German Kaiser Wilhelm II considered the Ottoman sultan his natural ally against the British and French, and seemed acceptable as Germany has missed out on colonizing Muslim countries in the East. The Mahdi's revolt in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan showed Muslim risings could tie down British troops within the vast empire. As archeology enabled them to become acquainted with the Middle East and Arab leaders, Th. E. Lawrence 'of Arabia' and Cologne Jewish bankers son Max Oppenheim each tried to recruit the Arabs fro their country's side in World war I, but they chose more money and the -worthless- promise of independence from the Ottomans over a call to jihad from the great sultan.
—KGF Vissers