War of Independence Articles: “Activities Conducted on 7 November 1918” (Chapter 11)

The expected order reached the Yıldırım Army Group on the morning of 7 November. In the order; It was stated that the order to use weapons against those who would go to Iskenderun was against the policy of the state and the interests of the country, and it was requested that this order be changed immediately. Difficulties arising from poor interpretation, poor implementation and miscellaneous interpretation of the terms of the armistice have been seen before. What made these unfavorable conditions in the Armistice accepted was not heedlessness, but absolute defeat. The state undertakes political initiatives that the current situation allows and is successful. In this difficult time, it is extremely safe to carry out movements at the front that have a great impact on the future of the state. Current conditions do not tolerate controversy or delay and the instructions given will be strictly followed. An order may soon be given to disband the Group, its headquarters may be given the title of 7th Army Headquarters, and the remaining army headquarters may be abolished.

Meanwhile, the 20th Corps, which moved mostly towards Islahiye in accordance with Mustafa Kemal Pasha's order on the night of 6-7 November, was about to pass to the north of the Katma-Subaşı line. After this line was crossed, Mustafa Kemal Pasha issued a new order to the 2nd Army, 41st Division and corps regarding the occupation of Iskenderun, in accordance with the order given by Ahmet İzzet Pasha. With this order, since the operation of the 20th Corps ended, according to the second article of the order given on November 5, the mission stating that the landing of troops in Iskenderun would be responded to with fire was cancelled. Weapons will not be used against British attempts, but protests will be made and the situation will be reported to the Group.

Mustafa Kemal Pasha also informed Grand Vizier Ahmet İzzet Pasha of this order via a telegram. In this telegram responding to the order dated November 6; He stated that he had ordered an armed response against those who would land in Iskenderun on 5 November, but since the 20th Corps had moved to the north of the Katma-Subaşı line with most of its force, the commander there was instructed to cancel the order. In addition, he stated that the order regarding the new organization that the Group Headquarters would become the 7th Army Headquarters was not much different from the proposal to abolish the 2nd and 7th Army headquarters and leave the Group Headquarters alone, but that the Yıldırım Army Group and all the troops under its command were He stated that there were many drawbacks to severing relations with the Group until a state of peace was reached. Since the 7th Army was already doomed to be abolished, he proposed that this should be done now and that the Yıldırım Army Group, which had a great moral impact, should be preserved as the Yıldırım Group.

Despite this, it is understood that Ahmet İzzet Pasha did not accept this offer, because he decided to dismiss Mustafa Kemal Pasha, with whom he had constant disagreements, and remove him from the region. The fact that he received a decree stating that the Yıldırım Army Group and the 7th Army Headquarters were abolished and Mustafa Kemal Pasha was placed under the command of the Ministry of War during the day is an indication of this. It can be said that the increasing pressure of the Allied Powers also had an impact on this decision. Because in the meantime, the Grand Vizier received a telegram from Admiral Calthorpe that would put an end to the discussions about Iskenderun. In this telegram; According to the instructions received from the British Government, in accordance with the 7th, 10th and 16th articles of the Armistice, it was stated that the Commander of Iskenderun, General Allenby, should surrender the city whenever he wanted, otherwise the city would be occupied by force.

Mustafa Kemal Pasha, who was apparently unaware of these developments, issued an order regarding the new deployment and establishment status of the corps and affiliated units, as if the 2nd and 7th Army Headquarters would be abolished in accordance with his own proposal. According to this; The 24th Division will come under the command of the 20th Corps. The division reserve units will replace the 20th Corps units south of Katma. The 24th Division will take its troops in the 11th Division area. The intermediate line between the 20th and 15th Corps will be the Hupnik Stream. This Çay will be included in the 20th Corps region, the 11th Division will be gathered in Raco and the 1st Division will be gathered around İslâhiye.

The 41st Division was attached to the 15th Corps. This division will report matters related to the British directly to the Group and receive orders directly from the Group on these matters. The 15th Corps will transfer its headquarters to a place close to Iskenderun. The 3rd Corps Headquarters will come to Adana, but the corps commander will remain in Iskenderun until the necessary measures are taken for Iskenderun by the 15th Corps. The detachment at the head of the Jarablus Bridge will come under the command of the Antep Area Command. The 20th Corps Command will reinforce its headquarters with officers recruited from the 7th Army Headquarters. The Army Quartermaster will remain with the corps until a replacement is appointed.