Abdulhamid Bey Gaytabashi
Encyclopedia
Abdulhamid Bey Gaytabashi Sharif Bey oglu was the last Chief of General Staff of Azerbaijani Armed Forces
of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
before its occupation by the Red Army
in April 1920.
to Tiflis at the end of the 18th century and started his service in the Russian Imperial Army. While in the Ottoman Army Abdulmajid had been in charge of a regiment and was therefore names, Haytabashi, later transliterated by Russians to Qaytabashi and assigned to him as his title. Abdulhamid's father, Lieutenant colonel
Sharif Bey Gaytabashi served as a translator in the Documentation Department of the Russian Army in Caucasus and in the Caucasian Cavalry. Abdulhamid was his seventh child born during Sharif Bey's second marriage.
Abdulhamid graduated from Pavlovsk Military College
in 1908. As second lieutenant, he was assigned to the 261st Shemakha reserve infantry unit deployed in Elisabethpol. When the World War I
started, Gaytabashi served in the 205th infantry regiment of the 52nd infantry division of the 3rd Caucasus Corps. For his excellence on the battlefield, Stabskapitän
Gaytabashi was conferred with the Order of St. Vladimir
of 4th degree.
as an on-duty field-officer in army corps. In January 1919, he was a member of Commission for Development of Army Units and Management of Military Office of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. On June 25, 1919 Gaytabashi was promoted to Major General
and was subsequently appointed Chief of General Staff of Azerbaijani Armed Forces in December 1919. He was considered one of the most experienced military experts of the armed forces.
After occupation of Azerbaijan by Bolsheviks
, he was appointed Chief of General Staff of the Red Army Corps in Azerbaijan. However, in June, 1920 he was executed by firing squad
for his alleged role in Ganja revolt
.
General Staff of Azerbaijani Armed Forces
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan Republic is the military staff of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. It is the central organ of the Armed Forces Administration and oversees operational management of the armed forces under the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan Republic.The Chief of...
of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was the first successful attempt to establish a democratic and secular republic in the Muslim world . The ADR was founded on May 28, 1918 after the collapse of the Russian Empire that began with the Russian Revolution of 1917 by Azerbaijani National Council in...
before its occupation by the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
in April 1920.
Early life
Abdulmajid Bey who was the great grandfather of Abdulhamid moved from IstanbulIstanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
to Tiflis at the end of the 18th century and started his service in the Russian Imperial Army. While in the Ottoman Army Abdulmajid had been in charge of a regiment and was therefore names, Haytabashi, later transliterated by Russians to Qaytabashi and assigned to him as his title. Abdulhamid's father, Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
Sharif Bey Gaytabashi served as a translator in the Documentation Department of the Russian Army in Caucasus and in the Caucasian Cavalry. Abdulhamid was his seventh child born during Sharif Bey's second marriage.
Abdulhamid graduated from Pavlovsk Military College
Pavel Military School
Pavel Military School is a military school in St. Petersburg, Russia, established in 1863 on the basis of the Pavel Cadet Corps. It was closed in November 1917 after the October Revolution.It was named after emperor Pavel I of Russia...
in 1908. As second lieutenant, he was assigned to the 261st Shemakha reserve infantry unit deployed in Elisabethpol. When the World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
started, Gaytabashi served in the 205th infantry regiment of the 52nd infantry division of the 3rd Caucasus Corps. For his excellence on the battlefield, Stabskapitän
Stabskapitän
Stabskapitän is a historic military rank, used in the Prussian and Russian armies. It ranked between the Premierleutnant and Hauptmann/Rittmeister in the Prussian army, and between lieutenant and captain in the Russian army...
Gaytabashi was conferred with the Order of St. Vladimir
Order of St. Vladimir
The Cross of Saint Vladimir was an Imperial Russian Order established in 1782 by Empress Catherine II in memory of the deeds of Saint Vladimir, the Grand Prince and the Baptizer of the Kievan Rus....
of 4th degree.
Service in Azerbaijani Army
Gaytabashi started his service in the Azerbaijani Armed ForcesAzerbaijani Armed Forces
The Azerbaijani Armed Forces were re-established according to the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the Armed Forces from 9 October 1991. The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic had originally formed its own armed forces from 26 June 1918...
as an on-duty field-officer in army corps. In January 1919, he was a member of Commission for Development of Army Units and Management of Military Office of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. On June 25, 1919 Gaytabashi was promoted to Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
and was subsequently appointed Chief of General Staff of Azerbaijani Armed Forces in December 1919. He was considered one of the most experienced military experts of the armed forces.
After occupation of Azerbaijan by Bolsheviks
Red Army invasion of Azerbaijan
The Red Army invasion of Azerbaijan, also known as the Sovietization or Soviet occupation of Azerbaijan, was a military campaign carried out by the 11th Army of Soviet Russia on April 27 - May 11, 1920 to overthrow the government of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic and to install a Bolshevik regime...
, he was appointed Chief of General Staff of the Red Army Corps in Azerbaijan. However, in June, 1920 he was executed by firing squad
Execution by firing squad
Execution by firing squad, sometimes called fusillading , is a method of capital punishment, particularly common in the military and in times of war.Execution by shooting is a fairly old practice...
for his alleged role in Ganja revolt
1920 Ganja revolt
The 1920 Ganja revolt , also referred to as the Ganja Uprising, was an anti-Bolshevik rebellion that took place in Ganja, Azerbaijan from 26 to 31 May 1920 as a reaction to Azerbaijan's Sovietisation.-Prelude:...
.
See also
- Azerbaijani Army
- Ministers of Defense of Azerbaijan RepublicMinister of Defense (Azerbaijan)The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan is the Azerbaijani government ministry, associated with the Azerbaijani military. The ministry is responsible for keeping Azerbaijan defended against external threats, preserving its territorial integrity, waging war on behalf of Azerbaijan , and the...