The Last Visit of The German Emperor Wilhelm II to The Ottoman Empire (1917)

Close political relations between the Ottoman Empire and the German Empire in the years before the World War turned into an alliance during the war and continued until the end of the war. One result of cooperation and solidarity between the two empires was the German Emperor Wilhelm II’s visit to Istanbul in 1917. It was filmed by the photo-film units of both imperial armies. The Emperor met with notable Ottoman officials, visited historical places, and inspected the Gallipoli front seeking first-hand information. The films of Wilhelm II’s visit assumed the propaganda function of informing the world about the political, economic, and military alliance. Today, they shed light on the history of the period. This study includes a comperative reading of the films, which are held by the Bundesarchiv in Germany and MSGSU Cinema-TV Center in Turkey. By looking at historical data through the lens of film, this historical reading of the films leads to an understanding of the propoganda value of cinema in that early period