Yildirim Army Group

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See also: Army Group F
Yildirim Army Group
Sinai and Palestine Campaign (World War I)
Battle of Megiddo
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Erich von Falkenhayn (July 1917[1] – February 6, 1918[4])
Otto Liman von Sanders (February 24[5] – October 30, 1918)
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (October 31 – November 7, 1918[2])

The Yildirim Army Group or Thunderbolt Army Group of the

Ottoman Army during World War I. While being an Ottoman unit, it also contained the German Asia Corps
.

Starting in June 1917, the Yildirim Army Group's first commander in chief was the former Prussian Minister of War and Chief of Staff

Mustafa Kemal
took command until the Group's dissolution a few days later.

Establishment

Upon the death of

Liman von Sanders, who was responsible for the Dardanelle front, could now be moved to Levant also. Ottoman Minister of War, Enver Pasha was initially against the involvement of German allies in Baghdad. After the success of Halil Pasha at Siege of Kut, he did not want him to feel slighted. Ottoman army meanwhile had failed to capitalize on the success at Kut and British had made extensive preparations for another general assault. British then attacked strongly, and Halil Pasha could not hold on to the defensive positions and Ottomans had to evacuate Baghdad on March 10/11, 1917.[7] Fall of Baghdad
was a shock to Ottomans.

Immediately plans were started to take this ancient and important city back. Only once it was realized that retaking of Baghdad would not be possible without German help, Enver Pasha relented and the new organization was allowed to proceed[8]

Organization of the Yildirim Army group started on May 7, 1917, with the arrival General Falkenhayn to Constantinople. His official commission was approved on July 11, 1917 by Sultan, and order for the establishment of the army group was published on July 15.

Liman von Sanders makes a vague reference to the Napoleon's French campaign in Egypt and Syria for the choice of the name.[9]
Naming was also chosen to obfuscate the intended mission and theater of operation for this army group. Germans called it F(Falke) Army Group. This army group was composed of Ottoman 6. and 7. Armies, with German Asia Corps attached to 7. Army.

The order for the creation of the army group specifically read as follows:[10]

  • An army group named Yildirim to be established. For the time being headquarters will be in Constantinople
  • Yildirim Army Group will be commanded by Field Marshal (Mushir, his rank was raised) Falkenhayn and his chief of staff is Colonel Dommes
  • 6. and 7. Armies will be assigned to the new group
  • 13. and 18. Corps will join 6th Army, and 3. and 15. Corps will join the 7., which will be assigned German Asia Corps also. Pasha II headquarters will have a German infantry battalion with three companies, three German machine gun companies, and all technical support personnel needed.
  • 6. and 7. Armies will immediately complete their preparations and assemble under the new army group.

Its organization was to be very different that other German units and personnel assisting the Ottoman war effort. Its staff was organized like that of a German army group, with a German general on top. Yıldırım Army received separate German funds to help with equipment and needs of the personnel.[11] The army group included troops who used the latest Western-Front infiltration tactics; were equipped with close-combat gear, such as Stahlhelms and stick-grenades; and were supported by artillery and machine guns.[12][13]

Mission

Original mission of Yildirim Army Group was to move South along Euphrates and surround the British. There was a plan for a small naval force on the river also.

Cemal Pasha, concerned about intense British propaganda, also favored bolstering the Sinai-Palestine area.[16] There were intense discussions among the military leaders, Enver Pasha, Mushir Falkenhayn, Cemal Pasha, von Kres Pasha
, Liman von Sanders and Berlin as the mission goals were changed. Eventually in September, Falkenhayn succeeded in directing the Yildirim Army Group towards Sinai and Palestine.

Cemal Pasha was favoring a defensive operation, von Kress thought a limited offensive operation would be most appropriate, and Falkenhayn was for a broad attack.[17] Ottoman Army Headquarters tried to solve this difference of opinion on the strategy by assigning 8. Army to von Kress and made responsible for the Sinai front. Cemal Pasha was given the responsibility for Syria and Western Arabia as the commander of the 4. Army, and Jerusalem and Palestine region would be the responsibility of Falkenhayn, who was given full command of 6., 7. and 8. Armies.[18] Army group was also assigned four aviation companies.[19]

Active Engagements

World War I

Order of Battle, August 1917

In August 1917, the army group was structured as follows:[20]

with the

  • 42nd Division
  • 48th Division
  • 59th Division[21]
    • XX Corps at Huj
      • 16th Division
      • 54th Division
      • 178th Infantry Regiment
      • 3rd Cavalry Division
    • XXII Corps at Gaza
      • 3rd Division
      • 7th Division
      • 53rd Division[22][23]

Order of Battle, January 1918

In January 1918, the army group was structured as follows:[24]

Order of Battle, June 1918

In June 1918, the army group was structured as follows:[25]

Order of Battle, September 1918

In September 1918, the army group was structured as follows:[26]

After Mudros

Order of Battle, November 1918

In November 1918, the army group was structured as follows:[27]

Yildirim Troops Inspectorate, May 1919

In April 1919,

Rumeli Military Troops Inspectorate (Nureddin Pasha) would be established and the XIII Corps would be under the direction of the Ministry of War.[29] In May 1919, the army inspectorate was structured as follows:[30][31]

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 0-313-31516-7
    , p. 169.
  2. ^ a b T.C. Genelkurmay Harp Tarihi Başkanlığı Yayınları, Türk İstiklâl Harbine Katılan Tümen ve Daha Üst Kademelerdeki Komutanların Biyografileri, Genkurmay Başkanlığı Basımevi, Ankara, 1972, p. 9. (in Turkish)
  3. ISBN 975-16-1372-8
    , p. 48. (in Turkish)
  4. ISBN 0-313-31516-7
    , p. 193.
  5. ISBN 0-313-31516-7
    , p. 194.
  6. ^ Jeduha L. Wallach, "Bir Askeri Yardımin Anatomisi". (Çev Fahri Çelıker), Ankara 1985, p.191
  7. ^ Ali Ihsan Sabis, "Harp Hatiralarim", Yay Nehir Yayinevi, cIV, 1991
  8. ^ Gn.Kur. ATASE Başkanlığı Yay., "Birinci Dunya Harbinde Turk Harbi Sina-Filistin Cephesi", c IV/2, Ankara 1986, p.69
  9. ISBN 0-9535181-1-6
  10. ^ Gn Kur ATASE Arşivı 1-1, Kls· 211, Ds 892, F 17
  11. ISBN 0-9535181-1-6
  12. ISBN 978-0-7509-6661-0
    . Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  13. ISBN 978-0-300-19683-2
    . Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  14. ^ Gn. Kur. ATASE Yay., "Sina Filistin Cephesi", p.85
  15. ^ Joseph Pomiankowiski, "Osmanlı Imparatorlugunun Çokusu, 1914-1918, 1. Dunya Savaşı", (Çev Kemal Turan), Istanbul 1990, pp.248-249
  16. ^ Huseyin Husnu Emir, Yıldırım, p. 56
  17. ^ Gen. Kur. ATASE Yay. "Sina Filistin Cephesi", pp. 97-110
  18. ^ Gen. Kur. ATASE arsiv, 1/6, Kls. 1137, Ds. 66, F 80
  19. ^ Gen. Kur. Harp Tarihi Baskanligi Yay. "1. Dunya Harbi Turk Hava Harekati", C. IX, Ankara, 1969, pp. 189-195
  20. ISBN 0-313-31516-7
    , p. 170.
  21. ^ Falls24
  22. ^ Erickson 2001 p. 163
  23. ^ Falls 1930 Vol. 2 p. 35
  24. ISBN 0-313-31516-7
    , p. 181.
  25. ISBN 0-313-31516-7
    , p. 188.
  26. ISBN 0-313-31516-7
    , p. 197.
  27. ISBN 0-313-31516-7
    , p. 202.
  28. ISBN 975-16-1372-8
    , p. 105. (in Turkish)
  29. ISBN 975-16-1372-8
    , p. 106. (in Turkish)
  30. ISBN 975-16-1372-8
    , p. 333. (in Turkish)
  31. ISBN 975-16-1372-8
    , pp. 110–111. (in Turkish)

External links

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