What were the consequences of the Treaty of Sèvres for the Ottoman Empire?

The Treaty of Sèvres led to the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire and sparked the Turkish War of Independence.

The Treaty of Sèvres, signed on 10 August 1920, was a peace treaty between the Allies of World War I and the Ottoman Empire. It marked the beginning of the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire, and is often considered the final blow that led to its dissolution. The treaty significantly reduced the empire's territory and left it virtually powerless.

The treaty's terms were harsh. The Ottoman Empire was to relinquish control of its Arab provinces, which were to become mandates under the control of Britain and France. The empire was also to recognise the independence of Armenia and Hejaz, and to grant autonomy to Kurdistan. The Straits of the Dardanelles were to be demilitarised and placed under international control. Furthermore, the empire was to pay heavy war reparations.

The treaty was met with widespread opposition in Turkey. Many Turks saw it as a humiliation and an infringement on their sovereignty. This led to the rise of Turkish nationalism and the establishment of a nationalist movement led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The movement rejected the treaty and launched the Turkish War of Independence in 1919.

The war resulted in a decisive victory for the Turkish nationalists. In 1923, the Treaty of Lausanne was signed, superseding the Treaty of Sèvres. The new treaty recognised the sovereignty of Turkey and established its current borders. The Treaty of Sèvres was thus never fully implemented, but its consequences were far-reaching. It marked the end of the Ottoman Empire and the beginning of modern Turkey. It also set the stage for many of the conflicts that have shaped the Middle East in the 20th and 21st centuries.