German Officers of Yildirim Army Group

[Tosun Saral]

The German officers serving in The Yildirim Army Group at Palastine and Syrian Fronts in Oct-Dec.1917,at Gazze-Birussebi Battles in Oct 30th-Nov.3th 1917, during retead battles of Nov 3th-15th, at battles of Jaffa- Jerusalem im Mov.15th-Dec.9th.
Commander Field Marschal Falkenhayn
Chief Staff officer of the Group: Col. Dommez
-Deputy Chief Staff officer: Major Ludlof
Chief Officer of the Operations: Major Wolf
- Major von Papen ( Minister President of Germany before Hitler. During WW2 German Ambasador in Ankara)
- 2nd Lt. Kont von Pohler
-2nd Lt. Kont von Kanik
- Lt.Vedemayer
-Office Officer Lt. Müller
-Railway officer: Capt.Gronevalt
-Railway Officer:Capt.Fots
-informations officer:Capt. von Kamps Höffner
-Personal officer: Capt. von Groben
-Artillary officer: Major Ostrovski
-Signal Officer: Capt. Schmit
-Signal Officer: Lt. Wolf
-Airplane Company Comm.:Capt. von Homskerk
-maps officer: Capt. Andre
-Comm of the HQ company: Major Falkenhayn (brother of Field marschal)
- Deputy: Capt. von Ernstein
- supply officer: Dr. Jakops
-Transtater: Lt. Ritter
-Chief Medical officer: Brigadier Dr.Steuber
-Chief Artillary officer: Lt.Col. Moderow
Chief Staff officer of the 7th Army: Major Falkenhausen
Comm of 24th Infantry Div: Lt.Col.Willmer
Comm.of 8th Army: Brigadier von Kress
-HQ officer: Lt.Col. Herrgott
-Comm.of the 54th Inf.Div.: Col. von Kiesling

source: Col. İsmet Gorgulu "On Yillik Harbin Kadrosu" Ankara 1993 p.148

[Boco8]

I've never seen the officers' names posted in such detail. You have considerable resources Tosun!

Does this mean that both the 24th and 54th Ottoman divisions had German commanders ("comm.")? Am I correct to believe that this was unusual?

[Tosun Saral]

Sorry Boco8 sometimes I get enough so ı write short. "comm." means commander.

[Peter H]

Details on the later General der Infantrie Alexander von Falkenhausen can be found here:

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=3698

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=53302

[stevebecker]

Tosun,

Do you know if the German officer captured at Rafa 9th Jan 1917 is in these men?

S.B

[Chris Dale]

Hi Tosun,
That's a very interesting and complete list, thank you for that information. I didn't know Major von Papen served there.
Does anyone have any good photos of von Papen in service in the the Ottoman Empire? Or any photos of these officers in Turkey?
Cheers
Chris

[Tosun Saral]

von Papen was one of the few Germans who understood Turks and was not only a Kamarad but became close friends. Hitler had respect to him. He acted as a good friend and insistet Hitler to stay away from Turkey. Germans occupied Bulgaria and Greece. Turkish border sentries and Germans even exachanged presents as old Kamarads. But everybody in Turkey was waiting a German Invazion. Suddenly Hitler began Operation Barborossa. The lives of millions of Turks and Germans was saved with that desicion. May the resting place of von Papen be in Light.
So mote it be!
My late father who was a major was chief of Staff of a divison at Bulgarian Border. With Operation Barborossa I lived with my father happily, learning from him many things till 1982.
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... ulki+saral

[Chris Dale]

Thank you for the interesting insight into von Papen and German-Turkish relations.
Cheers
Chris