Turkish 25th division- more information

Discussions on the final era of the Ottoman Empire, from the Young Turk Revolution of 1908 until the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923.
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domster
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Posts: 62
Joined: 02 Nov 2006, 12:21
Location: UK

Turkish 25th division- more information

#1

Post by domster » 06 Aug 2007, 16:42

Hi All

I am still trawling very slowly through intelligence summaries from Kew but have picked up some interesting material about the 25th division as follows as I know Jeff and Steve were interested in the 74th regiment:

25th division

73rd, 74th & 75th regiments

Stationed in Romania until early 1918. Because of Arab attacks on Hejaz railway it was decided to send division to Syria. Majority of troops were Arab therefore it was decided to swap Arab troops with Turks of the 15th division in Romania (e.g one deserter was moved from 59th regiment of 15th division to 74th regiment of the 25th division.). Refitted at Constantinople and sent south to repair and guard the Hejaz railway. Left Constantinople April/May 1918 and started arriving at in Syria athe end of May.

73rd and 75th regiments were deployed south along the Hejaz railway during June and July with the 75th arriving in Ma’an in July as part of the II Army Corps with the(a?) 25th divisional cavalry squadron.

74th regiment:

1st battalion in the es-Salt area May-25 August 1918. Moved to 24th division area in Palestine where it became 3/58th Regiment, original 3/58th absorbed by 1/58th & 2/58th .
2nd battalion absorbed by 17th Regiment.
3rd battalion absorbed by 26th division in June 1918

Hope this is of use

Cheers
Dominic

stevebecker
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Posts: 1468
Joined: 01 Jul 2006, 04:04
Location: Australia

#2

Post by stevebecker » 07 Aug 2007, 03:17

Mate,

Thanks I wasn't aware that the 74th Regt was disbanded then but was aware that this Div was disbanded in late 1918.

I wonder what happened to its commander Maj Fahrettin, (is that a German name?)

Do you have any details on its Artillery?

Cheers

S.B


domster
Member
Posts: 62
Joined: 02 Nov 2006, 12:21
Location: UK

#3

Post by domster » 07 Aug 2007, 11:50

Hi Steve

I have a translated captured Order of Battle for the Yilderim Army Group dated 25 July 1918 which has 2nd battalion 25th Field Artillery Regiment with 7 x 75mm guns (with the 1st battalion 9th Field Artillery Regiment) as part of the 19th Artillery Regiment of the 19th Division, part of XXII Army Corps of the 8th Army. No sign of any other battalions in the Palestine area but shall check other records.

The same source has the 2nd battalion of the 17th composite infantry regiment made up of the ex-2/74th and the 4/73rd machine gun company (6 heavy machine guns) and the 3/17th composite regiment as ex-3/75th Regiment with the 73rd regiment machine gun company whilst the regimental machine gun company is given as the ex 75th machine gun company. The 17th compo. Regiment was part of 46th division, this adds a bit more detail to the 17th regiment mentioned in my first mail.

This is interesting as the 73rd and 75th seem to have been sent off down the railway without their machine gun companies, either more were needed to face the British or they weren’t considered necessary against the Arabs (or both!)

Cheers
Dominic

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