XVIII Corps (Ottoman Empire)

The XVIII Corps of the Ottoman Empire (Turkish: 18 nci Kolordu or On Sekizinci Kolordu) was one of the corps of the Ottoman Army. It was formed during World War I.

XVIII Corps
On Sekizinci Kolordu
Active1912-1913
June 7, 1915 (as the Right Wing Group of the Third Army)[1]
September 20, 1915 (as the XVIII Corps)[2]-
CountryOttoman Empire
TypeCorps
PatronSultans of the Ottoman Empire
EngagementsMesopotamian campaign (World War I)
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Miralay Mehmet Ali Bey
Miralay Halil Bey
Miralay Kâzım Karabekir Bey (April 27, 1916-April 8, 1917[3])
Miralay Galatalı Şevket Bey

Balkan Wars edit

Order of Battle, October 29, 1912 edit

On October 29, 1912, the corps was structured as follows:[4]

  • XVIII Provisional Corps (Thrace, under the command of the Second Eastern Army)
    • Yozgat Redif Division, Ankara Redif Division, Aydin Redif Division

World War I edit

Order of Battle, June 1915 edit

The corps was formed as the Right Wing Group of the Mahmut Kâmil Pasha's Third Army on June 7, 1915 and commanded by Halil Bey. In a rearrangement of operational field commands, Mahmut Kâmil Pasha redesigned this unit as the Provisional Halil Corps.[1]

Order of Battle, Late Summer 1915 edit

On September 20, 1915, the Provisional Halil Corps was re-designated as the XVIII Corps of the Ottoman Army.[2] In late Summer 1915, the corps was structured as follows:[5]

Order of Battle, January 1916 edit

In January 1916, the corps was structured as follows:[6]

Order of Battle, August 1916 edit

In August 1916, the corps was structured as follows:[7]

Order of Battle, December 1916 edit

In December 1916, the corps was structured as follows:[8]

  • XVIII Corps (Mesopotamia)
    • 45th Division, 51st Division, 52nd Division

Order of Battle, August 1917, January 1918 edit

In August 1917, January 1918, the corps was structured as follows:[9]

  • XVIII Corps (Mesopotamia)

Order of Battle, September 1918 edit

In November 1918, the corps was structured as follows:[10]

Sources edit

  1. ^ a b Edward J. Erickson, Ottoman Army Effectiveness in World War I: A comparative study, Routledge, 2007, ISBN 978-0-415-77099-6, p. 72.
  2. ^ a b Edward J. Erickson, Ottoman Army Effectiveness in World War I: A comparative study, Routledge, 2007, ISBN 978-0-415-77099-6, p. 73.
  3. ^ T.C. Genelkurmay Harp Tarihi Başkanlığı Yayınları, Türk İstiklâl Harbine Katılan Tümen ve Daha Üst Kademelerdeki Komutanların Biyografileri, Genkurmay Başkanlığı Basımevi, Ankara, 1972, p. 162. (in Turkish)
  4. ^ Edward J. Erickson, Defeat in Detail, The Ottoman Army in the Balkans, 1912–1913, Westport, Praeger, 2003, p. 103.
  5. ^ Edward J. Erickson, Order to Die: A History of the Ottoman Army in the First World War, Greenwood Press, 2001, ISBN 0-313-31516-7, p. 109.
  6. ^ Edward J. Erickson, Order to Die: A History of the Ottoman Army in the First World War, Greenwood Press, 2001, ISBN 0-313-31516-7, p. 126.
  7. ^ Edward J. Erickson, Order to Die: A History of the Ottoman Army in the First World War, Greenwood Press, 2001, ISBN 0-313-31516-7, p. 134.
  8. ^ Edward J. Erickson, Order to Die: A History of the Ottoman Army in the First World War, Greenwood Press, 2001, ISBN 0-313-31516-7, p. 154.
  9. ^ Edward J. Erickson, Order to Die: A History of the Ottoman Army in the First World War, Greenwood Press, 2001, ISBN 0-313-31516-7, p. 170, 181.
  10. ^ Edward J. Erickson, Order to Die: A History of the Ottoman Army in the First World War, Greenwood Press, 2001, ISBN 0-313-31516-7, p. 197.