Kuva-yi Milliye
Encyclopedia
Kuva-yi Milliye refers to Turkish irregular forces or guerilla forces in the early period of the Turkish War of Independence
. These irregular forces emerged after the occupation of the country by the forces of the Allies
, after the defeat of the Ottoman Empire
in World War I
. Later, Kuva-yi Milliye was integrated to the regular forces
(Kuva-yi Nizamiye) that was named as the Army of the Grand National Assembly
(Büyük Millet Meclisi Ordusu ).
, Ottoman Empire
was divided between the Allies
, so the Greeks occupied the west, British occupied the capital and southeast, Italians and French occupied the south of the country. The Kuva-yi Milliye were the first armed groups to defense of the Ottomans' rights in Anatolia and Rumelia. They consisted of deserted Ottoman army officers and militias. The Kuva-yi Milliye became active when Greek landed at
Symrna (İzmir
).. People who opposed the partitioning of Anatolia by the unratified Treaty of Sèvres
joined the resistance. In western Anatolia, Kuva-yi Milliye fought against the Greek Army by hit-and-run tactics
until a regular army was set up. The resistance of the Kuva-yi Milliye slowed down the Greek advance in Anatolia.
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abandoned it later.
They lacked discipline and experience; they had no chance in open field battles against the Greeks. After the Grand National Assembly
(GNA) was opened, the Army of the GNA was rebuilt by merging different Kuva-yi Milliye groups. The First Battle of İnönü
is the first war in which the standing army
fought against the Greek forces.
's Kuva-yi Seyyare refused to disband his forces and mutinied against the Ankara Government. Although Çerkes Ethem cooperated with the Greek Army, the Army of GNA defeated both the Greek Army and the Rebel Forces at the end of Turkish War of Independence.
Turkish War of Independence
The Turkish War of Independence was a war of independence waged by Turkish nationalists against the Allies, after the country was partitioned by the Allies following the Ottoman Empire's defeat in World War I...
. These irregular forces emerged after the occupation of the country by the forces of the Allies
Allies of World War I
The Entente Powers were the countries at war with the Central Powers during World War I. The members of the Triple Entente were the United Kingdom, France, and the Russian Empire; Italy entered the war on their side in 1915...
, after the defeat of the Ottoman Empire
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...
in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Later, Kuva-yi Milliye was integrated to the regular forces
Regular army
A regular army consists of the permanent force of a country's army that is maintained under arms during peacetime.Countries that use the term include:*Australian Army*British Army*Canadian Forces, specifically "Regular Force"*Egyptian army*Indian Army...
(Kuva-yi Nizamiye) that was named as the Army of the Grand National Assembly
Grand National Assembly of Turkey
The Grand National Assembly of Turkey , usually referred to simply as the Meclis , is the unicameral Turkish legislature. It is the sole body given the legislative prerogatives by the Turkish Constitution. It was founded in Ankara on 23 April 1920 in the midst of the Turkish War of Independence...
(Büyük Millet Meclisi Ordusu ).
History
In the Armistice of MudrosArmistice of Mudros
The Armistice of Moudros , concluded on 30 October 1918, ended the hostilities in the Middle Eastern theatre between the Ottoman Empire and the Allies of World War I...
, Ottoman Empire
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...
was divided between the Allies
Allies of World War I
The Entente Powers were the countries at war with the Central Powers during World War I. The members of the Triple Entente were the United Kingdom, France, and the Russian Empire; Italy entered the war on their side in 1915...
, so the Greeks occupied the west, British occupied the capital and southeast, Italians and French occupied the south of the country. The Kuva-yi Milliye were the first armed groups to defense of the Ottomans' rights in Anatolia and Rumelia. They consisted of deserted Ottoman army officers and militias. The Kuva-yi Milliye became active when Greek landed at
Greek landing at Smyrna
The Greek landing at Smyrna, also known as the Greek invasion of Smyrna and the Greek invasion of Izmir was event early in the Greco-Turkish War that led to a Greek occupation of the area....
Symrna (İzmir
Izmir
Izmir is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.35 million as of 2010, making the city third most populous in Turkey...
).. People who opposed the partitioning of Anatolia by the unratified Treaty of Sèvres
Treaty of Sèvres
The Treaty of Sèvres was the peace treaty between the Ottoman Empire and Allies at the end of World War I. The Treaty of Versailles was signed with Germany before this treaty to annul the German concessions including the economic rights and enterprises. Also, France, Great Britain and Italy...
joined the resistance. In western Anatolia, Kuva-yi Milliye fought against the Greek Army by hit-and-run tactics
Hit-and-run tactics
Hit-and-run tactics is a tactical doctrine where the purpose of the combat involved is not to seize control of territory, but to inflict damage on a target and immediately exit the area to avoid the enemy's defense and/or retaliation.-History:...
until a regular army was set up. The resistance of the Kuva-yi Milliye slowed down the Greek advance in Anatolia.
Battle of Gediz and resolution of Kuva-yi Milliye
Although the Kuva-yi Milliye was the first step of resistance in the "liberation" of the Ottoman Empire, Mustafa KemalMustafa Kemal Atatürk
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was an Ottoman and Turkish army officer, revolutionary statesman, writer, and the first President of Turkey. He is credited with being the founder of the Republic of Turkey....
abandoned it later.
They lacked discipline and experience; they had no chance in open field battles against the Greeks. After the Grand National Assembly
Grand National Assembly of Turkey
The Grand National Assembly of Turkey , usually referred to simply as the Meclis , is the unicameral Turkish legislature. It is the sole body given the legislative prerogatives by the Turkish Constitution. It was founded in Ankara on 23 April 1920 in the midst of the Turkish War of Independence...
(GNA) was opened, the Army of the GNA was rebuilt by merging different Kuva-yi Milliye groups. The First Battle of İnönü
First Battle of Inönü
The First Battle of İnönü took place between 9 and 11 January 1921 near İnönü in present-day Eskişehir Province, Turkey during the Greco-Turkish War , part of Turkish War of Independence...
is the first war in which the standing army
Standing army
A standing army is a professional permanent army. It is composed of full-time career soldiers and is not disbanded during times of peace. It differs from army reserves, who are activated only during wars or natural disasters...
fought against the Greek forces.
Rebels
Some Kuva-yi Milliye groups, most notably Çerkes EthemÇerkes Ethem
Çerkes Ethem was a Turkish militia leader of Circassian origin who initially gained fame for fighting against the Allied powers invading Anatolia in the aftermath of the World War I and afterwards during the Turkish War of Independence....
's Kuva-yi Seyyare refused to disband his forces and mutinied against the Ankara Government. Although Çerkes Ethem cooperated with the Greek Army, the Army of GNA defeated both the Greek Army and the Rebel Forces at the end of Turkish War of Independence.
External links
- Kadir Kasalak, “Kuva-yı Milliye'nin Askeri Açıdan Etüdü”, ATATÜRK ARAŞTIRMA MERKEZİ DERGİSİ, Sayı 42, Cilt: XIV, Kasım 1998, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti'nin 75. Yılı Özel Sayısı.