Mustafa Kemal's Activities in the Çanakkale Region During the Balkan Wars

25 November 1912 - 27 October 1913

Mustafa Kemal, who was from Tripoli when the Balkan War started, departed from there on October 24, 1912 and reached Egypt, and then Istanbul via Trieste and Romania. While on the way, he learned that almost all Rumelia had been lost and that the Bulgarians had come as far as Çatalca. Mustafa Kemal, who came to Istanbul, was assigned to the Ministry of War on 21 November. According to Mustafa Kemal, who emphasized the importance of the Bolayır isthmus during his short tenure in the Ministry of War; “Bolayır isthmus was the gate of the region that could control the comings and goings from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean”. At the same time, any unit in this area could attack the rear of the Bulgarian Army opposite Çatalca. The Ottoman Ministry of War had established a "Corps" under the name of "Mürettep" behind the isthmus of Bolayır[1]. Its name was also “Bahr-ı Sefid Strait (Mediterranean Strait) Kuva-yı Crew Command”[2]. Bahr-ı Sefid Kuva-yı Crew Commander Fahri Pasha[3], Chief of Staff of the War (Chief of Staff) Major Ali Fethi (Okyar) Bey[4], Operations Branch Manager was Major Mustafa Kemal (Atatürk) Bey[5]. Mustafa Kemal's appointment to this duty is November 25, 1912[6]. The task of this Corps was to defend the Dardanelles Strait and Gallipoli region against enemy attacks from sea and land over Bolayır[7]. The headquarters of this Corps was today's Haşmet Bey Farm building. Mustafa Kemal served here for a total of eleven months and two days until 27 October 1913. The Chief of Operations Branch was Major Mustafa Kemal (Atatürk) Bey[5]. Mustafa Kemal's appointment to this duty is November 25, 1912[6]. The task of this Corps was to defend the Dardanelles Strait and Gallipoli region against enemy attacks from sea and land over Bolayır[7]. The headquarters of this Corps was today's Haşmet Bey Farm building. Mustafa Kemal served here for a total of eleven months and two days until 27 October 1913. The Chief of Operations Branch was Major Mustafa Kemal (Atatürk) Bey[5]. Mustafa Kemal's appointment to this duty is November 25, 1912[6]. The task of this Corps was to defend the Dardanelles Strait and Gallipoli region against enemy attacks from sea and land over Bolayır[7]. The headquarters of this Corps was today's Haşmet Bey Farm building. Mustafa Kemal served here for a total of eleven months and two days until 27 October 1913.

Before Mustafa Kemal came to Gallipoli, his friend and one of the notables of the Unionists, Dr. He met with Tevfik Rüştü (Aras) Bey in Istanbul. Mustafa Kemal suggested him to take part in Çanakkale. Meanwhile, a member of the “Assembly-i Umur-u Tıbbiye-i Mülkiye ve Sıhhiye-yi Umumiye”, Dr. Tevfik Rüştü (Aras) Bey was appointed as Chief Physician of Hilal-i Ahmer (Kızılay) Hospital, which was established in Çanakkale[8]. Three friends who have a consensus about the future of the country – Fethi Bey, Mustafa Kemal Bey and Dr. Tevfik Rüştü Bey - so that they could be together in Çanakkale and seek solutions together for the events that would develop.

When Mustafa Kemal was appointed to Gallipoli, gunshots could be heard from Istanbul. The Bulgarians hung over Terkos[9]. Immigrants were constantly coming from the Balkans. And they were all filled. Sickness broke out at the front. Typhus had spread everywhere. All hospitals in Istanbul were full of the sick and injured, but the patients could not be treated well. Kamil Pasha, as the Grand Vizier, was not in a position to make the necessary effort to solve the problems. Only the Minister of War, Nazım Pasha, was making an effort to establish a defense line in Çatalca. In such an environment, the Ottoman state signed the Çatalca Armistice on 3 December 1912 with the Balkan States except Greece[10]. Peace talks between the Ottoman Empire and the Balkan States began in London on 13 December.

Although peace negotiations had begun, the war with the Greeks was still going on. The Greeks blockaded the strait in order to prevent the Ottoman fleet from crossing the Dardanelles. Lemnos on 22 October, Imbros and Thasos on 31 October, Chios on 4 November, and Bozcaada on 7 November were captured by the Greeks, respectively. Upon the advance of the Bulgarians in Thrace, the battleship Barbaros, the destroyer Yarhisar and the Demirhisar torpedo boat were sent to Silivri, the destroyer Numune-i Hamiyyet to Midye, and the battleship Asar-ı Tevfik to Tekirdağ [11].

Upon the success of the Greeks in the Aegean, on November 11, 1912, he told the Deputy Commander-in-Chief Naval Command, “It is not correct to leave even one of the ships constituting the main force in the Marmara or the Black Sea. Let ships of little combat value protect the wings of the army. Move immediately to the Aegean Sea”[12] gave the order. Greeks entered Ayvalık on 23 November, Samos on 24 November and Chios on 25 November were occupied by Greek forces[13].

On 30 November, the Deputy Commander-in-Chief sent a fleet of warships to Çanakkale upon the request of the Kuva-yı Mürettebe Command[14]. The Ottoman fleet anchored in front of Nara. The cruiser Hamidiye, commanded by Hüseyin Rauf Bey, was among the ships that came. Rauf Bey tells the following about this subject in his memoirs: “Ali Fethi Bey, who returned from Tripoli, was appointed as the Chief of Staff of this Corps, and Mustafa Kemal Bey, who returned from Derne, was appointed as the Director of the Operations Branch. Corps headquarters was in Maydos. The navy was also in front of Maydos. Whenever I had time, I would go to Maydos and visit both of them. Sometimes I had military talks with them on behalf of the Navy Command. In the meantime, I was present at the meetings of the Corps Staff Committee, which examined how the peninsula could be defended against an attack by removing soldiers from the sea under the protection of the navy. I remember very well that Mustafa Kemal Bey resisted those who claimed that if the beaches suitable for landing troops on the western coast of the peninsula were fortified, they would prevent the landing. Mustafa Kemal Bey says that it is necessary to accept that the enemy can land under naval fire, and that it will be correct to take the defensive arrangements only after that, and gets angry with those who oppose this idea; 'Place as many wire mesh barriers as you want. I'll get the pieces. He was saying that if there is no superior force to prevent my advance on land, I will seize the peninsula.”[15] I remember very well that Mustafa Kemal Bey resisted those who claimed that if the beaches suitable for landing troops on the western coast of the peninsula were fortified, they would prevent the landing. Mustafa Kemal Bey says that it is necessary to accept that the enemy can land under naval fire, and that it will be correct to take the defensive arrangements only after that, and gets angry with those who oppose this idea; 'Place as many wire mesh barriers as you want. I'll get the pieces. He was saying that if there is no superior force to prevent my advance on land, I will seize the peninsula.”[15] I remember very well that Mustafa Kemal Bey resisted those who claimed that if the beaches suitable for landing troops on the western coast of the peninsula were fortified, they would prevent the landing. Mustafa Kemal Bey says that it is necessary to accept that the enemy can land under naval fire, and that it will be correct to take the defensive arrangements only after that, and gets angry with those who oppose this idea; 'Place as many wire mesh barriers as you want. I'll get the pieces. He was saying that if there is no superior force to prevent my advance on land, I will seize the peninsula.”[15] he says that it will be correct to take (only) the defense schemes after that, and he gets angry with those who oppose this idea; 'Place as many wire mesh barriers as you want. I'll get the pieces. He was saying that if there is no superior force to prevent my advance on land, I will seize the peninsula.”[15] he says that it will be correct to take (only) the defense schemes after that, and he gets angry with those who oppose this idea; 'Place as many wire mesh barriers as you want. I'll get the pieces. He was saying that if there is no superior force to prevent my advance on land, I will seize the peninsula.”[15]

When Rauf Bey came to the port of Gallipoli with the cruiser Hamidiye, Mustafa Kemal Bey greeted him and the people showed great affection. After discussing the military situation, Mustafa Kemal and Ali Fethi Bey, who went to Çanakkale together, discussed the situation in the country and the policies of the western great powers about the Ottoman Empire. Mustafa Kemal visited Çimenlik Castle and then the Bosphorus Commander. Mustafa Kemal examined the Anatolian Hamidiye Bastion and the Dardanos Battery the next day. He also had the opportunity to meet with Atıf Bey, one of the leading figures of the Committee of Union and Progress, who was in Çanakkale at that time[16]. During the meeting with Atıf Bey, Mustafa Kemal tried to learn what the Committee of Union and Progress wanted to do politically, and conveyed his thoughts on the course of the war to him.

Meanwhile, on December 7, Deputy Commander of the Navy Colonel Tahir Bey was dismissed and his deputy Colonel Ramiz Bey was appointed[17]. Colonel Ramiz Bey, who was newly appointed, determined the principles of the battle by convening the War Council, which consisted of commodores and ship commanders, on 14 December, for a battle against the Greeks in the Aegean[18].

The Ottoman navy took action against the Greek navy around Gökçeada (Imbros island) on 16 December. The Battle of Gökçeada (Imbros) started with the fire of the battleship Barbaros Hayrettin at 09:39, three minutes later Averoff responded and the battle ended at 10.55 with the two navies far away from each other. Since the speed of the Greek navy was higher than that of the Ottoman navy, the Greek navy had previously ceased fire and left the battlefield. Both the Ottoman Empire and Greece declared that they had won the Battle of Imroz[19]. This war was inconclusive for both sides. The Ottoman Empire could not take advantage of the opportunity to destroy the Greek navy, and the Greek navy left the battlefield.

These states were looking for a solution to the conflicts and conflicts of interest among themselves regarding the new situation in the Balkans. Meanwhile, the independence of Albania was accepted. On January 6, 1913, the ongoing peace negotiations between the Ottoman Empire and the Balkan States ended in failure[20].

[1] Chief of General Staff, Turkish Armed Forces History Ottoman Period Balkan War Eastern Army Volume II Book 1 Battle of Çatalca, Second Edition, ATASE Publications, Ankara 1993, p,102.

[2] Chief of General Staff, ibid, p.24.

[3] Chief of General Staff, Life Stories of Commanders Participating in the Balkan War (Regiment and Higher Unit Commanders), ATASE Publications, Ankara 2004, p.453.

[4] Ali Fethi (Okyar) Bey returned from Tripoli on November 17, 1912 and was appointed as the Staff of the 2nd Corps on November 20, 1912, and later on November 27, 1912, Bahr-ı Sefid Strait (Mediterranean Strait) Kuva-yı Mürtebe Command. He was appointed as Çanakkale Crew Corps Chief of Staff. See, General Staff, Life Stories of Commanders Participating in the Balkan War (Regiment and Higher Unit Commanders), p.360.

[5]For the details of Mustafa Kemal's military duties, see, Chief of General Staff, Life Stories of the Commanders Participating in the Balkan War (Regiment and Higher Unit Commanders), pp.366-367.

[6] Yusuf Hikmet Bayur, Atatürk's Life and Works From His Birth to His Arrival in Samsun, 2nd Edition, Atatürk Research Center Publications, Ankara 1997, p.53; see also Falih Rıfkı Atay, Çankaya, Bates Publications, Istanbul 1984, p.68; Şevket Süreyya Aydemir gives the date of Mustafa Kemal's appointment as 11 November 1912. On this subject, see One Man Mustafa Kemal (1881-1919), vol., Istanbul 1963, p.182.

[7]Celâl Erikan, Commander Atatürk, 3rd Edition, Türkiye İş Bankası Cultural Publications, Istanbul 2001, p.93.

[8] Tevfik Rüştü Aras was a member of parliament for 5 terms between 1920-1938, served as Minister of Foreign Affairs between 1925-1939, became one of the important names of the Union and Progress, then continued his life by writing newspaper articles. is a politician. Tevfik Rüştü Bey graduated from Beirut Medical School and worked as a doctor in various positions in Izmir, Thessaloniki and Istanbul. He joined the Committee of Union and Progress. He became close friends with Mustafa Kemal in Thessaloniki. He became a member of the Majlis-i Umur-u Tıbbiye-i Mülkiye and Sıhhiye-yi Umumiye (Higher Health Board). Meanwhile, he married Evliyazade Makbule Hanım, the daughter of Evliyazade Hacı Mehmet Efendi, the head of the Evliyazade family, one of the leading families in İzmir, and one of the female newspaper writers of the time. On March 4, 1925, he became the Deputy Foreign Minister (Minister of Foreign Affairs) in the 4th Government (3rd İsmet İnönü Government) established after the Law of Takriri Sükun. He continued this duty in all governments established until Atatürk's death. He became the defender of Atatürk's foreign policy based on establishing good relations with neighboring countries. He went to Russia three times at the invitation of the Soviet Foreign Commissar Litvinov. He held talks with Soviet notables in Odessa in 1926, and in Moscow in 1930 and 1937. He was appointed to the London Embassy in 1939 and remained in England for three and a half years. He retired in 1943. At the end of the war, he wrote articles in the Istanbul press (especially in the Tan newspaper). He supported the founding of the Democratic Party. He married his daughter Fatin Rüştü Zorlu. He served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of İşbank between 1952-1959. Dr. The speeches of Tevfik Rüştü Aras, which he gave during the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, were collected by Numan Menemencioğlu and published under the title "Ten Years in the Traces of Lausanne" (1937). Collecting the outdated articles in the daily press in two volumes called "My Visions" (1945 and 1963), Dr. Tevfik Rüştü Aras died in 1972 in Istanbul. His body was buried in Rumelihisarı.

[9]Meanwhile, the forest in Korudağı was burned. The tomb of Süleyman Pasha was also damaged by a cannonball.

[10] Chief of General Staff, Turkish Armed Forces History Ottoman Period Balkan War Eastern Army First Battle of Çatalca, p.243.

[11] Chief of General Staff, Turkish Armed Forces History Ottoman Period Balkan War Eastern Army First Battle of Çatalca, p. 102.

[12] Chief of General Staff, Turkish Armed Forces History Ottoman Period Balkan War Eastern Army First Battle of Çatalca, p. 89.

[13]Afif Büyüktuğrul, History of Turkish Armed Forces, Balkan War, Ottoman Naval Operation 19121913, c. VII, 2nd Edition, Ankara 1993, p. 80.

[14] Büyüktuğrul, History of Turkish Armed Forces, Balkan War, Ottoman Naval Operation 19121913, p. 127.

[15] Citing Rauf Orbay, Atay, Çankaya, p.68.

[16] Atıf Kamçıl, born in Çanakkale in 1882, was one of the gunslingers of the Committee of Union and Progress. In 1908, he killed Şemsi Pasha during the daytime as the bodyguard of the Committee of Union and Progress. After the proclamation of the Constitutional Monarchy, he was elected as a deputy from Çanakkale to the 1st and 2nd term Ottoman Parliamentary Assembly. In the third term, he became a deputy of Ankara. He worked as Kadıköy İnhisar Warehouse Manager during the Republican period. He became a deputy from Çanakkale in the 6th and 7th terms of the Turkish Grand National Assembly. Atıf Kamçıl, who died on January 22, 1947, was buried on Hürriyet-i Ebediye Hill, like his fellow Unionists. See, Turkish Grand National Assembly Album 1920-1973, Haz. Kazım Öztürk, Ankara 1973, p.173.

[17] Büyüktuğrul, History of Turkish Armed Forces, Balkan War, Ottoman Naval Operation 19121913, p.129.

[18] Büyüktuğrul, History of Turkish Armed Forces, Balkan War, Ottoman Naval Operation 19121913, p. 138.

[19] The Greeks were able to repair Averoff in 33 days. The Ottomans, on the other hand, took care of the ships at the end of the war and engaged in the Battle of Mudros in the Aegean on the 18th of January. See, Hilmi Bayur, “The Situation of the Turkish Fleet in the Balkan War”, Belleten, c. XLII, p. 165 (January 1978), p. 100-101.

[20]The reason for the interruption of the peace talks is as follows: The Ottoman State wanted Macedonia to be given autonomy and Eastern Thrace and Edirne to be left to the Ottoman State. On the other hand, the Balkan States were proposing to leave the east of a line to be extended from the north of Tekirdağ to the Black Sea to the Ottomans. The Ottomans agreed to give up all the lands west of Edirne on January 1, but this time Bulgaria stipulated that Edirne be given to them. The ambassadors of the Great Powers left all Aegean islands to Greece on January 2. For more information on this subject, see Necdet Hayta, Diplomatic Aspect of the Balkan Wars and London Ambassadors Conference (17 December 1912-11 August 1913), Atatürk Research Center Publications, Ankara 2008.

Assist. Assoc. Dr. Mithat Atabay