Sykes- Picot Agreement was kept
secret until documents were found in Russia following the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917.
Britain made a secret pact in 1916, later called the Sykes-Picot Agreement, by which they connived
to conquer and divide large parts of the Middle East among themselves, redrawing the map of the
Middle East and assigning areas of control and influence to each other using underhanded techniques
such as setting up puppet regimes under Arab monarchs and staging Arab "revolts." The treaty was
hinged on dividing up the remains of the Ottoman Empire once it had been dismantled. Both colonial
powers ended up trying to cheat one another in the process. The Sykes- Picot Agreement was kept
secret until documents were found in Russia following the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917.
Morgenthau was a huge contributor to Woodrow Wilson's election campaign in 1912 and was made financial
chairman of the democratic party in 1912 and again in 1916. He and Josephine Sykes were the parents of rabid
German-hater Henry Morgenthau, Jr., who drew up the World War Two genocidal plan which would have
castrated and sterilized Germans.
chairman of the democratic party in 1912 and again in 1916. He and Josephine Sykes were the parents of rabid
German-hater Henry Morgenthau, Jr., who drew up the World War Two genocidal plan which would have
castrated and sterilized Germans.
Morgenthau was also the originator of one of the most celebrated anti-German propaganda myths of WWI, the fictitious
"Crown Council" story. Morgenthau charged to the media that he had proof that the Kaiser had called together a "Crown
Council" of leading German government officials, ambassadors and bankers on July 5,1914, confiding to them that he
planned to start a European war, to which the bankers responded by demanding two weeks in which to call in loans and
sell securities. The Kaiser then went on a cruise, pretending nothing was up, so that England, France and Russia would be
lulled into a "false sense of security" and taken by surprise by the plotting, conniving Germans.
"Crown Council" story. Morgenthau charged to the media that he had proof that the Kaiser had called together a "Crown
Council" of leading German government officials, ambassadors and bankers on July 5,1914, confiding to them that he
planned to start a European war, to which the bankers responded by demanding two weeks in which to call in loans and
sell securities. The Kaiser then went on a cruise, pretending nothing was up, so that England, France and Russia would be
lulled into a "false sense of security" and taken by surprise by the plotting, conniving Germans.
It turned out that this story was a terrific bonus at the end of the war for the Anti-German Allied propaganda already in
use and it was later used in Lloyd George's campaign of 1918 where he advocated the hanging of the Kaiser. It was also
cited when the vindictive Treaty of Versailles was drawn up as proof of sole German responsibility for starting the war. It
was later proven to be a complete hoax and impossible to have taken place as some of the Kaiser's people alleged to
have been at the meeting were not even in Berlin at the time, but because of his stature, nobody held Morganthau
responsible for his lies.
use and it was later used in Lloyd George's campaign of 1918 where he advocated the hanging of the Kaiser. It was also
cited when the vindictive Treaty of Versailles was drawn up as proof of sole German responsibility for starting the war. It
was later proven to be a complete hoax and impossible to have taken place as some of the Kaiser's people alleged to
have been at the meeting were not even in Berlin at the time, but because of his stature, nobody held Morganthau
responsible for his lies.
Such a railway would link Germany with its new African colonies, and the trade of agricultural
products and of goods such as cotton would benefit from a port on the Persian Gulf, which in turn
could provide direct access to Middle East oil, the same oil that now fueled a British Navy bloated
from its relentless colonialism. Worse for Britain, the new German railway would bypass the Suez
Canal which opened in 1869 and this plan stepped on some big toes: an 1875 loan to the British from
the Rothschild banking family put the British in line for eventual major control of the Canal and its
anticipated big profits. International bankers in both London and New York recognized the need for
petroleum with the advent of the internal combustion engines, and control over that necessary fuel
would be key to great profit and political power. The Berlin-Baghdad railway project was, therefore,
emblematic of the perceived threats to Britain's oligarchical financial system and it would go to great
lengths to protect British hegemony at a time when an economically successful Germany was
adopting more modern economic development systems and Britain was lagging behind in energy
sources, technology, agriculture and industry.
products and of goods such as cotton would benefit from a port on the Persian Gulf, which in turn
could provide direct access to Middle East oil, the same oil that now fueled a British Navy bloated
from its relentless colonialism. Worse for Britain, the new German railway would bypass the Suez
Canal which opened in 1869 and this plan stepped on some big toes: an 1875 loan to the British from
the Rothschild banking family put the British in line for eventual major control of the Canal and its
anticipated big profits. International bankers in both London and New York recognized the need for
petroleum with the advent of the internal combustion engines, and control over that necessary fuel
would be key to great profit and political power. The Berlin-Baghdad railway project was, therefore,
emblematic of the perceived threats to Britain's oligarchical financial system and it would go to great
lengths to protect British hegemony at a time when an economically successful Germany was
adopting more modern economic development systems and Britain was lagging behind in energy
sources, technology, agriculture and industry.
Above: Heinrich August Meissner, 1862-1940, was a Leipzig born engineer on the Baghdad Railroad, and later a railway
farmer and a chair at the Technical University of Istanbul for railway design. He became a pasha and died in Turkey.
farmer and a chair at the Technical University of Istanbul for railway design. He became a pasha and died in Turkey.
| We will begin with a story about an exotic railroad, ambition and a rapidly expanding global economy |
| The Big Boys Play Dirty |
In 1911, after the railway company proposed a branch line which would have spiked trade with
Northern Syria and the Northern Mesopotamian valley, the plan was vetoed by Great Britain's vested
financial interests. In 1913, First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill “anticipated” a world war
that would need oil-powered ships, and on June 17, 1914, he urged the British government to spend
£2 million to buy a majority interest of Anglo-Persian Oil Company, financed in part by his father's
old friends at the Rothschild Bank. The interests of Britain and the Anglo-Persian Oil Company
became inseparable, and British foreign policy and Rothschild foreign policy became one and the
same. As war loomed, the military alliances already forged to create a “balance of power” tipped in
Britain's favor were based in good measure on banker’s loans and investments.
Northern Syria and the Northern Mesopotamian valley, the plan was vetoed by Great Britain's vested
financial interests. In 1913, First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill “anticipated” a world war
that would need oil-powered ships, and on June 17, 1914, he urged the British government to spend
£2 million to buy a majority interest of Anglo-Persian Oil Company, financed in part by his father's
old friends at the Rothschild Bank. The interests of Britain and the Anglo-Persian Oil Company
became inseparable, and British foreign policy and Rothschild foreign policy became one and the
same. As war loomed, the military alliances already forged to create a “balance of power” tipped in
Britain's favor were based in good measure on banker’s loans and investments.