The Building Program of Kaiser Wilhelm II in Jerusalem: An Archival Analysis of the Ottoman Records

In 1871, Germany’s completion of political unification changed the balance of power. From the point of view of the Ottoman Empire, it was seen as a balancing element against Germany, England, France, and Russia. In a short period of time, the relations between the Ottoman Empire and Germany increased. The most important indicator of this was that the German Emperor, Kaiser Wilhelm II, made two visits to the Ottoman lands in 1889 and 1898. As a result of the relations established, the Germans built many buildings in Ottoman territory and in Jerusalem, especially churches. The article focuses on the zoning movements of the Germans in Jerusalem in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. For this study, archival sources were consulted. The information and plans related to the structures were evaluated in light of the archival resources and the historical background of the period.