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Yildirim Army Group

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See also: Army Group F
Yıldırım Army Group
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk as commander, with his adjutants, 1918.
ActiveJuly 1917[1] – November 7, 1918[2][3]
Country Ottoman Empire
TypeArmy group
Size150,000
PatronSultans of the Ottoman Empire
EngagementsSinai and Palestine Campaign (World War I)
Battle of Megiddo
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Erich von Falkenhayn (July 1917[1] – February 6, 1918[4])
Otto Liman von Sanders (February 24[5] – October 30, 1918)
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (October 31 – November 7, 1918[2])

The Yıldırım Army Group or Thunderbolt Army Group of the Ottoman Empire or Army Group F (German: Heeresgruppe F) was an Army Group of the Ottoman Army during World War I. While being an Ottoman unit, it also contained the German Asia Corps.

Starting in June 1917, the Yildirim Army Group's first commander in chief was the former Prussian Minister of War and Chief of Staff Erich von Falkenhayn. Von Falkenhayn was replaced by General of the Cavalry Otto Liman von Sanders on 25 February 1918. After the Armistice of Mudros on 30 October 1918, Mustafa Kemal took command until the Group's dissolution a few days later.

Establishment

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Upon the death of Goltz Pasha just prior to Ottoman victory at Siege of Kut in the Mesopotamia front in Iraq, German military mission representative in Constantinople General von Lossow on April 22, 1916 had asked Berlin by telegraph to have (then) chief of German general staff General Erich von Falkenhayn be appointed to the head of 6. Ottoman Army to protect the high interests of Germany in Iran and Mesopotamia.[6] He had also suggested that Liman von Sanders, who was responsible for the Dardanelle front, could now be moved to Levant also. Ottoman Minister of War, Enver Pasha was initially against the involvement of German allies in Baghdad. After the success of Halil Pasha at Siege of Kut, he did not want him to feel slighted. The Ottoman army meanwhile had failed to capitalize on the success at Kut and the British had made extensive preparations for another general assault. The British then attacked strongly, and Halil Pasha could not hold on to the defensive positions and Ottomans had to evacuate Baghdad on March 10/11, 1917.[7]

Immediately plans were started to take this ancient and important city back. Only once it was realized that retaking of Baghdad would not be possible without German help, Enver Pasha relented and the new organization was allowed to proceed[8]

Organization of the Yildirim Army group started on May 7, 1917, with the arrival General Falkenhayn to Constantinople. His official commission was approved on July 11, 1917 by Sultan, and order for the establishment of the army group was published on July 15.

Liman von Sanders makes a vague reference to the Napoleon's French campaign in Egypt and Syria for the choice of the name.[9] Naming was also chosen to obfuscate the intended mission and theater of operation for this army group. Germans called it F(Falke) Army Group. This army group was composed of Ottoman 6. and 7. Armies, with German Asia Corps attached to 7. Army.

The order for the creation of the army group specifically read as follows:[10]

  • An army group named Yildirim to be established. For the time being headquarters will be in Constantinople
  • Yildirim Army Group will be commanded by Field Marshal (Mushir, his rank was raised) Falkenhayn and his chief of staff is Colonel Dommes
  • 6. and 7. Armies will be assigned to the new group
  • 13. and 18. Corps will join 6th Army, and 3. and 15. Corps will join the 7., which will be assigned German Asia Corps also. Pasha II headquarters will have a German infantry battalion with three companies, three German machine gun companies, and all technical support personnel needed.
  • 6. and 7. Armies will immediately complete their preparations and assemble under the new army group.

Its organization was to be very different that other German units and personnel assisting the Ottoman war effort. Its staff was organized like that of a German army group, with a German general on top. Yıldırım Army received separate German funds to help with equipment and needs of the personnel.[11] The army group included troops who used the latest Western-Front infiltration tactics; were equipped with close-combat gear, such as Stahlhelms and stick-grenades; and were supported by artillery and machine guns.[12][13]

Mission

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Original mission of Yildirim Army Group was to move South along Euphrates and surround the British. There was a plan for a small naval force on the river also.[14][15] Meanwhile British had conquered Akabe and had launched an intense propaganda campaign among Arab populations behind the fronts. Falkenhayn immediately realized the danger and told Enver Pasha that it would not be wise to move to Baghdad without securing the Sinai front first. 4. Army commander Cemal Pasha, concerned about intense British propaganda, also favored bolstering the Sinai-Palestine area.[16] There were intense discussions among the military leaders, Enver Pasha, Mushir Falkenhayn, Cemal Pasha, von Kres Pasha, Liman von Sanders and Berlin as the mission goals were changed. Eventually in September, Falkenhayn succeeded in directing the Yildirim Army Group towards Sinai and Palestine.

Cemal Pasha was favoring a defensive operation, von Kress thought a limited offensive operation would be most appropriate, and Falkenhayn was for a broad attack.[17] Ottoman Army Headquarters tried to solve this difference of opinion on the strategy by assigning 8. Army to von Kress and made responsible for the Sinai front. Cemal Pasha was given the responsibility for Syria and Western Arabia as the commander of the 4. Army, and Jerusalem and Palestine region would be the responsibility of Falkenhayn, who was given full command of 6., 7. and 8. Armies.[18] Army group was also assigned four aviation companies.[19]

Active Engagements

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World War I

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Order of Battle, August 1917

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In August 1917, the army group was structured as follows:[20]

with the

  • 42nd Division
  • 48th Division
  • 59th Division[21]
    • XX Corps at Huj
      • 16th Division
      • 54th Division
      • 178th Infantry Regiment
      • 3rd Cavalry Division
    • XXII Corps at Gaza
      • 3rd Division
      • 7th Division
      • 53rd Division[22][23]

Order of Battle, January 1918

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In January 1918, the army group was structured as follows:[24]

Order of Battle, June 1918

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In June 1918, the army group was structured as follows:[25]

Order of Battle, September 1918

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In September 1918, the army group was structured as follows:[26]

After Mudros

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Order of Battle, November 1918

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In November 1918, the army group was structured as follows:[27]

Yildirim Troops Inspectorate, May 1919

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In April 1919, Şevket Turgut Pasha, Cevat Çobanlı and Fevzi Çakmak hold a secret meeting in Constantinople. They prepared a report called "Trio Oath" (Üçler Misâkı) and decided to establish army inspectorate for the defense of homeland. In late April, Fevzi Çakmak submitted this report to the Minister of War Şakir Pasha. On April 30, 1919, the War Ministry and Sultan Mehmed VI ratified the decision about the establishing of army inspectorates that had been accepted by the Chief of General Staff[28] And then the First Army Troops Inspectorate (stationed in Constantinople, Fevzi Çakmak), the Yildirim Troops Inspectorate (stationed in Konya, Cemal Mersinli, later Second Army Inspectorate) Inspectorate, the Ninth Army Troops Inspectorate (stationed in Erzurum, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, later Third Army Inspectorate) was formed. Additionally, the Rumeli Military Troops Inspectorate (Nureddin Pasha) would be established and the XIII Corps would be under the direction of the Ministry of War.[29] In May 1919, the army inspectorate was structured as follows:[30][31]

References

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  1. ^ a b Edward J. Erickson, Order to Die: A History of the Ottoman Army in the First World War, Greenwood Press, 2001, ISBN 0-313-31516-7, p. 169.
  2. ^ a b T.C. Genelkurmay Harp Tarihi Başkanlığı Yayınları, Türk İstiklâl Harbine Katılan Tümen ve Daha Üst Kademelerdeki Komutanların Biyografileri, Genkurmay Başkanlığı Basımevi, Ankara, 1972, p. 9. (in Turkish)
  3. ^ Zekeriya Türkmen, Mütareke Döneminde Ordunun Durumu ve Yeniden Yapılanması (1918–1920), Türk Tarih Kurumu Basımevi, 2001, ISBN 975-16-1372-8, p. 48. (in Turkish)
  4. ^ Edward J. Erickson, Order to Die: A History of the Ottoman Army in the First World War, Greenwood Press, 2001, ISBN 0-313-31516-7, p. 193.
  5. ^ Edward J. Erickson, Order to Die: A History of the Ottoman Army in the First World War, Greenwood Press, 2001, ISBN 0-313-31516-7, p. 194.
  6. ^ Jeduha L. Wallach, "Bir Askeri Yardımin Anatomisi". (Çev Fahri Çelıker), Ankara 1985, p.191
  7. ^ Ali Ihsan Sabis, "Harp Hatiralarim", Yay Nehir Yayinevi, cIV, 1991
  8. ^ Gn.Kur. ATASE Başkanlığı Yay., "Birinci Dunya Harbinde Turk Harbi Sina-Filistin Cephesi", c IV/2, Ankara 1986, p.69
  9. ^ Liman von Sanders"Five Years in Turkey", 1928, p. 173, (English translation) ISBN 0-9535181-1-6
  10. ^ Gn Kur ATASE Arşivı 1-1, Kls· 211, Ds 892, F 17
  11. ^ General Liman von Sanders, "Five Years in Turkey" 1928, Chapter 13, ISBN 0-9535181-1-6
  12. ^ Hadaway, Stuart (2015). From Gaza to Jerusalem: The Campaign for Southern Palestine 1917. Stroud: The History Press. p. 63. ISBN 978-0-7509-6661-0. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  13. ^ Faulkner, Neil (24 May 2016). Lawrence of Arabia's War: The Arabs, the British and the Remaking of the Middle East in WWI. New Haven: Yale University Press. p. 482. ISBN 978-0-300-19683-2. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  14. ^ Gn. Kur. ATASE Yay., "Sina Filistin Cephesi", p.85
  15. ^ Joseph Pomiankowiski, "Osmanlı Imparatorlugunun Çokusu, 1914-1918, 1. Dunya Savaşı", (Çev Kemal Turan), Istanbul 1990, pp.248-249
  16. ^ Huseyin Husnu Emir, Yıldırım, p. 56
  17. ^ Gen. Kur. ATASE Yay. "Sina Filistin Cephesi", pp. 97-110
  18. ^ Gen. Kur. ATASE arsiv, 1/6, Kls. 1137, Ds. 66, F 80
  19. ^ Gen. Kur. Harp Tarihi Baskanligi Yay. "1. Dunya Harbi Turk Hava Harekati", C. IX, Ankara, 1969, pp. 189-195
  20. ^ Edward J. Erickson, Order to Die: A History of the Ottoman Army in the First World War, Greenwood Press, 2001, ISBN 0-313-31516-7, p. 170.
  21. ^ Falls24
  22. ^ Erickson 2001 p. 163
  23. ^ Falls 1930 Vol. 2 p. 35
  24. ^ Edward J. Erickson, Order to Die: A History of the Ottoman Army in the First World War, Greenwood Press, 2001, ISBN 0-313-31516-7, p. 181.
  25. ^ Edward J. Erickson, Order to Die: A History of the Ottoman Army in the First World War, Greenwood Press, 2001, ISBN 0-313-31516-7, p. 188.
  26. ^ Edward J. Erickson, Order to Die: A History of the Ottoman Army in the First World War, Greenwood Press, 2001, ISBN 0-313-31516-7, p. 197.
  27. ^ Edward J. Erickson, Order to Die: A History of the Ottoman Army in the First World War, Greenwood Press, 2001, ISBN 0-313-31516-7, p. 202.
  28. ^ Zekeriya Türkmen, Mütareke Döneminde Ordunun Durumu ve Yeniden Yapılanması (1918–1920), Türk Tarih Kurumu Basımevi, 2001, ISBN 975-16-1372-8, p. 105. (in Turkish)
  29. ^ Zekeriya Türkmen, Mütareke Döneminde Ordunun Durumu ve Yeniden Yapılanması (1918–1920), Türk Tarih Kurumu Basımevi, 2001, ISBN 975-16-1372-8, p. 106. (in Turkish)
  30. ^ Zekeriya Türkmen, Mütareke Döneminde Ordunun Durumu ve Yeniden Yapılanması (1918–1920), Türk Tarih Kurumu Basımevi, 2001, ISBN 975-16-1372-8, p. 333. (in Turkish)
  31. ^ Zekeriya Türkmen, Mütareke Döneminde Ordunun Durumu ve Yeniden Yapılanması (1918–1920), Türk Tarih Kurumu Basımevi, 2001, ISBN 975-16-1372-8, pp. 110–111. (in Turkish)
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