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Third Army (Ottoman Empire)
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The Ottoman Third Army was originally established in the Balkans and later defended the northern and eastern parts of the Ottoman Empire. Its initial headquarter was at Salonica. With the onset of Word War One, it moved to Erzurum Fortress. The headquarter was moved to Susehir (town near Sivas) after the battle of Erzurum. While it was in Balkans, it formed the core of the military forces that supported the Young Turk Revolution of 1908.
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The Ottoman Third Army was originally established in the Balkans and later defended the northern and eastern parts of the Ottoman Empire. Its initial headquarter was at Salonica. With the onset of Word War One, it moved to Erzurum Fortress. The headquarter was moved to Susehir (town near Sivas) after the battle of Erzurum. While it was in Balkans, it formed the core of the military forces that supported the Young Turk Revolution of 1908. Many of its officers, including Enver Pasha and Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, rose to fame and power.
During the First World War, It fought against the Russian Caucasus Army, Armenian volunteer units and behind the lines deal with the Armenian Resistance at his responsibility area. During this period; the Battle of Sarikamish, which it suffered a crushing defeat, Battle of Koprukoy and the Battle of Erzurum were significant engagements. By late 1916 it was no longer an offensive power. After the Russian Revolution, Russian Caucasus Army disintegrated. Between 1917-1918 it advanced against Armenian national forces of Armenian national liberation movement established by Armenian Congress of Eastern Armenians which became the Armenian Army with the deceleration of Democratic Republic of Armenia. During this period, it engaged to the Armenian Army at Sardarapat, Abaran, and Karakilisa.
Order of Battle, 1914
The acting commander Hasan Izzet Pasha (OctoberDecember 1914) and Enver Pasha (December 1914January 1915).
- IX Corps - Achmet Fevzi Pasha
- 17th division
- 19th division
- 29th division
- X Corps - Hafiz Hakki Pasha
- 30th division
- 31st division
- XI Corps - Abdul Kerim
Prior to Sarikamish, the Army consisted of 95,000 troops in the following units and commanders:
Following the battle of Sarikamish, it was reduced to some 20,000 men with loss of all guns and heavy equipment.
Order of Battle, 1915
The acting commander Hafiz Hakki Pasha (January 12- February 1915). He died of typhus in Erzerum in 1915 .Mahmut Kamil Pasa (February 1915February 1916) took the command.
In 1915 the 3rd Army was slowly brought back up to strength. In July of that year it was strong enough to win a victory against the Russians at Malazgirt. Later in the year the losses the Ottomans took at Galllipoli diverted manpower away from the 3rd Army, and it would never again reach its normal strength, and numbered 60,000 in the fall of 1915.
Order of Battle, 1916
The acting commander Mehmet Vehib Kaçi Pasha (February 1916June 1918).
- IX Corps
- 17th division
- 28th division
- 29th division
- X Corps
- 30th division
- 31st division
- 32nd division
- XI Corps
- 18th division
- 33rd division
- 34th division
- 36th division
- 37th division
also: 2nd Cavalry division, 15-20 battalions of frontier guards and gendarmes, and a few thousand Kurdish irregulars
When the Russians launched their surprise offensive in January of 1916, culminating in the Battle of Koprukoy the army numbered 65,000 men and 100 guns. The army lost nearly 15,000 killed, wounded, for frozen, and about 5,000 prisoners. There were also about an estimated 5,000 deserters. About 20-30 guns were lost. The XI Corps took the heaviest losses, about 70% of its effective strength. The army fell back on the fortified city of Erzurum, its base.
The army could expect reinforcements from the 1st and 2nd Armies after their victory at Gallipoli, but due to the poor nature of the Turkish railroad it was going to take time for them to reach the 3rd Army. The army numbered about 50,000 troops. The army was also short machine guns and needed more artillery to properly defend the city. Mahmut Kamil returned from leave and resumed command of the army from Abdul Kerim.
The Russians stormed the city, penetrating its outer defenses, forcing Mahumt Kamil to abandon the city and retreat to the west. The army numbered perhaps 25,000 men and 30 or 40 guns. Morale was very poor. Mahmut Kamil was replaced by Vehip Pasa. The army continued to retreat, losing Trebizond on the coast. A counter attack by the army was unable to retake the city.
In July 1916 the Russians launched another series of attacks on the 3rd Army, costing the army about 30% of its strength and leaving its morale badly shaken. By September of 1916 the army was very weak and desertions were a major problem. By October there were an estimated 50,000 deserters in the rear of the army. The 3rd Army could not play any role in the Ottoman offensives planned for that fall.
Order of Battle, 1917
The acting commander Mehmet Vehib Kaçi Pasha (February 1916June 1918).
The army underwent a major reorganization at the winter of 1916. At the turn of 1917, it was reorganized as follows:
- I Caucasian corps
- 9th Caucasian division
- 10th Caucasian division
- 36th Caucasian division
- II Caucasian corps
- 5th Caucasian division
- 11th Caucasian division
- 37th Caucasian division
Over the winter of 1916-1917, the Russian Revolution effectively stopped the Russian Army in its tracks, and eventually caused the Russian Army in the Caucasus to melt away. The army later advanced and recaptured in 1917 and 1918 all that it had lost, and even advanced to Kars, lost to the Russians in 1877.
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