16th and 48th Turkish Divisons

stevebecker · Post by **stevebecker** » 02 Sep 2006 02:15

Mates,

Can you help with some details on these Divisions.

I am after there Regt's and commanders between Nov 1917 and May 1918.

I understand that the Div's had the following

16th Div

48 Regt
79 Regt
125 Regt

48th Div

?
?
?

Also what were the Artillery Regt's attach (16th and 48th Artillery Regts)?

Also any accounts of the fighting along the Jordan brigdehead during April 1918 and the Order of battle of the 48th Div and any attached units.

Thanks for anything you can give.

Cheers

S.B

stevebecker · Post by **stevebecker** » 16 Sep 2006 02:01

Tosun,

Mate any luck in finding this detail for me.

Any help in this area will be a great assistance.

Cheers

S,B

Tosun Saral · Post by **Tosun Saral** » 16 Sep 2006 10:20

steve, I went to the library and coppied the pages 566-581 of the book "Birinci Dünya Harbinde Türk Harbi" (Turkish War in WW1) about the fights of 48th . It takes to translate. Before that I give you a little info:

On March 8th 1918 von Sanders appointed to Yildirim. He gave the command of East of Seria to Ali Riza Pasha, the commander of 15th Army Corps. He also ordered 48th to reinforce Seria. The 48th was at that moment in south responsible to protect the rail way againts Arab riots. For that reason the HQ and a little unit could reach to Seria.
Mersinli Cemal Pasha the commander of 4th Army in Damascus could able to stop the Arap Revolt. He took the HQ of 8th Army Corps to Katrana. The Araps were driven from Talije to Akabe. That made possible to take 48th from katrana to Amman.
Before the begin of Seria battle Turks took the following measuraments:
-The 20th Army Corps and Seria Group was In East Seria. (Group commander was Ali Rıza Pasha. He was late commander of 15th AC.) HQ of Seria Group was in Es Salt. Seria group had units where Seria River and Lake Lut were united and between Vadii el Melaha and Seria River. The task of that unit was to watch the enemy and not to allow the enemy to move eastwards. This unit cosisted of a battalion og German 148th Regiment, a Turkish Inf. battalion, a Hecinsuvar (camel) company, a artillary team, and a cavalry company.
Later ıt was ordered the HQ of 48th which was in Katrana to move to Salt to the order of Seria Group. The HQ come to Amman and later to Es salt with 7-8 officers ans team of guards.
Col. Asim (Gen. Of the Army Asim Gunduz) was commander.
The 48th received orders to defend the Seria Front which lined from Um Es Ser pass to Lut lake. The responsibiliy of katrana was given to the order of 48th. For that reason the 126th Inf. Regiment which was in Tafile and 703th German Inf. Battalion and a estersuvar ( mule) regiment and 2 battarys were attached to the order of 48th. But it was impossible at that moment to forward these units. Because there was only a train tarif per day. It could take a mont to move these units.

Men and Equipment power of 8th Army Corps of 4th Army before Nablus Battle on 18.9.1918
48th, A mixed Divi., 24th Inf. Regiment from Seria Group, 3rd Cavalty Divizion, Caucasus Cavalry Div of the 8th Army.
Warriors: 6919
rifles at front: 2380
Light MG: 9
Heavy MG : 86

Bota bene : They were really brave ist it?

On Oct. 1st 1918 48th was reorganized. The 43th was abolished. The men and units were attached to 48th. The 48th and 62th was given under the command of Col. Selahattin Adil, the commander of 8th Army Corps (Selahattin Adil look at axis)
The newly organized 48th marched till Hama and was transfered by rail to Haleppo.

to be continued in case of time while I am working on my book about Turkish war of Independance.

stevebecker · Post by **stevebecker** » 17 Sep 2006 00:19

Many thanks Tosun,

Your details as always is very helpfull.

But the dates of the fighting I am looking at is between March and April 1918.

And in particular the makeup (Regt's and other units) and actions of the 48th Div along the Jordan River.

Thanks for anything you can give me.

Cheers

S.B

Tosun Saral · Post by **Tosun Saral** » 18 Sep 2006 22:22

As commander of 48th Div. Lt.Col. Asim Bey (General of the Army Gündüz) came to Salt he immediately investigated and inspected the front. After talking with the commanders and officers he decided to divide the front into two parts. In reality with such limited power it was impossible to defent a front which was 30-34 kms wide.
First part was under the command of Lt. Col. Ömer Lütfü which containing the passes from Um es Sert (including) Pass to Goraniye (Eriha)(including) Bridge. The passes which should be defended was Um es Şert, Avea, El Medrese, Goraniye.
Second part was under Capt. Ahmet wgich contained from Goraniye Bridge to lake Lut. Capt Ahmet Beys units werea cavalry company, a camel company, a platoon of Circassian volunteers from Kuneytra and Zerka.
The HQ of the division was established in Tel el Nimrin. There could be a telegram comminication with Ömer Lütfü Bey. With Ahmet Bey they communicated only by horse men. Asim Bey begged reinfocements.There were no reinforcements. Asim Bey ordered a inf. company which was duitied to protect Zerka-Cize rail way and put them in trenched in front of Goraniye Bridge. A MG company of the 2nd Battalion of the 126th Inf. Regiment and A MG team of the Kadiri ( dervish volunteers) MG Company
was taken from Damascus to Amman. They were given to the order of the 2nd part.
on March 20th two German companies of the 703th German inf. Battalion came to Amman. But they were too tired. They rested for a few days.
to be continued

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 19 Sep 2006 10:52

Tosun,

Great information!

Which regiments made up the 48th Division in March 1918?

Regards
Peter

Tosun Saral · Post by **Tosun Saral** » 20 Sep 2006 09:39

In the night of 25/26 march it was discussed to retreat to Ceras or Amman at a joint meeting of the Group HQ and 48th HQ's. At the end they decided to retead immediately to Amman. They withdrawed in the morning of 26th March to Amman with all their tired and week units and reached to Amman in the afternoon.
The units of 48th in Amman:
126th Inf. Regiment, A battalion of 191th Regiment, 703th German Inf. Battalion, 2nd Battalion ,only 30 men, of 59th Inf. Regiment, 59th Cavalry company with a few men, camel caompany with a few men, field artillary team, mauntain battary, engeeners of the divizion with 30 men and 46th storm company

My note: those week and tired men defeated the enemy in the first two days of the battle.

During that fights 2 infantry battalions with 300 men and Storm company of the 46th division, 23rd Inf. Regiment reached to Amman.

May their resting place in light.

Tosun Saral · Post by **Tosun Saral** » 20 Sep 2006 16:27

The operations in March 1918

stevebecker · Post by **stevebecker** » 25 Sep 2006 02:21

Tosun,

Many thanks for the maps and details you have given us.

Can you help with some of the details?

The 191th Regt (is that the 191st Regt or the 19th Regt)?

What Turkish Division did the 126th Regt, the 191th Regt and the 23rd Regt come from?

Also accounts mention the use of a Turkish Mule Battalion at Amman have you heard of this Battalion as you don't mention it?

As to what Regts made up the 48th Div,

I have found that the 2nd and 3rd Battalion's of the 150th Regt (48th Div) was around Amman but also a battalion of the 159th Regt,

Was the 159th Regt part of the 48th Div?

The Turkish word "Hercin" shown as part of a British Cavalry Brigade, does that mean Camel Brigade?

Sorry to give you so much work but to clear up these important points can help very much.

Thank you magain for your help and suport.

S.B

Tosun Saral · Post by **Tosun Saral** » 25 Sep 2006 10:43

If there is not a printing mistake in the official history book of Turkish General Staff it is the Regiment 191.

The 23th Regiment of the 8th Division of the 2nd Army of the Caucasus Army Group was fighting at the East Front. At the beginning of 1918 the Caucasus Army group was demolished because of Russian Revulition. The divisions forwarded to Haleppo at Syrian front. The 4th Army Corps was established at the order of 3rd Army. 23th came to Amman on March 29 1918 for reinforcement of the 48th Div.

"Hecin" is camel brigade. (It is written shortly on the map)

159th was a regiment of the 24th Div. of the 15th Army Corps during Oct.-Dec. 1917
During the Seria battles in Jan.-Sept.1918 the 159th was under 24th Div. of the 3rd Army Corps. Div. Commander was german lt. Col. Böhme.

126th fought the Kumkale battle in April 25/27.1915 and famous Zigindere battle in July-July 3rd 1915 under 11th Div. Commander of the regiment was Lt. Col. Mustafa Sevki.
126th fought the 2nd Anafartalar battle in Aug.21.1915 under 9th Div.
9th div. left gallipoli on Jan.14 1916.

stevebecker · Post by **stevebecker** » 26 Sep 2006 01:27

Tosun,

Again thankyou as that helps me sort out these units and there Div 's.

Can I add,

The 59th Regt shown on your list (is that the 159th Regt?) and the 59th Cavalry Company.

Can you tell me what Division they came from and if possible what Division the 191st Regt came from?

as British records show the 2nd Bn 159th Regt as part of these Amman troops.

Also if possible who was the commander of the 126th Regt at Amman?

After the victory at Amman and the movment of the 8th Corps 4th Army down to the Jordan Bridge head in April 1918 your map shows the following Turkish units (Mufreze)

48th Division (what units made this division was it the same as at Amman (126th Regt, 150th Regt, 23rd Regt and 159th Regt)

Mrt Division (what units made this unit?)

The 6th, 7th and 8th Cavalry Regts (were they part of the 3rd Turkish Cavalry Division or what Regts made up this Division)?

8th Corps HQ (who was the commander?)

Thanks again for any help

Cheers

S.B