Eregli Landing 1915

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 22 Mar 2007 12:49

I have seen a source that states in May 1915 "the Russians landed and destroyed a power station" at Erigli(sic).

Eregli is a 100 miles east of the Bosporus on the Black Sea.

Is this true?What was the Turkish response?

The Russian Black Sea fleet also bombarded the Bosporus and Songuldak in support of the Gallipoli landing in 1915?Songuldak with its coal fields,further east of Eregli,was of primary importance in the shipping of coal to Constantinople.Cut the coal sea route and the Turkish economy collapses.

agblume · Post by **agblume** » 22 Mar 2007 15:46

Hello Peter H, Do you have a date (n.s. or o.s.) for the Russian landing at Eregli???

I have Russian warships engaging the German cruiser Goeben in the Eregli area on 10 May 1915 (n.s). She was hit twice and forced to withdraw.

Cheers, agblume

Tosun Saral · Post by **Tosun Saral** » 23 Mar 2007 12:53

(Only for information: There are two Ereglis in Turkey. One is on Black Sea which is called Karadeniz Ereglisi, The other is in middle Anatolia a town of Konya which is called Konya Ereglisi. Since 10 years or so Konya Ereglisi is a province)

I never heard a Russian landing on Eregli. But what I know that there is a treu event about Eregli. The young Turkish Republic established many industries like textile, mining, paper ect. Ataturk wanted to build heavy industry also. The best place for such an industry was Eregli on Black sea. Eregli was very near to best quality coal mines of Zonguldak. There was also a railway line between those two regions.

Fieldmarschall Mustafa Fevzi Çakmak protested this plan. Because saying this historical quatation " Russians or others can bomb our factories at sea side like in the past. We are not a rich nation. We dont want to ruin our industrie. For that reason we must build our industry in the inner part of Anatolia where the enemy can not reach."

For that reason they built the first Turkish heavy iron and steel industy at Karabük a town 100 miles away from Black Sea.

In 1960's theTurkish government established the 2nd heavy iron and steel factory in Eregli on Karadeniz.

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 23 Mar 2007 13:25

agblume wrote:Hello Peter H, Do you have a date (n.s. or o.s.) for the Russian landing at Eregli???

I have Russian warships engaging the German cruiser Goeben in the Eregli area on 10 May 1915 (n.s). She was hit twice and forced to withdraw.

Cheers, agblume

Hi,no specific date is given in May.The reference is made in the Military Atlas of the First World War by Arthur Banks.I'm now doubtful it its true.

Regards
Peter

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 23 Mar 2007 13:37

More here on Russian naval operations:

http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-135818499.html

Of particular interest are the Black Sea Fleet's actions in so-called coaling area (Zonguldak-Eregli) and the pre-straits zone, which were characterized by a gradual build-up in attracted forces and assets and expansion of the spectrum of forms of employment of forces and techniques. To disrupt enemy sea transport movements, the fleet engaged in a whole set of measures and actions along the entire 600-mile line of communication stretching from Bosporus to Trebizond: a hunt for Turkish vessels by groups of ships, artillery and air attacks against ports, minefield laying near Bosporus and before Anatolia ports, and fire-ship "plugging" of Zonguldak, the most important coaling port on Turkey's Heracleian coast (the attempt failed, though). In so doing, the fleet command used precisely different-service forces--surface ships, submarines and aviation--in their operational and in some cases tactical coordination. The fleet command used an imaginative approach to the problem of disrupting the enemy lines of communication and contributed a number of innovations to the organization of actions directed against enemy shipping.

Supposedly a Russian Army Corps was also earmarked to land near the north of the Bosporus in April 1915,"as soon as the allies were in possession of the entire Gallipoli peninsula,with the two forces joining hands in the capture of Constantinople".This Corps was at Odessa.The Russian collapse on the Eastern Front in the summer of 1915 meant it ended up being deployed to Galicia.

Tosun Saral · Post by **Tosun Saral** » 23 Mar 2007 20:52

Source:Fieldmarschall Mustafa Fevzi Çakmak " Birinci Dünya Savaşı'nda Doğu Cephesi" (East Front During WW1) published by Turkish General Staff, Ankara, 2005

p.271:

April 15th 1915 the Russian Fleet bombed Zonguldak and Eregli. The distance between Sivastopol-Eregli was equal to Eregli-Istanbul. For that reason we couldnt informed at time and to prevent the bambardament.
On MAY 9TH 1915 KAGOL AND A RUSSIAN DESTROYER BOMBED EREGLİ AGAIN. THE RUSSIAN NAVAL SOLDİERS LANDED ON EREGLI WAS DEFEATED AND TROWN BACK.

p.288

On sept. 21st 1916 a Russian battleship and 2 destroyers bombed Şile and Eregli. They sank sailboats. A Turkish plane attacked to the Russian ships. Bombed them 10
times. 2 bombs hit directly to the back of the battleship. The Russians sailed away.

p.297

On Oct. 17th 1917 a Russian destroyer came to Eregli and began to burn all wooden sail boats. A Gotha Sea Plane commanded by Turkish pilots from the 2nd Turkish Naval Plane Company fielded at Eregli flied towards the Russian destroyed and fired with its MGs. The Turkish pilots noticed another Russian destroyer aproaching. From 1000 meters high the Turkish pilots bombed the Russian ships. some of the boms hit the ships. It was noticed that the ships were burning. The Russian fled away.

may all rest in peace.
So mote it be!

agblume · Post by **agblume** » 24 Mar 2007 18:07

Thank you to Tosun Saral for his latest post. Some of it coincides with my own research. On 15 April 1915 (n.s.) Russian destroyers shelled Eregli, Kozlu and Zonguldak, sinking four Turkish steamers. On 9 May 1915 (n.s.) Kagol and one Russian destroyer bombarded Eregli. I have no confirming evidence of a landing attempt at the port.

I have no Russian record of the event on 21 September 1916 (n.s.) and no record of any damage done to a Russian battleship by aerial bombs.

I must question the event described on 17 October 1917 (n.s.) as Russian naval operations in the Black Sea had almost entirely ceased by then. I have no Russian record of any destroyers being damaged by aerial attacks on this date.

I can confirm that the Osman Seefliegerabteilung No.2 was based at Eregli from Spring 1917. The unit consisted of one Gotha WD 13 seaplane flown by pilot Deniz Carkci and observer Mehmet Serafettin.

Perhaps further research can uncover proof of damage to Russian warships by Turkish aerial attacks. Best regards, agblume

Tosun Saral · Post by **Tosun Saral** » 24 Mar 2007 18:55

Fieldmarchal Çakmak says on page 297 that Eregli Seefliegerabteilung No. 2 had 2 Gotha planes. One of them was crashed 23 July 1917 after returning from duty.

agblume · Post by **agblume** » 25 Mar 2007 16:06

Hello Tosun, Thank you for new information about a second Gotha WD type seaplane being with Osman See.Fl.Abt. No.2 at Eregli. Do you know names of the crew and their fate??? Do you know the cause of the crash on 23 July 1917???

Any details about this event is very much appreciated. Thank you. Best regards, agblume

Tosun Saral · Post by **Tosun Saral** » 25 Mar 2007 19:27

Really I dont know. Fieldmarschall Çakmak doesnt mentioned any names. I searched at http://www.tayyareci.com a Turkish aviation page about the pilots. But no information. some pix of Gotha:
http://www.tayyareci.com/digerucaklar/turkiye/ww1.asp

pilot Deniz Carkci ????
There must be something wrong with that name. Deniz is a name newly used since 50-60 years. Deniz means "Sea" The Turks who are married to foreigners gave this name to their children Because it resembles French or British name such as "Denisse","Döniz" "Dennis" like Dennis the manage. During Ottoman time such a name was unknown.

On the other hand "Çarkçi" means wheeler. If I calculate "Deniz Carkci" I come to a result that this is the rank of the pilot. eg.
Deniz= Naval
Çarkci=Wheeler, Engeneer

Deniz Carkci Tegmen Tosun Saral= Navy Lt. Wheeler Tosun Saral
For that reason you coppied "Deniz Carkci" thinking that it was the name of the pilot.
Please look again.

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 26 Mar 2007 13:29

On MAY 9TH 1915 KAGOL AND A RUSSIAN DESTROYER BOMBED EREGLİ AGAIN. THE RUSSIAN NAVAL SOLDİERS LANDED ON EREGLI WAS DEFEATED AND THROWN BACK.

Thanks Tosun.

agblume · Post by **agblume** » 26 Mar 2007 16:22

Thank you Tosun for correction. Best regards, agblume