Turkish officers with iron crosses

Tosun Saral · Post by **Tosun Saral** » 20 Oct 2006 19:56

Major General Osman Nuri Koptagel (Erzincan 1874- Ankara Nov.22 1942)
P/Inftr.1311(1895)-b-17
Maj.Gen.: 1922
Retired: May 8 1934
Class mate of Field Marchall Mustafa Fevzi Çakmak.

Story of family name Koptagel: Kop-ta-gel means hurry and rush. While he was a teacher at War school the Harbiye he always commanded the cadets "Kop ta Gel !" Ataturk was also one of his cadets. This saying became his nick name. According to the new civil law of Turkish Republic he longed for a family name from President Atatürk. Atatürk said him that "My teacher you have already a family name Koptagel"
His licence of iron cross signed by Liman von Sanders

Tosun Saral · Post by **Tosun Saral** » 31 Oct 2006 17:09

Tosun Saral wrote:Yakup Şevki Pasha (Subaşı) Harput 1876- Istanbul 20.12.1939
Army serial number: P.(Inf)/1312/1896-1
Retired: 20.12.1939
Maj. Gen.:1916, Lt. Gen.:1922, Gen. of the Army:1926

Tosun Saral · Post by **Tosun Saral** » 22 Nov 2006 20:41

Staff Lt. Col. İsmail Hakkı Tümerdem
Commander of Kuleli Military High School in 1922-1924

Tosun Saral · Post by **Tosun Saral** » 10 Dec 2006 19:14

General of the Army Fahrettin Altay
P/Inf.1315(1899)-1
Brigadier:1921, Major Gen.:1922, Lt.Gen::1922, General:1926
Retired:14.7.1945

Major Fahrettin : During 2nd Balkan War commander of the Cavalry Brigade of tribal units.
Lt.Col. Fahrettin: Chief of Staff of 3rd AC, Chief of Staff of the Northern Group in 1915 at Gallipoli
Col.Fahrettin: Commander of 6th Division of the 13rd AC at Iran Front.
Col. Fahrettin: Commander of the 26th Division at Syria-Palastine Front 1917-18
Col. Fahrettin: commander of 12th AC at Adana during Armistrace
Col. Fahrettin: Commander of 12th AC in Konya in May 1919, at 2nd Inonu Battle 1921
Col.Fahrettin: 5th Cavalry Group Commander at the battle of Sakarya River in 13.8-13.9.1921
Brigadier Fahrettin Pasha: Commander of 5th Cavalry AC at the Great Attack of Turkish Armies in August 26/30 1922

Kaan Caglar · Post by **Kaan Caglar** » 11 Dec 2006 00:32

You are a great source of information dear Saral thanks

Helal!

alkankizil@tr.net · Post by **alkankizil@tr.net** » 12 Dec 2006 21:20

Enver Pacha held in addition to his Iron Cross the coveted Pour le Merite, the highest German Medal of WWI, both standard and one with oak leaves...

faf_476 · Post by **faf_476** » 01 Jan 2007 09:19

So rare and nice photos! And on that 3d picture, It looks so familiar to me, cannot remember where I first saw that picture...

Walter349 · Post by **Walter349** » 06 Jun 2007 18:44

I don't know if this is of interest to you, But while spending some years in Saudi Arabia, I came across a series of Ottoman era military posts, in the Asir region in the South West of the country, just north of the Yemen Border. They consist of a main fort, positioned above what was a Camel trail and the main route up the escarpment leading up from the red sea to the Asir Plateau . It is now at the top of a major, if quite scary road, dropping 700 mtrs.

The fort is long abandoned, but does have two grave yards near by. One slightly higher than the other. The graves are unmarked, but untouched, despite it being so close to a main road. Ranked around the edges for the escarpment are a series of small hill top posts. Each in direct line of sight with each other and eventually the main fort. I spent some time plotting their locations, with assistance from a Tornado reconnaissance aircraft. It took some months and hard climbing to find the missing one from the chain. but I eventually stumbled on it by accident, in the hills behind a village called Al Ghal.

In the near by main town of Abha is the main Ottoman military headquarters for the region. it now a museum, and at night is luridly lit with green lights. Commonly referred to as the UFO because of the lights and the shape of the hill on which it stands.

Tosun Saral · Post by **Tosun Saral** » 30 Jul 2007 09:58

WW1 Invalide Staff Col.Süleyman Fethi Bey head of the recruitment board of the 17th AC at Izmir who despised the threats and held his fez on with both hands, fell with his skull smashed by a greek rifle butt on May 15th 1919. A day always to be remembered.
He died 9 days later.

Tosun Saral · Post by **Tosun Saral** » 06 Sep 2007 15:59

Lt.Col. Cemil Bey (Maj. Gen. Conk)

Maj. Gen. Cemil Conk (Istanbul 1873- Istanbul 1963)
Army Serial Number: P(Inf)-1308(1891)_18
Maj. Gen.:1923
Retired: Feb. 13th 1931

In 1894 Cpt. Cemil Efendi was send to Germany for military training. In 1906 he took part in a riot and was sentenced to death by hanging. His friends saved his life and imprisoned him in the Fort Kasir at Trablusgarb. After proclamation of Constitual Government in 1908 he was released and returned to Istanbul
In 1914 he was made commander of 36th Inf. Regt. im Izmir. With 36th Regt he fought at Gallipoli at Kerevizdere. He commanded the 9th Div. at Chunk Bair (Conk Bayir) at gallipoli.
In 1921 he joined the National Forces of Mustafa Kemal Pasha and commanded the 11th and 18th Div.s.
In 1931 he retired because healt proplems.
According to the new Turkish civil reforms he got "Conk" as familiname.

May his grave be in light.

Tosun Saral · Post by **Tosun Saral** » 15 Sep 2007 09:48

Major Admiral Necati Özdeniz (Sorry I dont know correct English word for 2 star admiral)
Navy Serial Nr: Gv. (Deck) 1330(1914) 1356 (1356th officer ever graduated from Naval war School since 1772)
One star Admiral: 1944
Two Star Admiral: 1946
Retired: August 30th 1951
Admiral Özdeniz served 3 years on German cruiser "von der Tamn" during WW1.
During Turkish War of Liberation Navy Captain Necati (Admiral Özdeniz joined the Navy of Mustafa Kemal Pasha.He commanded a gunboat. On May 1922 he and anaother college captured Greek cargo ship "Onasis" which was carring 11 sacks of gold and silver. Onasis was remaned "Trabzon" and served in Turkish Maritime many years.
http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:Oy ... =clnk&cd=7
Commander of Hamidiye in 1938.
He visited Cyprus on Hamidiye on June 1938 after a long time that Cyprus fell into British hands.
He commanded the Naval School in 1938.
CoS of Turkish Neval Forces in 1949-1951
After his retirement he joined to politics and served to the nation as member of parliament.

One star Admiral Tarık Ersuna
Navy serial Number: Gv. (Deck)-1330(1914)
One Star Admiral: 1947
Retired: August 30th 1951
Navy Col. Tarık Ersuna 18th Commander of Navy War School (08.09.1946 - 05.08.1947)
Admiral Ersuna commander of Mine Fleet in 1948.
According to the photo he must have served also on "von der Tamn".

source of the fhoto: Tunca Orses-Necmettin Ozcelik "I. Dunya Savasinda Turk Askeri Kiyafetleri" (Turkish Military Uniforms During WW1)

from left to right: Admiral Tarik Ersuna, Admiral Necati Ozdeniz. The 3rd Turkish officer standing is unknown.

What is interesting that they all wearing Gallipoli star.

Shot by M. Frölich, Hofphotograph, Flensburg, Norderhofenden 9

Tosun Saral · Post by **Tosun Saral** » 15 Sep 2007 19:54

Unknown Turkish Naval Officer

Tosun Saral · Post by **Tosun Saral** » 31 Oct 2007 22:40

Major General Halil Sedes Pasha

turcoscot · Post by **turcoscot** » 14 Jan 2008 19:02

My grandfather, Col. Munip Uzsoy, who served in Palestine, in the Caucasus and at Gallipoli, is listed in his biosketch as having two German Iron Crosses (iki adet Alman Demir Salih Nisani). Unfortunately I don't have any photos of him with those medals, which he apparently lost while traveling from Palestine to Istanbul in 1918.

Another question: Mr. Saral lists Col. Cemil Conk as commander of the 36th Regiment at Gallipoli, but several records indicate that my grandfather, at the time a major, commanded that regiment during the Suvla Bay engagements; the bio I have shows him posted to the command of the 36th Regiment at Kerevizdere in 1915. He commanded the regiment during the famous "vanishing Norfolks" battle on 12 August 1915, which is described in the paper by Birten Celik, which quotes my grandfather's war diary on that engagement.

Tosun Saral · Post by **Tosun Saral** » 16 Jan 2008 11:41

Dear Turcoscot, First of all let me know your honourable name. Dont hide it behind a anonimous symbol. As a grand son of a hero your Grandfather deserves to be mentioned blanco openly and clear.

Col. Munip Özsoy ( Prof Dr. Tank Staff Col (R) Ismet Görgülü mentions his name as Özsoy in his book "On Yıllık Harbin Kadrosu" (The personal of Ten Years Long War)

Lt. Col. Münip ( Col. Özsoy or Uzsoy) commander of 36th Reg. of the 12nd Div. during 1st Anafartalar/Suvla and 2nd Suvla Battles on August 21st.. The units of 12d Div. reached to the battle on August 8th.

Col. Münip Özsoy/Uzsoy caommander of 61st Div. during Kütahya- Nasuhçal-Eskişehir Battles on July 8-212 1921.

On the other hand Cemil Conk commanded the 36th Reg. on June 4-6 1915 during 3rd Kirte /Khirte Battle. On June 24th he was wounded and left the front. Your Grandfather was made commander ot the 36th.

I wish all they rest in peace and light. He is buried in State Grave Yard in Ankara with other heros of War of Independance.
Allah Rahmet Eylesin!
Dilerim ki öyle olsun!
So mote it be!

Please send us a fhoto of him. Every body will like to meet the hero who stopped the British at Gallipoli.