Army of Islam
Encyclopedia
The Army of Islam was a military unit of the Ottoman Empire
formed on July 10, 1918. Its creation was ordered by Enver Pasha who couldn't resist the lure of Pan-Turanism.
and subsequent Civil War
, the Russian army in the Caucasus
had ceased to exist. Meanwhile, the Committee of Union and Progress
moved to win the friendship of the Bolsheviks with the signing of the Ottoman-Russian friendship treaty (January 1, 1918). The exclusion of German officers from this army was deliberate. By the end of 1917, Enver Pasha concluded that the Germans and the Ottoman Empire did not have compatible goals after the Russian Empire
had collapsed. This feeling was confirmed by the terms of the treaty of Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
which was very favorable to the Germans. Enver looked for victory where Russia left in the Caucasus. When Enver discussed his plans for taking over southern Russia, the Germans told him to keep out.
The purpose of this military unit was to mobilize Islam supporters in Transcaspian and Caucasian regions, to advance toward Shatt al-Arab through Persia and to entrap British forces in Mesopotamia
for establishing a Pan-Turanic Empire. Nuri Pasha
came to Yelizavetpol (present day: Ganja
) on May 25, 1918 and began to organize the Army of Islam.
Lionel Charles Dunsterville reached Bandar-e Anzali
in mid-February and organized a small military force called "Dunsterforce
" of Cossacks, Russians and Azeris
. The British authority worried by the advance of the Ottoman forces to the Baku oil fields and began to send reinforcements to the "Dunsterforce" in June 1918.
The Ottoman Army of Islam began to attack Hill 905 on July 31 to the northwest of Baku
, but failed to get the hill and halted their attack on August 2. Major General L.C. Dunsterville coordinated future combined operations with the Cossack forces commended by Colonel Lazar Bicherakhov, and sent about 300 British soldiers to Baku and they arrived there on August 5. The Army of Islam launched second attack to Hill 905 on August 5. This attack failed again and they lost 547 officers and soldiers. The main body of "Dunsterforce" debarked in Baku on August 20.
The last attack of the Army of Islam on Baku began at 1:00 A.M. on September 14. The Ottoman 15th Division attacked from the north and the 5th Caucasian Division attacked from the west. British Major General Dunsterville decided to withdraw about 11:00 A.M. because of the failure of the defense. "Dunsterforce" loaded its personnel and equipment and set sail for Bandar-e Anzali by 10:00 P.M. on September 14.
After the withdrawal of British forces, chaos broke out in Baku and throughout the night the Ottoman artillery continued the bombardment of Baku, the Ottoman infantries advanced to Baku and massacre broke out. By the next day, many Armenians
, most of them were refugee civilians, were killed by Azeris. According to the General Staff
of the Republic of Turkey, the massacre of Armenians
in Baku was regarded as just punishment for the massacres of Turks happened when the Armenian National Army retreated from the Erzurum Province The Army of Islam took Baku on September 15 and sent a telegraph announcing the capture of Baku to Enver Pasha on September 16.
after its reorganization. The 15th Division advanced northwards along the Caspian coast, encountered the local resistance in front of Derbent
and spotted advance on October 7. The division restarted attack on Derbent on October 20 and occupied the city on October 26. The division continued to advance northwards and arrived at the gate of Petrovsk (present day: Makhachkala
) on October 28 and occupied the city on November 8.
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
formed on July 10, 1918. Its creation was ordered by Enver Pasha who couldn't resist the lure of Pan-Turanism.
Background
During 1917, due to the Russian RevolutionRussian Revolution of 1917
The Russian Revolution is the collective term for a series of revolutions in Russia in 1917, which destroyed the Tsarist autocracy and led to the creation of the Soviet Union. The Tsar was deposed and replaced by a provisional government in the first revolution of February 1917...
and subsequent Civil War
Russian Civil War
The Russian Civil War was a multi-party war that occurred within the former Russian Empire after the Russian provisional government collapsed to the Soviets, under the domination of the Bolshevik party. Soviet forces first assumed power in Petrograd The Russian Civil War (1917–1923) was a...
, the Russian army in the Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
had ceased to exist. Meanwhile, the Committee of Union and Progress
Committee of Union and Progress
The Committee of Union and Progress began as a secret society established as the "Committee of Ottoman Union" in 1889 by the medical students İbrahim Temo, Abdullah Cevdet, İshak Sükuti and Ali Hüseyinzade...
moved to win the friendship of the Bolsheviks with the signing of the Ottoman-Russian friendship treaty (January 1, 1918). The exclusion of German officers from this army was deliberate. By the end of 1917, Enver Pasha concluded that the Germans and the Ottoman Empire did not have compatible goals after the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
had collapsed. This feeling was confirmed by the terms of the treaty of Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was a peace treaty signed on March 3, 1918, mediated by South African Andrik Fuller, at Brest-Litovsk between Russia and the Central Powers, headed by Germany, marking Russia's exit from World War I.While the treaty was practically obsolete before the end of the year,...
which was very favorable to the Germans. Enver looked for victory where Russia left in the Caucasus. When Enver discussed his plans for taking over southern Russia, the Germans told him to keep out.
The purpose of this military unit was to mobilize Islam supporters in Transcaspian and Caucasian regions, to advance toward Shatt al-Arab through Persia and to entrap British forces in Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is a toponym for the area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, largely corresponding to modern-day Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and southwestern Iran.Widely considered to be the cradle of civilization, Bronze Age Mesopotamia included Sumer and the...
for establishing a Pan-Turanic Empire. Nuri Pasha
Nuri Killigil
Nuri Killigil was a general in the Ottoman Army. He was brother of Ottoman Minister of War, Enver Pasha.- Libya :Infantry Machine-Gun Captain Nuri Efendi was sent to Libya by an illegal Greek ship with Major Jafar al-Askari Bey and 10,000 gold...
came to Yelizavetpol (present day: Ganja
Ganja, Azerbaijan
Ganja is Azerbaijan's second-largest city with a population of around 313,300. It was named Yelizavetpol in the Russian Empire period. The city regained its original name—Ganja—from 1920–1935 during the first part of its incorporation into the Soviet Union. However, its name was changed again and...
) on May 25, 1918 and began to organize the Army of Islam.
Order of Battle, 1918
- Army of Islam HQ (Yelizavetpol, BakuBakuBaku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
)- Commander: MirlivaMirlivaMirliva or Mîr-i livâ was a military rank of the Ottoman Army. It corresponds to a Brigadier General or Major General . Mirliva is a compound word composed of Mir and Liva...
and Fahri (honorary) FerikFerik (rank)Ferik was a military rank of the Ottoman Army. It is translated as Major General or Lieutenant General . It was superior to a Mirliva and junior to a Birinci Ferik .The title of Ferik was abolished with Act No...
Nuri PashaNuri KilligilNuri Killigil was a general in the Ottoman Army. He was brother of Ottoman Minister of War, Enver Pasha.- Libya :Infantry Machine-Gun Captain Nuri Efendi was sent to Libya by an illegal Greek ship with Major Jafar al-Askari Bey and 10,000 gold... - Chief of Staff: KaymakamLieutenant colonelLieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
Edip Bey - Staff: Mülâzım-ı evvelFirst LieutenantFirst lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
Asaf Efendi (Kılıç AliAli KılıçAli Kılıç also known as "Kılıç" Ali Bey was an officer of the Ottoman Army...
) - Staff: Mülâzım-ı evvel Muzaffer Efendi
- Chief of the division of operations: BinbaşıMajorMajor is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Tevfik Bey - Staff: Binbaşı Naim Bey
- Officer at HQ: Yüzbaşı Sami Bey
- Artillery officer: Binbaşı Kemal Bey
- Inspector: Kaymakam Şefik Bey
- Adviser: Ağaoğlu Ahmet
- Commander: Mirliva
- 5th Caucasian Infantry Division (commanded by MiralayColonelColonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Mürsel BeyMürsel BakûMürsel Bakû was an officer of the Ottoman Army and the general of the Turkish Army.-Sources:...
, as reinforcement from II CorpsII Corps (Ottoman Empire)The II Corps of the Ottoman Empire was one of the corps of the Ottoman Army. It was formed in the early 20th century during Ottoman military reforms.- Order of Battle, 1911 :...
of Third ArmyThird Army (Ottoman Empire)The Ottoman Third Army was originally established in the Balkans and later defended the northern and eastern parts of the Ottoman Empire. Its initial headquarters was at Salonica. With the onset of World War I, it moved to Erzurum Fortress. The headquarters was moved to Susehir after the Battle...
) - 15th Infantry Division (commanded by KaymakamLieutenant colonelLieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
Süleyman Izzet Bey)
Azerbaijan
Chief of the British Military Mission to the Caucasus Major GeneralMajor General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Lionel Charles Dunsterville reached Bandar-e Anzali
Bandar-e Anzali
Bandar-e Anzali , also Romanized as Bandar-e Pahlavī, Bandar Pahlavi, and Bandar Pahlevi, or simply as Pahlavī, Pahlevī, and Pehlevi; earlier, Enceli and Enzeli) is a city in and the capital of Bandar-e Anzali County, Gilan Province, Iran...
in mid-February and organized a small military force called "Dunsterforce
Dunsterforce
Established in 1917, Dunsterforce was an Allied military mission of under 1,000 Australian, New Zealand, British, and Canadian troops , accompanied by armoured cars, deployed from Hamadan some 350 km across Qajar Persia. It was named after its commander General Lionel Dunsterville...
" of Cossacks, Russians and Azeris
Azerbaijani people
The Azerbaijanis are a Turkic-speaking people living mainly in northwestern Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as in the neighbourhood states, Georgia, Russia and formerly Armenia. Commonly referred to as Azeris or Azerbaijani Turks , they also live in a wider area from the Caucasus to...
. The British authority worried by the advance of the Ottoman forces to the Baku oil fields and began to send reinforcements to the "Dunsterforce" in June 1918.
The Ottoman Army of Islam began to attack Hill 905 on July 31 to the northwest of Baku
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
, but failed to get the hill and halted their attack on August 2. Major General L.C. Dunsterville coordinated future combined operations with the Cossack forces commended by Colonel Lazar Bicherakhov, and sent about 300 British soldiers to Baku and they arrived there on August 5. The Army of Islam launched second attack to Hill 905 on August 5. This attack failed again and they lost 547 officers and soldiers. The main body of "Dunsterforce" debarked in Baku on August 20.
The last attack of the Army of Islam on Baku began at 1:00 A.M. on September 14. The Ottoman 15th Division attacked from the north and the 5th Caucasian Division attacked from the west. British Major General Dunsterville decided to withdraw about 11:00 A.M. because of the failure of the defense. "Dunsterforce" loaded its personnel and equipment and set sail for Bandar-e Anzali by 10:00 P.M. on September 14.
After the withdrawal of British forces, chaos broke out in Baku and throughout the night the Ottoman artillery continued the bombardment of Baku, the Ottoman infantries advanced to Baku and massacre broke out. By the next day, many Armenians
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
, most of them were refugee civilians, were killed by Azeris. According to the General Staff
General Staff of the Republic of Turkey
The General Staff of the Republic of Turkey presides over the Armed Forces of the Republic of Turkey, comprising the Army, Navy and Air Force...
of the Republic of Turkey, the massacre of Armenians
September Days
The September Days refers to a period during the Russian Civil War in September 1918 when ethnic Armenians were massacred by Enver Pasha's Army of Islam and their local Azeri allies when they captured Baku, the soon-to-be capital of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic...
in Baku was regarded as just punishment for the massacres of Turks happened when the Armenian National Army retreated from the Erzurum Province The Army of Islam took Baku on September 15 and sent a telegraph announcing the capture of Baku to Enver Pasha on September 16.
North Caucasus
The Army of Islam sent the 15th Division to North CaucasusNorth Caucasus
The North Caucasus is the northern part of the Caucasus region between the Black and Caspian Seas and within European Russia. The term is also used as a synonym for the North Caucasus economic region of Russia....
after its reorganization. The 15th Division advanced northwards along the Caspian coast, encountered the local resistance in front of Derbent
Derbent
Derbent |Lak]]: Чурул, Churul; Persian: دربند; Judæo-Tat: דארבּאנד/Дэрбэнд/Dərbənd) is a city in the Republic of Dagestan, Russia, close to the Azerbaijani border. It is the southernmost city in Russia, and it is the second most important city of Dagestan...
and spotted advance on October 7. The division restarted attack on Derbent on October 20 and occupied the city on October 26. The division continued to advance northwards and arrived at the gate of Petrovsk (present day: Makhachkala
Makhachkala
-Twin towns/sister cities:Makhachkala is twinned with: Sfax, Tunisia Siping, China Spokane, United States Vladikavkaz, Russia Yalova, Turkey Ndola, Zambia-See also:*...
) on October 28 and occupied the city on November 8.
External links
- Süleyman Gündüz, Kafkas İslam Ordusu, Documentary, TRTTurkish Radio and Television CorporationThe Turkish Radio and Television Corporation, also known as TRT , is the national public broadcaster of Turkey and was founded in 1964. Around 70% of TRT's funding comes from a tax levied on electricity bills and a sales tax on television and radio receivers...
.