Major Zeki Bey

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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Peter H
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Major Zeki Bey

Post by Peter H » 05 Nov 2005 10:01

Has anyone any details on this Turkish officer that assisted the Australian historian,C.E.W.Bean,when he toured the Gallipoli battlefield in 1919 trying to reconstruct events?

What was his postwar career?When did he die?


http://www.awm.gov.au/atwar/gallipoli.htm
Students of Gallipoli owe Bean an enormous debt. But for the general reader one of his most accessible books is Gallipoli mission, which tells the story of the Australian Historical Mission's return to the peninsula in early 1919. Bean and other members of the mission returned to Gallipoli to answer some of the many questions that remained about the campaign and to collect relics for the war memorial that Bean hoped to establish on his return to Australia. Regarded by some as Bean's finest book, it is an easy and extremely informative read. Although its focus is the mission's visit to Gallipoli in 1919, Gallipoli mission tells us much about the campaign; members of the mission retraced the steps of the first men to land on April 25 1915 and visited the sites of all of the major battles fought at ANZAC Cove. With the assistance of a Turkish officer, Zeki Bey, who had also fought in the campaign, the historical mission answered some of the riddles that had puzzled participants in the fighting. Zeki Bey's contribution adds much to Bean's narrative, as he was able to describe many incidents of interest to Bean from the Turkish point of view.
Gallipoli Mission can be found online here:

http://www.awm.gov.au/histories/ww1/gallipoli/index.asp

Bean on Zeki Bey:their discussions were in French:

http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/histor ... ers/10.pdf

From the Australian War Memorial website: http://www.awm.gov.au/

Zeki Bey sitting with Charles Bean on his left:
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Tosun Saral
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Major General Ahmet Zeki Soydemir, Turkish Army

Post by Tosun Saral » 15 Nov 2005 12:53

Dear Peter,
His real name is Ahmet Zeki. He was borned in Selanik in 1883. He graduated Selanik Military School in 1902 and the War School the Harbiye in Istanbul as infantary lieutenant in 1905 and in 1908 the War Academy as Distiguished Captain of General Staff. During the years 1911-1914 he served in Pristine at the 7th Sharp Schuters Regiment and in Departments of the Division as staff officer. He fought in the Balkan Wars. In 1915 he was promoted to majors rank. In Gallipoli he was the commander of 1st battalion of 57th Regiment. During the WW1 he served as staff oficer in 2nd Corps and 48th Division as chief of staff. During 1918-19 he was the chief of staff of the 3rd Army Corps. After 1919 he joined Mustafa Kemal’s National Forces in Anatolia. Between 1919-21 the was deputy commander of 7th Horsed Infantary Division. He fought in the famous Sakarya battlefield which stopped the advance of the Greeks in Anatolia. He was promoted to Lt.Colonel in 1921 and appointed to 2nd Cavalry Division as commander. His Division played a very important role during the Great attack of August 26th 1922. His units were the first Turkish soldiers who entered Izmir in September 9th 1922. He then promoted to colonel. After the Great Victory he became the commander of Turkish Gendarmary Units (16.6.1924- 27.1.1930) He was promoted to Major General in 1927. He retired in December 17th 1934. Later he served as member of Parliament from Erzurum. He was awarded with many decorations and war medals and most important of all the Medal of Independence. After the Turkish Republics new modern laws he had the surname “Soydemir” which means decendant of iron.
Major General Ahmet Zeki Soydemir died in September 4th 1954. He is buried in the State Cematary in Ankara with other commanders of War of Independance.
His army registration number is 1321- P.15
1321 is the year he graduated fom the War School the Harbiye = 1905
P is “Piyade” the Infantery
15 is 15th of this class.
From his class there are 2 General of Army, 6 Lt.Generals, 8 Major Generals, 4 Brigadiers.

1st photo Col. Ahmet Zeki Bey during War of Independance
2nd Photo Major General Ahmet Zeki Soydemir
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Peter H
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Post by Peter H » 16 Nov 2005 01:50

Thanks Tosun for the information on the Bey.

Much appreciated. :)

Regards,
Peter

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AJK
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Post by AJK » 19 Nov 2005 15:52

Hi Tosun,

Thank you for your very informative posting on Maj. Gen. Zeki Soydemir. You mentioned that his graduating class included 2 General of Army, 6 Lt.Generals, 8 Major Generals, 4 Brigadiers. Do you have the names of these Generals?

I presume that the ranks you refer to are:
General of Army = Orgeneral
Lt.General = Korgeneral
Major General = Tümgeneral
Brigadier = Tuğgeneral

Thank you in advance.

Regards,

AJK

Tosun Saral
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Post by Tosun Saral » 19 Nov 2005 17:43

Szervusz Kedves AJK, Hogy van?
Hi Dear AJK, How are you? From your sign I understand that you are an American of Hungarian origine. I am founder and ex president of the Turkish Hungarian Friendship Society in Ankara. Since 1992 we are trying our best for Friendship. Our Hungarian Colleques have a society in Budapest. For more information please visit my Kütahya, Tekirdag(Rodosto), Kocaeli ili, Budapest, Estergom and Hungary pages.
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/m/
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/7d696/

Here is the list of Generals: If you want to know about other Turkish Generals please write me.

Orgeneral Sabit Noyan 1321 P-30
retirement: May 18th 1948
Tümgeneral: 1927, Korgeneral.:1935, Orgeneral:1945

Orgeneral İsmail Hakkı Akoğuz 1321 P-94
July 6th, 1950
Tuğgeneral: 1937, Tümgeneral.:1938, Korgeneral.: 1942, Orgenal.:1947

Korgeneral Kemalettin Sami Gökçen 1321. is-1 (is= istihkam=engeneer)
Sept.24th, 1928
Tümgeneral:1922, Korgeneral:1926

Korgeneral A. Galip Türker 1321. P- 13
April 21st, 1941
Tümgeneral:1930, Korgeneral:1936

Korgeneral Kemal Erman 1321.Hak-1 (Hak=Hakim= Military Judge)
July 14th 1944
Tuğgeneral:1936, Tümgeneral:1943, Korgeneral:1944

Korgeneral Ömer Halis Bıyıktay 1321-P.44
Dec.25th 1939
Tümgeneral:1927, Korgeneral: 1934

Korgeneral Ekrem Baydar 1921.Top-3 (Top=Topçu=Artillary
Feb.12th 1950
Tuğgeneral:1934, Tümgereral: 1935, Korgeneral: 1942

Tümgeneral Hasan Basri Saran 1321.P-8
Dec.9th 1934
Tümgeneral: 1937

Tümgeneral Ahmet Zeki Soydemir

Tümgeneral Hüseyin Avni Üler 1321.P-33
July 14th, 1942
Tümgeneral: 1932

Tümgeneral İbrahim Beken 1321.P-10
July 14th 1943
Tuğgeneral:1933, Tümgeneral:1937

Tümgeneral Fikri Erbuğ 1321.P-54
July 14, 1943
Tuğgeneral: 1938, Tümgeneral: 1939

Tümgeneral İ.Fevzi Akıncılar 1321 Sv-20 (Sv=Süvari=cavalry)
July 14th 1943
Tuğgeneral: 1939, Tümgeneral: 1941

Tümgeneral M.Sabri Ertuğ 1321.P-12
July 14th 1941
Tuğgeneral: 1934, Tümgeneral: 1939

Tümgeneral M.Süreyya Serter 1321.Tbp-16 (Tbp=Tabip= Military doctor)
July 14th 1943
Tuğgeneral:1939, Tümgeneral:1942

Tuğgeneral Fahri Uluğ 1321.P-9
Sept 17th 1940
Tuğgeneral: 1937

Tuğgeneral İsmail hakkı Alpay 1321.P-545
July 14th 1942
Tuğgeneral: 1940

Tuğgeneral Ali Rıza Tınay 1321. Vet.-15 (Vet=Veteriner=Veterinary)
March 9th 1944
Tuğgeneral:1939

Tuğgeneral Ali Rıza Kazankaya 1321.Top-5
April 8th 1944
Tuğgeneral: 1943

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AJK
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Post by AJK » 19 Nov 2005 22:04

Hi Tosun,

Many thanks for your very helpful answer. I have sent you a Personal Message - please let me know if you did not receive it.

Best wishes,

AJK

Tosun Saral
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Post by Tosun Saral » 19 Nov 2005 23:36

Dear AJK I got your letter. It will take a time. But I will scan info with pictures.
regards
Tosun

MiralaY
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Re: Major Zeki Bey

Post by MiralaY » 12 Mar 2009 23:40

Hello ,
A few minutes ago I searched some of my relatives names on google and I reached this forum....My family served to Ottoman and Turkish army as an officer.
Nimet Elgün and Ali Rıza Tınay are my relatives.Both of them joined first world war.

Tuğgeneral Ali Rıza Tınay 1321. Vet.-15 (Vet=Veteriner=Veterinary)
March 9th 1944
Tuğgeneral:1939

He is my father's uncle. If any one needs information about them I'd like to help.Greetings from Turkiye.

Tosun Saral
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Posts: 4069
Joined: 02 Nov 2005 19:32
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Re: Major Zeki Bey

Post by Tosun Saral » 13 Mar 2009 11:43

Hello MiralaY well come to the forum. It is very nice to know that you are a relative of one of those Turkish heroes who suffered during the years 1912-1922 for the sake of Turkish empire. Republic of Turkey is their present to us to the younger generations. Unfortunately we dont know much about them. If you could give more information and some pictures you will do great for the the searchers and writers.
Thank you. :D

cevikbasmaci
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Location: Istanbul

Re: Major Zeki Bey

Post by cevikbasmaci » 29 Apr 2020 18:31

Greetings everyone,
I do not know if reawakening of posts are not allowed in the forum. If so, I apologize sincerely. My name is Çevik Basmacı, and I am the great-grandnephew of General Ahmet Zeki Bey. I want to thank you all for commemorating Turkish heroes. My grandmother found out about this website years ago, but could not reach out. She kept his uncle's medals (including the Medal of Independence) handwritten documents in Ottoman Turkish, his personal revolver, which I will share when I find the time to visit her. My grandmother would like to gather further information about his uncle. If you canhelp, we'd be delighted.

Tosun Saral
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Posts: 4069
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Re: Major Zeki Bey

Post by Tosun Saral » 11 Jun 2020 08:40

Hello Çevik! Nice to meet you. Tell my sincere regards to your grandmother. If you please I want to make a little correction refarding the tittle.You wrote" General Ahmet Zeki Bey" This is wrong It must be "General Ahmet Zeki Soydemir" or "Ahmet Zeki Soydemir Pasha" You can not tıttle a pasha as Bey. cheers

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