Supply of military weapons, equipment, spare parts and ammunition had always been of a crucial importance for the Ottoman Empire. This issue came to be a part of an international diplomacy from 19th century onwards when the Ottoman governments were forced into a position to choose allies from European Powers who were in rivalry in providing military materials. Many companies from France, England and Germany competed with each other in order to have the greatest share from the military supplies market in the Ottoman Empire. Such German companies as Krupp, and Rheinische Metallwaren und Maschinefabrik in Düsseldorf; French company Sxneider/Le Creusot; and British Armstrong/Vickers Company were among them. However, German weapon companies stood out in meeting the needs of the Ottoman military. In the reign of Abdulhamid II, the German company of Krupp came forward in selling artillery weapons in particular after the 1880's, and turned out to be the dominant power in the end of the century, while the other German companies dealt in the various other military materials such as rifles, ammunitions, spare parts, wagons, factory workbenches. Levazımat-ı Umumiye Dairesi (General Supplies Department) which functioned as attached to the Harbiye Nezareti (Ministry of War) during the early years of the 20th century was in charge of the supply and distribution of primary materials which were necessary for the provisioning of the army. This department was not only involved in the provisioning and equipment of the army during the WWI, but played an important role in procuring the technical equipment for the setting up and development of military factories as well as establishing connections and cooperation with Germany to this end, through its branches. It is possible to reach many correspondences about these cases in ATESE Archives which is attached to the General Staff. This study aims to provide some examples concerning the activities of the above-mentioned department and military factories and procuring the wartime equipment in particular, based on the primary sources.

Sultan II. Abdülhamid Devri, Osmanlı İmparatorluğu'nun Anadolu'da en çok eser inşa ettiği dönemlerden biridir. Özellikle güçlü merkezi devleti temsil eden hükümet konakları, okullar, hastaneler, redif daireleri ve saat kuleleri, Anadolu kent ve kasabalarının çehrelerini değiştiren yapılar olarak ön plana çıkmaktadır(1). Merkezi devlet tarafından bilinçli olarak yürütülen, kentlerin yapısını değiştirmeye yönelik bu mimari tutum, Osmanlı'nın tebaasıyla kurduğu iletişimin en önemli aracı niteliğindedir. Verilmek istenen mesaj, Batılılaşan "güçlü" imparatorluğun yeni ideolojisinin yönetim biçimi olan "modern monarşinin", halka kabul ettirilmesidir(2). Bu anlamda, imparatorluğun sembolleri ile zenginleştirilmiş, Batılı Klasik mimarlığın egemen olduğu eklektik bir anlayışla oluşturulan "İmparatorluk üslubunun", söz konusu iletişimin, mimari dili olarak hizmet etmesi dikkat çekicidir.