Sixth Army (Ottoman Empire) Explained

Unit Name:Sixth Army
Dates:September 5, 1915[1] –February 9, 1919[2]
Type:Field Army
Garrison:Baghdad
Patron:Sultans of the Ottoman Empire
Battles:Mesopotamian campaign (World War I)
Notable Commanders:Müşir Goltz Pasha (October 13, 1915[3] -April 19, 1916[4])
Mirliva Halil Pasha (April 19, 1916-June 30, 1918[5])
Mirliva Ali İhsan Pasha (June 30, 1918-February 9, 1919)

The Sixth Army of the Ottoman Empire (Turkish: Altıncı Ordu) was one of the field armies of the Ottoman Army. It was formed in the middle 19th century during Ottoman military reforms.

Formations

Order of Battle, 1877

In 1877, it was stationed in Baghdad. It was composed of:

Six line regiments and six rifle battalion.[6]

Two line regiments.[6]

One line regiment (9 batteries).[6]

One sapper company.[6]

Order of Battle, 1908

After the Young Turk Revolution and the establishment of the Second Constitutional Era on July 3, 1908, new government initiate a major military reform. Army headquarters were modernized. Its operational area was Mesopotamia. It commanded the following active divisions:[7] The Sixth Army also had inspectorate functions for four Redif (reserve) divisions:[8] [9]

World War I

Order of Battle, August 1914

In August 1914, the army was structured as follows:[10]

Order of Battle, Late April 1915

In late April 1915, the army was structured as follows:[11]

Order of Battle, Late Summer 1915

In late Summer 1915, the army was structured as follows:[12]

Order of Battle, January 1916

In January 1916, the army was structured as follows:[13]

Order of Battle, August 1916

In August 1916, the army was structured as follows:[14]

Order of Battle, December 1916

In December 1916, the army was structured as follows:[15]

Order of Battle, August 1917, January 1918, June 1918

In August 1917, January, June 1918, the army was structured as follows:[16]

Order of Battle, September 1918

In September 1918, the army was structured as follows:[17]

After Mudros

Order of Battle, November 1918

In November 1918, the army was structured as follows:[18]

Notes and References

  1. David Nicolle, colour plates by Rafaelle Ruggeri, The Ottoman Army 1914-18, Men-at-Arms 269, Ospray Publishing Ltd., 1994,, p. 14.
  2. Zekeriya Türkmen, Mütareke Döneminde Ordunun Durumu ve Yeniden Yapılanması (1918–1920), Türk Tarih Kurumu Basımevi, 2001,, p. 44.
  3. Orhan Avcı, Irak'ta Türk Ordusu (1914-1918), Vadi Yayınları, 2004,, p. 29.
  4. Orhan Avcı, Irak'ta Türk Ordusu (1914-1918), Vadi Yayınları, 2004,, p. 30.
  5. T.C. Genelkurmay Harp Tarihi Başkanlığı Yayınları, Türk İstiklâl Harbine Katılan Tümen ve Daha Üst Kademelerdeki Komutanların Biyografileri, Genelkurmay Basım Evi, 1972, p. 145.
  6. Ian Drury, Illustrated by Raffaele Ruggeri, The Russo-Turkish War 1877, Men-at-Arms 277, Ospray Publishing Ltd., Reprinted 1999,, p. 35.
  7. Edward J. Erickson, Defeat in Detail: The Ottoman Army in the Balkans, 1912-1913, Westport, CT: Praeger, 2003, p. 17.
  8. Edward J. Erickson, Defeat in Detail: The Ottoman Army in the Balkans, 1912-1913, Westport, Praeger, 2003, p. 19.
  9. T.C. Genelkurmay Başkanlığı, Balkan Harbi, 1912–1913: Harbin Sebepleri, Askerî Hazırlıklar ve Osmanlı Devletinin Harbe Girişi, Genelkurmay Basımevi, 1970, pp. 87-90.
  10. Edward J. Erickson, Order to Die: A History of the Ottoman Army in the First World War, Greenwood Press, 2001,, p. 38.
  11. Edward J. Erickson, Order to Die: A History of the Ottoman Army in the First World War, Greenwood Press, 2001,, p. 86.
  12. Edward J. Erickson, Order to Die: A History of the Ottoman Army in the First World War, Greenwood Press, 2001,, p. 109.
  13. Edward J. Erickson, Order to Die: A History of the Ottoman Army in the First World War, Greenwood Press, 2001,, p. 126.
  14. Edward J. Erickson, Order to Die: A History of the Ottoman Army in the First World War, Greenwood Press, 2001,, p. 134.
  15. Edward J. Erickson, Order to Die: A History of the Ottoman Army in the First World War, Greenwood Press, 2001,, p. 154.
  16. Edward J. Erickson, Order to Die: A History of the Ottoman Army in the First World War, Greenwood Press, 2001,, p. 170, 181, 188.
  17. Edward J. Erickson, Order to Die: A History of the Ottoman Army in the First World War, Greenwood Press, 2001,, p. 197.
  18. Edward J. Erickson, Order to Die: A History of the Ottoman Army in the First World War, Greenwood Press, 2001,, p. 202.

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