AND THEN THERE IS THE CRIMEA… For centuries Russia and Turkey were enemies. Russia was expanding south, seeking a warm water port on the Black Sea, regularly nibbling away at the Ottoman lands. Between the 16th and 20th centuries there were no fewer than twelve wars between the two, with Russia acquiring more and more Ottoman territory around the northern half of the Black Sea. An ultimate aim, never realised, was Constantinople, which would have given them control of the Dardanelles and of entry to and egress from the Black Sea. Such was promised by Britain and France to keep Russia in the First World War, but was negated by the Bolshevik victory in the Russian Civil War.
AND THEN THERE IS THE CRIMEA...
AND THEN THERE IS THE CRIMEA...
AND THEN THERE IS THE CRIMEA...
AND THEN THERE IS THE CRIMEA… For centuries Russia and Turkey were enemies. Russia was expanding south, seeking a warm water port on the Black Sea, regularly nibbling away at the Ottoman lands. Between the 16th and 20th centuries there were no fewer than twelve wars between the two, with Russia acquiring more and more Ottoman territory around the northern half of the Black Sea. An ultimate aim, never realised, was Constantinople, which would have given them control of the Dardanelles and of entry to and egress from the Black Sea. Such was promised by Britain and France to keep Russia in the First World War, but was negated by the Bolshevik victory in the Russian Civil War.