Turkish Divisions 1914-18

[Tosun Saral]

27th (Arab) Divison - Col Osman Nuri Bey (1917-18)

Major General Osman Nuri Koptagel (Erzincan 1874- Ankara Nov.22 1942)
P/Inf.1311(1895)-b-17
Maj.Gen.: 1922
Retired: May 8 1934
Class mate of Field Marshall 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 "My teacher you have already a family name Koptagel"

[Tosun Saral]

Orbat at Syria and Palatine Front during Oct.-December 1917
(Gazze-Birüssebi Battles in Oct 30-Nov.3 1917

source: Staf Col. (Ret) Asst.Prof. Dr.Ismet Gorgulu "On Yıllık Harbin Kadrosu)" Personal of the 10 Years long War" Ankara 1993 publiched by TTK (The Turkish History Association) p.147,147, 148

Commander of Yildirim Army Group : German Fieldmarchall Falkenhayn
(With his arrival a bad fate is also arrived. His decisions made the Turks lost Syria and Palastina. A 100 years long conflict in that area beginned and will continue till eternity.)
-chief of staff : German Col. Dommez
HQ: Germans
viewtopic.php?t=101258&highlight=
Turks:
Asst. chief of staf:Capt. Ali Haydar (Gen. Germeyanoglu)
Operations officers: Maj. Hüseyin Hüsnü Emir (Maj. Gen. Erkilet see: axis)
-capt.Tevfik (Col. Biyiklioglu, A Hero of War of Independance)
-front officier: Maj. Nihat
info officer: 2nd Lt.Şahap (Gen. of the Army Gürler)
personal officer. Capt.Celal
Company of Guards : Capt. Hayrettin Fuat
translater: Maj.Kenan

Commander of 6th Army: Brigadier Halil Pasha ( Lt. Gen. Kut Hero of Kut ul Amara. He received the family name Kut after the modern civil law reforms of the new Turkish Republic. 6th was in Iraq Front at the order of Yildirim.)

7th Army: Brigadier Mustafa Fevzi (Fieldmarchal Çakmak. Hero of Turkish War of Independance. Best friend and eternal supporter of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and his reforms. Chief of Staff of Ottoman Armies during Armistarce. 2nd Chief of Staff of Turkish Armed forces. The 7th was also in Iraq was taken to Palastine. The 7th was renamed as 8th Army on sep. 30th 1917. The 7th fought in Jarusalem and 8th in Jaffa battles.
-chief of staff: german Maj. Falkenhausen
-chief operations officer: Maj. Rüştü (Lt. Gen Akın) for image look at axis

-15th Army Corps: Brigadier Ali Rıza Pasha (Gen. Sedes)
-19th Div.:Lt. Col. Sedat (Lt. Gen. Dogruer)
-chief of staff:Maj. Ömer Lufi
- 57th Regiment: Maj. hayri,
-72th:Maj. Rıfat
77th: Lt. Col. Saip

20th Div.:Lt. Col. Yasin Hilmi
24th Div. :German Lt. Col. Wilmer
-159th regm.:
-179th:Lt. Col. Osman Ata

8th Army: Brigadier German von Kress Pasha, later on Dec. 1st 1917 Brigadier Cevat Pasha (Gen. Cobanlı ) look at axis
- Chief of staff: Lt. Col Asim (Gen. Gunduz) look at axis
-officer at HQ: HGerman Lt. Col. Herrgott
- operations officer: German Maj. Wolf
- assistant operations office:capt. İsmail hakki (Gen. Okday)
- artillary adviser: German Lt. Col.Moderov

2oth Army Corps: Col. Ali Fuat (Lt. Gen. Cebesoy) see: axis
-chief of staff: Maj. Arif (Ayici)
-officer at HQ: Capt.Ekrem (Lt. Gen. Baydar)
- 16th Div.: Col. Rustu (Maj. Gen. Sakarya see: axis)
- chief of staff: Lt. Col. Lutfu

26th Div.: Col. Fahrettin (Gen. of the Army Altay. The famous commander of Cavalry division that defeated Greek Armies by turning at their back on the day of great attack Ausgust 26 1922) see: axis
-c.o.s.: Maj. Tevfik

54th Div.: German Col.Kiesling
c.o.s.: Maj. hakkı Muhlis

22nd Army Corps: Col Refet (Gen.Bele)
c.o.s.: Maj. Rifat (Lt. Col. Sözüer)
staff officer:Capt. Muharrem Mazlum (Gen. of the Army Iskora)
aid officer to Col.Refet: Capt. Izzet (Gen. of the Army Aksalur)
artillary officer: Lt. Col. Ahmet Sabri (Maj. Gen. Erçetin)
- 3rd Div.: Col. H. Nurettin (Maj. Gen.Özsü)
c.o.s.: Capt. Iskender

7th Div.: Col. Kazim (Maj. Gen. Dirik) see axis
c.o.s.:Maj.Fikri
53th Div.: Col.Selahattin (Kiper)
c.o.s.: Capt. Ahmet Nushet

3rd Army Corps: Col. Ismet (gen. of the Army Inonu. 2nd president of the Turkish Republic.)
c.o.s.:Maj.Sefik Avni (Lt. Col.Özüdoğru)
operations officer: Maj. Naci (Lt. Gen. Tınaz see: axis)
-27th Div.:Col. Osman Nuri (Maj. gen. Koptagel)
c.o.s.: Capt. tahsin
-3rd cavalry Div.. Col. Esat
c.o.s.: Maj. Mahmut
German Asian Line:Col.Frankenberg
-c.o.s.:Maj. Solger
-Officer at HQ:Capt. Kurtcebe (Gen. of the Army Noyan)
-German 703th Inf. Battalion: Capt.Grasmann
-German 702th Inf. battalion:Maj. Merts
-German 701th Inf. battalion:Maj. Staubwasser
-German 701st Artillary Battalion: Maj. Hechtern

Regional Inspector of Yildirim: Brigadier Ali Riza Pasha ( Gen. Sedes)
c.o.s.: Maj. Kadri

[tiger1981]

Mates,

At Beersheba Oct 1917 the 27th Div had these units;

27th (Arab) Divison - Col Osman Nuri Bey (1917-18)

48th Regt (attached 16th Div) - Maj Ilhami or Elhami Bey
67th Regt - Maj Cemal or Jemal Bey
81st Regt - Maj Hilmi
attached 2nd Regt (from 24th Div)

27th Artillery Regt - Maj Jevad Bey Oct 1917

2Bn/43rd FA Regt
1Bn/13th FA Regt
2Bn/39th FA Regt or 1Bn/12th FA Regt (2xBatys)
1Bn/42nd FA Regt (2xBatys)

The 2nd Regt was facing the Allied Cavalry and fought in the trenches during the charge by the 4th Australian LH Bde.

Cheers

S.B

48th Regt and 2nd Regt was facing the Allied Cavalry (desert mounted corps) , while 67th Regt and 81st Regt was facing the Allied Infantry (XX corps)

[tiger1981]

I am sure Tiger 1981, You don't. I just wanted to show the reader the great power difference between two parts.

Friend , Can you help us locate those places In the last comment there

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 8#p1937558

[stevebecker]

Mate,

The 48th Regt never came into contact with the Allied Cavalry but fought against the British Infantry as its two other Regts did.

When the withdrawal order was given they may have had some inter action then but not during the major fighting.

The 2nd Regt faced the Allied Cav and fought them all day.

I had a number of discussions about there fighting that day and the poor performance of Allied Cav in particular the fighting at Tell el Saba, and a wasted day forcing a cav charge at last light.

When I say Allied Cav I mean their leader Gen Chauvel, which has cause some of my aussie mates to disagree.

Cheers

S.B

[tiger1981]

Mate,

The 48th Regt never came into contact with the Allied Cavalry but fought against the British Infantry as its two other Regts did.

When the withdrawal order was given they may have had some inter action then but not during the major fighting.

The 2nd Regt faced the Allied Cav and fought them all day.

I had a number of discussions about there fighting that day and the poor performance of Allied Cav in particular the fighting at Tell el Saba, and a wasted day forcing a cav charge at last light.

When I say Allied Cav I mean their leader Gen Chauvel, which has cause some of my aussie mates to disagree.

Cheers

S.B

Sorry for the error.
You're right , The 2nd Regt faced the Allied Cav and fought them all day.

The Ottoman defenders were deployed as follows:

1- The 67th Infantry and the 81st Infantry Regiments (27th Division), defended Beersheba from the west and from south of the Wadi el Saba,
2- One battalion of the 48th Infantry Regiment (16th Division) and a machine gun company defended Tel es Saba, with the remainder of the regiment deployed to the south from the Khalasa road to Ras Ghannam.
3- The 2nd Regiment (two battalions of Anatolian riflemen from Chanak) was deployed in trenches defending the south-east, facing the open plain south of Tel el Saba.
4- In reserve the 3rd Cavalry Division was deployed on the high ground to northeast of the town (in the foothills of the Judean Hills)in the high ground.



The major attack of the infantry has been faced by 67th Regiment



With the destruction of of the 67th Regiment defending the western side of Beersheba, Ismet Bey (commanding the Beersheba garrison) sent one battalion of the 2nd Regiment to reinforce the south-western sector [Falls 1930 Vol. 2 p. 61 note].
So one battalion of the 2nd Regiment faced the Allied Cav , German commander of the Eighth Army Kress von Kressenstein explained: (The understrength Turkish battalion entrusted with its defence doggedly held out with great courage and in so doing fulfilled its obligation. They held up two English cavalry divisions for six hours and had prevented them from expanding their outflanking manoeuvres around the Beersheba-Hebron road.[Kressenstein, Friedrich Freiherr Kress von, Mit den Tèurken zum Suezkanal, 1938, p. 279]).

[Tosun Saral]

08.16 Ma’mûret el Azîz (Mamuret-ül Aziz) is today's Elazığ a provincial capital city of Turkey. Historical name of the city is Harput.
https://www.google.com.tr/search?q=elaz ... CAYQ_AUoAQ

.09.16 Palu is Palu a township of Elazığ a train station between Diyarbalır and Elazığ
https://www.google.com.tr/search?q=Palu ... 80&bih=900

[Tosun Saral]

Simsor a town of Bingöl
http://www.haritatr.com/harita/Simsor/19044

[tiger1981]

Thank you very mach Tosun Saral.

[stevebecker]

Tosun,

Yes thanks mate, I was looking for Simsor but could not find it.

Also the other towns you mention.

Makes some sence now.

S.B

[Tosun Saral]

Ismet Bey (commanding the Beersheba garrison) is İsmet Pasha the Chief Turkish Delegate at Lousanne Peace Conferance or İsmet İnönü 2nd president of Turkish Republic during the years 1938-1950.

[Tosun Saral]

8th Div.

[stevebecker]

Mate,

The 8th Div seams to have had two lives, It is shown disbanded in 1916 but its regts continued to be used during the war.

8th Division (Balikesir) (Rodesto) Thrace 1914 to Syria 1914 to Gallipoli 1915 to Caucasus 1916/18 inactivated early 1918 3rd Corps -1914 15th Corps- Gallipoli 1915 16th Corps- Feb 1916 Caucasus shown Jan 1918 Allied reports near Deraa

Col Ali Riza (Sedes) Bey - LtCol Mehmet Nuri (Conker) 9-15 - LtCol Resat (Cigiltepe) Bey 4-17

CofS Maj Ali Galip Bey (Türker) 1914/15

1-3/22nd Regt - 22nd MG Co 1-3/23rd Regt - 23rd MG Co 1-3/24th Regt - 24th MG Co

22nd Regt - LtCol Mehmet Muhittin (Kurtis) 9-15 to Haji Batram Bey 1916
23rd Regt - LtCol Recai Bey WIA 10-8-15 at Sair Bair to Maj Ahmet Fuat (Bulca) 8-15 to LtCol Recai Bey KIA 12-7-16 at Mus-Kulp battle to Maj Ahmet Fuat Bey (Bulca)
24th Regt - Maj Nuri (Conker) to Maj Ali Galip Bey (Türker) 9-15 to LtCol Sitki Bey (Üke)
17th Regt - LtCol Resat Bey (Çigiltepe) KIA 1922 at Çigiltepe battle

Garrison Tschorlu 1914 - shown Saros Bay at June 1915 to Helles July 1915 - 10th Regt, 23rd Regt, 24th Regt's - Feb 1916 - 1-3/17th Regt replaced 22nd Regt to 4th Div - shown Feb 1917 Allied reports - 17th Regt 23rd Regt 24th Regt - some reports 24th Regt to 5th Div 3-17 - *shown Jan 1918 Allied reports (3200 men 46 MGs) 17th Regt 23rd Regt 24th Regt - *shown Feb 1918 Allied reports (3200 men 36 MGs 100 cav) - shown Mar 1918 shown 24th Regt to 5th Div no details - shown April 1918 Allied reports with 48th Div at Amman 23rd Regt (700 men 4xMGs) 1Bn/123rd Regt (200 men 4 MGs) + 2Bn/24th Regt (500 men 12 MGs) - shown June 1918 Allied reports 24th Regt (1500 men) with Iraq Cav Bde at Anah

* shown Div Fighting strength not total strength of Division

8th Artillery Regt - Maj Saffet Bey 1915/17

possible units - 1/8th FA Bty (4x 75mm L/30 Krupp) 2/8th FA Bty (4x 75mm L/30 Krupp) 3/8th FA Bty (4x 75mm L/30 Krupp) 4/8th FA Bty (4x 75mm L/30 Krupp) (5MBty & 6MBty Mountain Btys each (6x 7.5cm Gebirgskanone L/14 Krupp)

shown 20th Corps Dec 1917 Allied reports 2Bn/8th FAR (8x 75mm) (265 men) and 7Bty/8th FAR (4x 75mm Mountain guns) (48th Div) March 1918

Handbook (1916) shows 4 Field batteries and 2 Mountain Batteries

3rd Sqn 4th Cav Regt - 8th Field Hosp - 8th Sig sect

02.08.14 Balikesir 06.02.15 Geli Bolu 04.05.15 Kirk Kilisa 25.01.16 Istanbul (Râmî barracks) __.02.16 Haleb Stn __.03.16 Kuds es Serîf Stn 17.04.16 Beyt el Lahm 24.04.16 Müslîmiye Stn 29.04.16 Ras el Ayn 03.05.16 Diyâr i Bekr 10.05.16 Silvan __.07.16 Barkos 13.07.16 Sin 29.07.16 Pâsur 04.08.16 Sin 08.08.16 Mus 25.08.16 Perhan Gök ü Ulyâ 30.08.16 Zeydân 15.09.16 Pâsur 05.11.16 || (de-comissioned

Cheers

S.B