The Yıldırım Army Group or Thunderbolt Army Group 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 ...

or Army Group F (

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...

: ''Heeresgruppe F'') was an

Army Group An army group is a military organization consisting of several field army, field armies, which is self-sufficient for indefinite periods. It is usually responsible for a particular geographic area. An army group is the largest field organizatio ...

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 ...

during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. While being an Ottoman unit, it also contained the

Asia Corps. It was modeled after stormtrooper doctrine. Starting in June 1917, the Yildirim Army Group's first commander in chief was the former Prussian Minister of War and Chief of Staff

Erich von Falkenhayn Erich Georg Sebastian Anton von Falkenhayn (11 September 1861 – 8 April 1922) was a German general and Ottoman Field Marshal who served as Prussian Minister of War and Chief of the German General Staff during the First World War. Falkenha ...

. Von Falkenhayn was replaced by General of the Cavalry Otto Liman von Sanders on 25 February 1918. After the

Armistice of Mudros The Armistice of Mudros () ended hostilities in the Middle Eastern theatre between Ottoman Turkey and the Allies of World War I. It was signed on 30 October 1918 by the Ottoman Minister of Marine Affairs Rauf Bey and British Admiral Somerset ...

on 30 October 1918, Mustafa Kemal took command until the Group's dissolution a few days later.

Establishment

Upon the death of Goltz Pasha just prior to Ottoman victory at

Siege of Kut The siege of Kut Al Amara (7 December 1915 – 29 April 1916), also known as the first battle of Kut, was the besieging of an 8,000-strong British Army garrison in the town of Kut, south of Baghdad, by the Ottoman Army (1861–1922), Ottoman Ar ...

in the Mesopotamia front in Iraq, German military mission representative in Constantinople General von Lossow on April 22, 1916 had asked

Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...

by telegraph to have (then) chief of German general staff General

be appointed to the head of 6. Ottoman Army to protect the high interests of

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...

and

Mesopotamia Mesopotamia is a historical region of West Asia situated within the Tigris–Euphrates river system, in the northern part of the Fertile Crescent. Today, Mesopotamia is known as present-day Iraq and forms the eastern geographic boundary of ...

. He had also suggested that Liman von Sanders, who was responsible for the Dardanelle front, could now be moved to

Levant The Levant ( ) is the subregion that borders the Eastern Mediterranean, Eastern Mediterranean sea to the west, and forms the core of West Asia and the political term, Middle East, ''Middle East''. In its narrowest sense, which is in use toda ...

also. Ottoman Minister of War,

Enver Pasha İsmâil Enver (; ; 23 November 1881 – 4 August 1922), better known as Enver Pasha, was an Ottoman Empire, Ottoman Turkish people, Turkish military officer, revolutionary, and Istanbul trials of 1919–1920, convicted war criminal who was a p ...

was initially against the involvement of German allies in

Baghdad Baghdad ( or ; , ) is the capital and List of largest cities of Iraq, largest city of Iraq, located along the Tigris in the central part of the country. With a population exceeding 7 million, it ranks among the List of largest cities in the A ...

. After the success of Halil Pasha at

, he did not want him to feel slighted. The Ottoman army meanwhile had failed to capitalize on the success at Kut and the British had made extensive preparations for another general assault. The 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. 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 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 The French invasion of Egypt and Syria (1798–1801) was a military expedition led by Napoleon Bonaparte during the French Revolutionary Wars. The campaign aimed to undermine British trade routes, expand French influence, and establish a ...

for the choice of the name. 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: * 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. The army group included troops who used the latest Western-Front infiltration tactics; were equipped with close-combat gear, such as

Stahlhelm The ''Stahlhelm'' (German for "''steel helmet''") is a term used to refer to a series of German steel combat helmet designs intended to protect the wearer from common battlefield hazards such as shrapnel. The armies of the great powers began ...

s and stick-grenades; and were supported by artillery and machine guns.

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. Meanwhile British had conquered Akabe and had launched an intense propaganda campaign among Arab populations behind the fronts. Falkenhayn immediately realized the danger and told Enver Pasha that it would not be wise to move to Baghdad without securing the Sinai front first. 4. Army commander

Cemal Pasha Ahmed Djemal (; ; 6 May 1872 – 21 July 1922), also known as Djemal Pasha or Cemâl Pasha, was an Ottoman military leader and one of the Three Pashas that ruled the Ottoman Empire during World War I. As an officer of the II Corps, he was ...

, concerned about intense British propaganda, also favored bolstering the Sinai-Palestine area. 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. 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. Army group was also assigned four aviation companies.

Active Engagements

World War I

Order of Battle, August 1917

In August 1917, the army group was structured as follows:Edward J. Erickson, ''Order to Die: A History of the Ottoman Army in the First World War'', Greenwood Press, 2001, , p. 170. * Yildirim Army Group (

Müşir () is an Arabic word meaning "counsellor" or "advisor". It is related to the word shura, meaning consultation or "taking counsel". As an official title, it historically indicates a personal advisor to the ruler. In this use it is roughly comp ...

) ** Seventh Army,

Syria Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in West Asia located in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to Syria–Turkey border, the north, Iraq to Iraq–Syria border, t ...

(

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 ...

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk Mustafa Kemal Atatürk ( 1881 – 10 November 1938) was a Turkish field marshal and revolutionary statesman who was the founding father of the Republic of Turkey, serving as its first President of Turkey, president from 1923 until Death an ...

) *** III Corps **** 24th Division **** 50th Division *** XV Corps **** 19th Division **** 20th Division *** German Asia Corps ** Sixth Army,

(Mirliva

Halil Kut Halil Kut (1881 – 20 August 1957), also known as Halil Pasha, was an Ottoman Turkish military commander and politician. He served in the Ottoman Army during World War I, notably taking part in the military campaigns against Russia in the Ca ...

) *** XIII Corps **** 2nd Division **** 6th Division *** XVIII Corps **** 14th Division **** 51st Division **** 52nd Division *** 46th Division with the * 42nd Division * 48th Division * 59th Division ** XX Corps at Huj *** 16th Division *** 54th Division *** 178th Infantry Regiment *** 3rd Cavalry Division ** XXII Corps at Gaza *** 3rd Division *** 7th Division *** 53rd Division

Order of Battle, January 1918

In January 1918, the army group was structured as follows:Edward J. Erickson, ''Order to Die: A History of the Ottoman Army in the First World War'', Greenwood Press, 2001, , p. 181. * Yildirim Army Group (Müşir

) ** Seventh Army (Mirliva Fevzi Çakmak) *** III Corps **** 1st Division, 19th Division, 24th Division *** XV Corps **** 26th Division, 53rd Division *** 3rd Cavalry Division *** German Asia Corps ** Eighth Army ( Ferik Cevat Çobanlı) *** XXII Corps **** 3rd Division, 7th Division, 20th Division *** 16th Division, 54th Division, 2nd Caucasian Cavalry Division

Order of Battle, June 1918

In June 1918, the army group was structured as follows:Edward J. Erickson, ''Order to Die: A History of the Ottoman Army in the First World War'', Greenwood Press, 2001, , p. 188. * Yildirim Army Group (Müşir Otto Liman von Sanders) ** Seventh Army (Mirliva Fevzi Çakmak) *** III Corps **** 1st Division, 24th Division, 3rd Cavalry Division *** XV Corps **** 26th Division, 53rd Division, 19th Division *** German Asia Corps ** Eighth Army (Ferik Cevat Çobanlı) *** XXII Corps **** 3rd Division, 7th Division, 20th Division *** 16th Division *** 54th Division *** 2nd Caucasian Cavalry Division

Order of Battle, September 1918

In September 1918, the army group was structured as follows:Edward J. Erickson, ''Order to Die: A History of the Ottoman Army in the First World War'', Greenwood Press, 2001, , p. 197. * Yildirim Army Group (Müşir Otto Liman von Sanders) ** Fourth Army (

Cemal Mersinli) *** II Corps ( Miralay Galatalı Şevket Bey) **** 62nd Division, Provisional Division x 3 *** Jordan Group **** 24th Division, 3rd Cavalry Division *** VIII Corps (Miralay Yasin Hilmi Bey) **** 48th Division, Umman Provisional Division ** Seventh Army (Mirliva

) *** III Corps (Miralay

İsmet İnönü Mustafa İsmet İnönü (24 September 1884 – 25 December 1973) was a Turkish politician and military officer who served as the second List of Presidents of Turkey, president of Turkey from 1938 to 1950, and as its Prime Minister of Turkey, pr ...

) **** 1st Division, 11th Division *** XV Corps (Miralay Ali Fuat Cebesoy) **** 26th Division, 53rd Division ** Eighth Army (Ferik Cevat Çobanlı) *** XXII Corps (Miralay

Refet Bele Refet Bele (1881 – 3 October 1963), also known as Refet Bey or Refet Pasha was a Turkish military commander. He served in the Ottoman Army and the Turkish Army, where he retired as a general. Life He was born to a Turkish family in Selanik, ...

) **** 7th Division, 20th Division *** Left Wing Corps (

Oberst ''Oberst'' () is a senior field officer rank in several German language, German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Colonel. It is currently used by both the Army, ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, a ...

Gustav von Oppen) **** 16th Division, 19th Division **** German Asia Corps *** 2nd Caucasian Cavalry Division

After Mudros

Order of Battle, November 1918

In November 1918, the army group was structured as follows:Edward J. Erickson, ''Order to Die: A History of the Ottoman Army in the First World War'', Greenwood Press, 2001, , p. 202. * Yildirim Army Group (

) ** Second Army (Mirliva Nihat Anılmış) *** XII Corps **** 23rd Division *** XV Corps **** 41st Division, 44th Division ** Seventh Army (Mirliva Ali Fuat Cebesoy, deputy) *** III Corps **** 11th Division, 24th Division *** XX Corps **** 1st Division, 43rd Division

Yildirim Troops Inspectorate, May 1919

In April 1919, Şevket Turgut Pasha, Cevat Çobanlı and Fevzi Çakmak hold a secret meeting in

Constantinople Constantinople (#Names of Constantinople, see other names) was a historical city located on the Bosporus that served as the capital of the Roman Empire, Roman, Byzantine Empire, Byzantine, Latin Empire, Latin, and Ottoman Empire, Ottoman empire ...

. They prepared a report called "Trio Oath" (''Üçler Misâkı'') and decided to establish army inspectorate for the defense of homeland. In late April, Fevzi Çakmak submitted this report to the Minister of War Şakir Pasha. On April 30, 1919, the War Ministry and Sultan

Mehmed VI Mehmed VI Vahideddin ( ''Meḥmed-i sâdis'' or ''Vaḥîdü'd-Dîn''; or /; 14 January 1861 – 16 May 1926), also known as ''Şahbaba'' () among the Osmanoğlu family, was the last sultan of the Ottoman Empire and the penultimate Ottoman Cal ...

ratified the decision about the establishing of army inspectorates that had been accepted by the Chief of General Staff And then the First Army Troops Inspectorate (stationed in Constantinople, Fevzi Çakmak), the Yildirim Troops Inspectorate (stationed in

Konya Konya is a major city in central Turkey, on the southwestern edge of the Central Anatolian Plateau, and is the capital of Konya Province. During antiquity and into Seljuk times it was known as Iconium. In 19th-century accounts of the city in En ...

, Cemal Mersinli, later Second Army Inspectorate) Inspectorate, the Ninth Army Troops Inspectorate (stationed in

Erzurum Erzurum (; ) is a List of cities in Turkey, city in eastern Anatolia, Turkey. It is the largest city and capital of Erzurum Province and is 1,900 meters (6,233 feet) above sea level. Erzurum had a population of 367,250 in 2010. It is the site of an ...

, later Third Army Inspectorate) was formed. Additionally, the

Rumeli Rumelia (; ; ) was a historical region in Southeastern Europe that was administered by the Ottoman Empire, roughly corresponding to the Balkans. In its wider sense, it was used to refer to all Ottoman possessions and vassals in Europe. These ...

Military Troops Inspectorate (

Nureddin Pasha Nureddin Ibrahim Pasha (; 1873 – 18 February 1932), known as Nureddin İbrahim Konyar Surname Law (Turkey), from 1934, was a Turkish people, Turkish military officer who served in the Ottoman Army (1861–1922), Ottoman Army during World Wa ...

) would be established and the XIII Corps would be under the direction of the Ministry of War. In May 1919, the army inspectorate was structured as follows:Zekeriya Türkmen, ''Mütareke Döneminde Ordunun Durumu ve Yeniden Yapılanması (1918–1920)'', Türk Tarih Kurumu Basımevi, 2001, , pp. 110–111. * Yildirim Troops Inspectorate (''Yıldırım Kıt'aatı Müfettişliği'',

, Inspector: Ferik Cemal Mersinli) ** XII Corps ( Niğde, Miralay Selâhaddin Bey) *** 11th Division *** 41st Division *** 7th Cavalry Regiment *** 20th Cavalry Regiment ** XX Corps (

Ankara Ankara is the capital city of Turkey and List of national capitals by area, the largest capital by area in the world. Located in the Central Anatolia Region, central part of Anatolia, the city has a population of 5,290,822 in its urban center ( ...

Ali Fuat Cebesoy) *** 23rd Division *** 24th Division ** XVII Corps (Smyrna, Mirliva Ali Nadir Pasha, transferred from the First Army Troops Inspectorate after the

Occupation of Smyrna The city of Smyrna (modern-day İzmir) and surrounding areas were under Greek military occupation from 15 May 1919 until 9 September 1922. The Allied Powers authorized the occupation and creation of the Zone of Smyrna () during negotiations re ...

) *** 56th Division *** 57th Division

References

External links

{{Ottoman Forces during World War I Army groups of the Ottoman Empire Military units and formations of the Ottoman Empire in World War I