Fifth Army (Ottoman Empire)

The Fifth Army of the Ottoman Empire or Turkish Fifth Army was formed on March 24, 1915, and dissolved on November 21, 1918. It was assigned the responsibility of defending the Dardanelles straits in World War I. The original commander of the army was the German military advisor to the Ottoman Empire, General Otto Liman von Sanders. The command passed to Vehip Pasha who became responsible for the Helles front while von Sanders still wielded considerable influence.

Fifth Army
Headquarters personnel: front row, from right to left: Hüseyin Rauf Bey, Vehib Pasha, Sanders Pasha, Esat Pasha, Süleyman Pasha, Cevat Bey?, back row, from right to left: Unnamed, İsmet Bey, (from Second Army), Âsım Bey, Erich Prigge, Kâzım Bey, Şükrü Bey (from First Army), Refik Münir Bey (from Second Army)
ActiveMarch 25, 1915 – November 21, 1918[1]
Country Ottoman Empire
TypeField Army
EngagementsGallipoli campaign (World War I) Battle of Seray Mountain
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Otto Liman von Sanders (March 1915–24 February 1918)

Mahmut Kamil (February 1918)
Esat Pasha (February–June 1918)

Mahmut Kamil (June–November 1918)

Order of battle, April 1915

In late April 1915, the army was structured as follows:[2]

When the Allied campaign the Battle of Gallipoli, which aimed to seize the Dardanelles, commenced, the Fifth Army comprised two army Corps; the III Corps was defending the Gallipoli peninsula and the XV Corps was defending the Asian shore. The XV. Corps, also known as the "Asian Group." In addition, the 5th Division was positioned north of the peninsula under the command of First Army.

World War I

Order of Battle, Late Summer 1915
Disposition of the 5th Army at Gallipoli

The number of divisions involved in the defence of the peninsula expanded to ten and an unattached infantry regiment and a brigade of cavalry before the August Offensive. In late Summer 1915, the army was structured as follows:[3]

A further three divisions arranged in the "Asian Group." The four divisions at Anzac made up the III Corps. (6 at Helles, 4 at Anzac) plus additional.

Order of Battle, August 1916

In August 1916, the army was structured as follows:[4]

Order of Battle, December 1916

In December 1916, the army was structured as follows:[5]

Order of Battle, August 1917, January 1918

In August 1917, January 1918, the army was structured as follows:[6]

Order of Battle, June, September 1918

In June, September 1918, the army was structured as follows:[7]

After Mudros

Order of Battle, November 1918

In November 1918, the army was structured as follows:[8]

Sources
  1. David Nicolle, colour plates by Rafaelle Ruggeri, The Ottoman Army 1914–18, Men-at-Arms 269, Ospray Publishing Ltd., 1994, ISBN 1-85532-412-1, p. 15.
  2. 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. 86.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  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. 154.
  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. 170, 181.
  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. 188, 197.
  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. 202.
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