The Eastern Army of the
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empire, was an empire, imperial realm that controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries; it also controlled parts of southeastern Centr ...
(
Turkish: ''Şark Ordusu'') was one of the
field armies of the
Ottoman Army
The Military of the Ottoman Empire () was the armed forces of the Ottoman Empire. It was founded in 1299 and dissolved in 1922.
Army
The Military of the Ottoman Empire can be divided in five main periods. The foundation era covers the years ...
. It was formed during the mobilization phase of the
First Balkan War
The First Balkan War lasted from October 1912 to May 1913 and involved actions of the Balkan League (the Kingdoms of Kingdom of Bulgaria, Bulgaria, Kingdom of Serbia, Serbia, Kingdom of Greece, Greece and Kingdom of Montenegro, Montenegro) agai ...
. It confronted
Bulgarian forces. On October 29, 1912, it was reorganized and renamed as the First Eastern Army (''Birinci Şark Ordusu'').
Eastern Army
Order of Battle, October 17, 1912
On October 17, 1912, the army was structured as follows:
[Edward J. Erickson, ''Defeat in Detail, The Ottoman Army in the Balkans, 1912–1913'', Westport, Praeger, 2003, p. 83.]
* Eastern Army HQ (Kavaklı, commander:
Ferik Kölemen Abdullah Pasha, chief of staff: Miralay
Djevat Bey)
**
I Corps
**
II Corps
**
III Corps (commanded by
Mirliva
''Mirliva'' or ''Mîr-i livâ'' was a military rank of the Ottoman Army and Navy. It corresponds to brigadier general ( modern Turkish: ''Tuğgeneral'') and division general ( modern Turkish: ''Tümgeneral'') in the modern Turkish Army. ''M ...
Mahmud Muhtar Pasha)
**
IV Provisional Corps (commanded by Ferik Ahmed Abuk Pasha)
**
VII Provisional Corps
**Adrianople Fortified Area Command (commanded by Ferik Mehmed Shukur Pasha)
**
Kırcaali Detachment
First Eastern Army
On October 29, 1912, the army was structured as follows:
* First Eastern Army HQ: Ferik Ahmed Abuk Pasha
**
I Corps
**
II Corps
**
IV Provisional Corps
**Independent Cavalry Division
Sources
Field armies of the Ottoman Empire
Military units and formations of the Ottoman Empire in the Balkan Wars
1912 establishments in the Ottoman Empire
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