We should first consider the region which included İzmit and its surroundings and was called Bithynie by the ancient Greek and Rome before we examine the historical development of Gölcük.
The first step was taken in 1927 Gölcük to be a garrison city. It was decided to repair the wounded battleship Yavuz in 1925 but that required a techncal ability. Therefore it was decided to build a shipyard. A dry dock was built at that year. The Germans built sheds and repaired the battleship Yavuz. Afterwards these sheds were purchased and the first nucleus of the shipyard was built. Althuough the fundamental works had began in 1938 parallel with development of naval forces, the II. World War