The Unionists hoped to do so by avoiding any further wars and ending their isolation by forming an alliance with the Triple Entente composed of England, France and Russia. When they were turndown by the Entente powers, they turned to Germany. Berlin finally signed the alliance after the war had begun in Europe in August. Germany's reason was ideological: the Ottoman Sultan-Caliph could broaden the war by declaring jihad or "holy war" against the Entente powers, causing Muslims to rebel in Britis ...