Eastern Front (Turkey)
Encyclopedia
The Eastern Front is one of the fronts of the Army of the Grand National Assembly during the Turkish War of Independence
. Its commanded all military units in Eastern Region
. At first, its headquarters was located at Erzurum
, and moved to Sarıkamış
, then Kars
during the Turkish–Armenian War.
The Eastern Front has its foundations in remnants of the XV Corps
of the Ottoman Army
. It engaged in the Turkish–Armenian War and the Georgian operations.
Turkish War of Independence
The Turkish War of Independence was a war of independence waged by Turkish nationalists against the Allies, after the country was partitioned by the Allies following the Ottoman Empire's defeat in World War I...
. Its commanded all military units in Eastern Region
Eastern Anatolia Region
The Eastern Anatolia Region is one of seven non-administrative subdivisions of Turkey and encompasses its eastern provinces.The region and the name "Doğu Anadolu Bölgesi" were first defined at the First Geography Congress in 1941. It has the highest average altitude, largest geographical area, and...
. At first, its headquarters was located at Erzurum
Erzurum
Erzurum is a city in Turkey. It is the largest city, the capital of Erzurum Province. The city is situated 1757 meters above sea level. Erzurum had a population of 361,235 in the 2000 census. .Erzurum, known as "The Rock" in NATO code, served as NATO's southeastern-most air force post during the...
, and moved to Sarıkamış
Sarıkamış
Sarıkamış is a town and a district of Kars Province in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey. The population is 17,860 as of 2010.The town sits in a valley and is surrounded by mountains, many of which are covered with pine forests. It has very long winters, with average of 7–8 ft of...
, then Kars
Kars
Kars is a city in northeast Turkey and the capital of Kars Province. The population of the city is 73,826 as of 2010.-Etymology:As Chorzene, the town appears in Roman historiography as part of ancient Armenia...
during the Turkish–Armenian War.
The Eastern Front has its foundations in remnants of the XV Corps
XV Corps (Ottoman Empire)
The XV Corps of the Ottoman Empire was one of the corps of the Ottoman Army. It was formed during the World War I...
of the Ottoman Army
Military of the Ottoman Empire
The history of military of the Ottoman Empire can be divided in five main periods. The foundation era covers the years between 1300 and 1453 , the classical period covers the years between 1451 and 1606 , the reformation period covers the years between 1606 and 1826 ,...
. It engaged in the Turkish–Armenian War and the Georgian operations.
Order of Battle of the XV Corps, April 2, 1919
On April 2, 1919, the XV Corps was organized as follows:- 3rd Caucasian Division (commander: KaymakamKaymakamQaim Maqam or Qaimaqam or Kaymakam is the title used for the governor of a provincial district in the Republic of Turkey, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and in Lebanon; additionally, it was a title used for roughly the same official position in the Ottoman...
Halid Bey (Karsıalan)Halit KarsıalanHalit [Karsıalan], commonly known as "Deli" Halid Pasha was a military officer of the Ottoman Army and a general of the Turkish Army.-Sources:...
, chief of staff: Kurmay Binbaşı Yusuf Kemal Bey, Tortum - Isısu - Zivin - Girekösek areas, headquarters: Girekösek, present-day Yeşildere)- 7th Caucasian Infantry Regiment (Zivin, moved to Trabzon)
- 8th Caucasian Infantry Regiment (Tortum, moved to Gümüşhane)
- 11th Caucasian Infantry Regiment (İspir, moved to Hopa)
- 3rd Artillery Regiment
- Cavarly company
- Health company
- 9th Caucasian Division (commander: MiralayMiralayMiralay or Mîr-i alay was a military rank of the Ottoman Army and Navy. It corresponds to a Colonel . Miralay is a compound word composed of Mir and Alay...
Rushidi BeyRüştü PashaRüştü Pasha or Rushdi Pasha was an officer of the Ottoman Army and the general of the Turkish Army.-Medals and Decorations:*Order of the Medjidieh 5th and 3rd Class*Gallipoli Star *Silver Medal of Liyaqat*Silver Medal of Imtiyaz...
, chief of staff: Kurmay Binbaşı Fahri Bey, Erzurum - Hasankale areas, headquarters: Erzurum)- 17th Caucasian Infantry Regiment (Erzurum, moved to Erzincan and Mamahatun areas)
- 28th Caucasian Infantry Regiment (Hasankale, Bayburt, Hat areas)
- 29th Caucasian Infantry Regiment (Hasankale)
- 9th Artillery Regiment (Hasankale)
- Cavarly company
- Health company
- 11th Caucasian Division (commander: Kaymakam Djavid Bey (Erdel)Cavit ErdelCavit [Erdel] was a military officer of the Ottoman Army and a general of the Turkish Army.-Sources:...
, chief of staff: Kurmay Binbaşı Veysel Bey (Ünüvar), Doğubayazıt - Van - Erniş areas, headquarters: VanVan, TurkeyVan is a city in southeastern Turkey and the seat of the Kurdish-majority Van Province, and is located on the eastern shore of Lake Van. The city's official population in 2010 was 367,419, but many estimates put this as much higher with a 1996 estimate stating 500,000 and former Mayor Burhan...
)- 18th Caucasian Infantry Regiment (Doğubayazıt area)
- 33rd Caucasian Infantry Regiment (Erniş)
- 34th Caucasian Infantry Regiment (Van)
- 11th Artillery Regiment (1st Battalion - Van, 2nd Battalion - Erniş)
- Cavarly company (Van)
- Health company (Van)
- 12th Division (commander: Kaymakam Osman Nuri Bey (Koptagel)Osman Nuri KoptagelOsman Nuri Koptagel was an officer of the Ottoman Army and the general of the Turkish Army.When he was an assistant teaching staff of the Ottoman Military Academy, he used to order "Sağdan birinci manga, kop ta gel!" , "Birinci mangadan sağdan itibaren beş kişi kop da...
, chief of staff: Kurmay Yüzbaşı Yusuf Kâmil Bey, Kötek - Tuti - Kamasor present-day Yolaçan, Kars) areas, headquarters: Ali Çeyrek in HorasanHorasanHorasan is a town and district of Erzurum Province in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey. The mayor is Abdulhatem Bastem .In 2008 the population of the town was 17,661 while that of the Horasan district was 43,852....
)- 34th Infantry Regiment (between Horasan and Zirin)
- 35th Infantry Regiment (Pasin Karakilisesi area)
- 36th Infantry Regiment (Horasan)
- 12th Artillery Regiment (one battalion - Tuti, one battalion - Kamasor)
- Cavarly company
- Health company
- 15th Infantry Regiment
- 15th Cavalry Regiment (commander: Miralay Mehmed Bey)
- 15th Artillery Regiment (commander: Miralay Faruk Bey)
- 15th Engeneer Company
- 15th Construction Company
- 15th Transport Company
- 11th Transport Company
- Transport Company
- Headquarters Cavalry Company
- Flight Squadron
- Telegraph Company
- Service Company
- Wireless Telegraph Company
- Military Band Company
- Erzurum Fortified Area Command
- Heavy Artillery Regiment
- Engeneer Batallion
- Wireless Telegraph Detachment
- Searchlight Detachment
Order of Battle of the XV Corps, May 15, 1919
On May 15, 1919, the XV Corps was organized as follows:Nahcivan Detachment
On August 11, 1920, the Nahcivan Detachment was organized as follows:- 1st Batallion of the 18th Infantry Regiment
- 1st Batallion of the 34th Infantry Regiment
- Machinegun Company of the 34th Infantry Regiment
- 2nd Company of the 34th Infantry Regiment
- Machinegun Company
- 4th Battery
- HG of the Nahcivan Detachment
Order of Battle, October 1, 1922
On October 1, 1922, the Eastern Front was organized as follows:See also
- Turkish–Armenian War
- Red Army invasion of GeorgiaRed Army invasion of GeorgiaThe Red Army invasion of Georgia also known as the Soviet–Georgian War or the Soviet invasion of Georgia was a military campaign by the Soviet Russian Red Army against the Democratic Republic of Georgia aimed at overthrowing the Social-Democratic government and installing the Bolshevik regime...
- XV Corps (Ottoman Empire)XV Corps (Ottoman Empire)The XV Corps of the Ottoman Empire was one of the corps of the Ottoman Army. It was formed during the World War I...
- Treaty of AlexandropolTreaty of AlexandropolThe Treaty of Alexandropol was a peace treaty between the Democratic Republic of Armenia and the Grand National Assembly of Turkey ending the Turkish-Armenian War, signed on December 2, 1920, before the declaration of the Republic of Turkey. It was the first treaty signed by Turkish...
- Treaty of KarsTreaty of KarsThe Treaty of Kars was a "friendship" treaty signed in Kars on October 13, 1921 and ratified in Yerevan on September 11 1922.Signatories included representatives from the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, which in 1923 would declare the Republic of Turkey, and also from Soviet Armenia, Soviet...