War of Independence Articles: “The Last Phase on the Syrian Front” (Part 3)

In September 1918, the British attacked the Yıldırım Army Group Command under the command of Liman Von Sanders from the center of gravity on the Syrian Front and the region close to the Mediterranean coast. As a result, the front was broken and almost the entire 8th Army was neutralized. Thus, the 7th and 4th Armies also faced the danger of being surrounded.

Thereupon, the Group Commander ordered the troops to withdraw to the Aleppo region and the 7th Army Commander, Mustafa Kemal Pasha, was ordered to go to Aleppo, gather the retreating troops and form a defensive front. Mustafa Kemal Pasha came to Aleppo on October 5 and sent a telegram to Sultan Vahdettin, informing him that a new cabinet should be established under the chairmanship of Ahmet İzzet Pasha, in which he would be the Minister of War, and that an armistice should be signed as soon as possible.

After this, Mustafa Kemal Pasha began to gather the withdrawn troops, maintain the collected force, and take measures against the Arabs who revolted at the provocation of the British. Yıldırım informed the Army Group Commander that the Aleppo region was not safe and that necessary precautions should be taken against a possible British landing in Iskenderun.

He also wanted a special organization to be established with the Turkish people in the Idlib, Cesr-i Şuur and Muarra regions against Arab propaganda and to secure the Latakia-Cesr-i Şuur and Hama-Muarra directions. He contacted some Arab tribes in the Aleppo region and tried to attract them to his side.

Since first the 8th Army and then the 4th Army were abolished during the retreat, the remaining units from these armies were included in the establishment of the 7th Army. Yıldırım Army Group Command was reconstituted to consist of the 2nd and 7th Armies. Until October 25, 1918, all units under the command of the 7th Army Command were concentrated around Aleppo.

Aleppo was evacuated after the clashes that started with the Arabs entering the city on October 25. On October 26, the attacks of Arab and British troops were stopped in the north of Aleppo. Thus, the Iskenderun region was secured from the south against British occupation.

When Mustafa Kemal Pasha learned that some Arab troops were advancing in the direction of Antep, he went to Kilis from his headquarters in Katma on the evening of October 28 to take defensive measures. He planned how to defend the region, sent a detachment from the 43rd Division to Kilis, and instructed Antep to take the necessary precautions. He also met with prominent people in Kilis.

7th Army units, until October 29, 1918; It is arranged on the general line of İskenderun (including Antakya)-Beylan-Dar'el Cemal-Tel Rıfat and its eastern extension. Mustafa Kemal Pasha later for this line; “…I identified and delimited a line and ordered my forces that the enemy will not go beyond this line.” he said.

The Kilis-Antep line behind this line was determined as the second defense line. On October 30, 1918, the 7th Army headquarters was withdrawn to Raco and the 20th Corps Headquarters was arranged in Katma and the 3rd Corps Headquarters was in Kurtkulak.

Meanwhile, the Armistice of Mudros was signed and with the order from Grand Vizier Ahmet İzzet Pasha, Liman von Sanders was asked to transfer the duty of Commander of Yıldırım Army Group to Mustafa Kemal Pasha. Thereupon, Mustafa Kemal Pasha handed over the 7th Army Command to Ali Fuat (Cebesoy) Pasha by proxy and went to Adana and took over the duty on 31 October 1918.

After that, he stayed in Adana for 10 days until November 10, 1918, when he boarded the train to go to Istanbul. During this period, Mustafa Kemal Pasha, who led and managed the troops under his command, also corresponded with Istanbul and the 6th Army Commander. He also held meetings with some civilians and military people.