Cilicia campaign – Wikipedia
| Henri Gouraud | Ali Fuat Pacha, Ali Saip Bey, Kılıç Ali, Şefik Özdemir Bey |
| 70,000 French [ 2 ] 10 000 Armeniens [ 3 ] |
25 000 Ottomans [ 4 ] |
Turkish War of Independence
The Cilicia campaign , called the Franco-Turkish War (English: Franco-Turkish war) in the United Kingdom and the Southern front (Turkish: Güney Cephesi) in Turkey, is a series of conflicts between the French army of the Levant Allied with the Armenian Legion (the Eastern Legion), and the Turkish forces of the Grande National Assembly of Turkey, after the day First World War, from December 1918 to October 1921. These conflicts were part of the Turkish War of Independence.
The French interest in this region is the consequence of the Sykes-Picot agreements and the Franco-Armenian agreement of 1916, which led to the establishment of the Armenian forces under the supervision of the French army.
The French victory of Aïntab (Gaziantep), 120 km North of Aleppo, after a seat of several months which ends with Turkish surrender on February 8, 1921, put an end to active operations.
However, France is gaining better relations with the Turkish authorities and signs the Ankara Treaty which restores Cilicia to Turkey.
The primary interest of France for Cilicia, although manifested since the Napoleon campaign in Egypt and in Syria from 1798 to 1800, won since the acquisition in 1909 by French capitalists of the immense Mercimek farm ( Lentil farm , 1 100 km 2 , or the size of Martinique) belonging to the Sultan Abdülhamid II, in reimbursement of part of the debts of the Ottoman Empire. This farm, however private, is managed as a state farm, in development since 1880, and more or less corresponds to a strip leaving for ports of Yumurtalık and Karataş and going as far as in the vicinity of Kozan and İmamoğlu.
The French army has advanced in the region, under the Sykes-Picot agreements, after the armistice of Moudros of October 30, 1918. These agreements provide that, in addition to Syria, the French will have the stranglehold on the Anatolia of South, where the fertile plain of Cilicia, the ports of Mersin and İskenderun (Alexandrette) and the copper mines of Ergani to the north of Mesopotamia, constitute strategic points. On the other hand, the oil fields of the Mosul Vilayet Ottoman are an absolute priority for the British. According to the agreement, they keep the cities of Antep, Maraş and Urfa until the arrival of the French who must settle in the southern Anatolia regions which are allocated to them in the agreement.
The Franco-Armenian agreement concerning the support of the Armenian nationalists of the Armenian National Movement, on the side of the Allies during the First World War, is signed the . Foreign Minister Aristide Briand uses this opportunity to provide troops for French commitments. The Armenian Legion must have as commander of General Edmund Allenby. The Armenians fight in Palestine and Syria, as well as in Cilicia after the Moudros armistice. The primary goal by constituting the Legion is to allow an Armenian contribution to the dismantling of the Southern Anatolia region, outside the Ottoman Empire.
Landing on the Black Sea [ modifier | Modifier and code ]
After the Moudros armistice, the French army maneuver to control the Ottoman coal mines, strategically important, in which France has substantial shares. On the one hand, the goal is to take control of an important source of energy, but also to cover French military needs. This also makes it possible to control the distribution of coal in Anatolia, which could be used to support an insurrection.
The , two French gunboats disembark their respective troops in two ports on the Black Sea, Zonguldak and Ereğli, to order the Ottoman mining region. Faced with local resistance, France begins to withdraw its troops from Ereğli the .
Operations in Thrace and Constantinople [ modifier | Modifier and code ]
The main operations in this region aim to support the strategic operations of the Allies. A French brigade enters Constantinople the . At the beginning of 1919, under military cooperation, Franco-Greek troops crossed the Maritsa river to occupy the city of Uzunköprü in Thrace, as well as the railway lines to Hadımköy station near that in the vicinity of Istanbul. THE , General Franchet d’Évéey, commander -in -chief of the Allied Occupation Forces in the Ottoman Empire, arrives in Constantinople. He coordinates the activities of the Ottoman government under the Allied Occupation.
The city of Bursa, ancient Ottoman capital and an important urban center of Anatolia in North West, is also occupied by French forces for a short period, before the Greeks took possession of it during their great offensive in the summer of 1920.
In September 1922, at the end of the Greco-Turkish war (1919-1922), during the retreat of the Greeks before the advance of the Turkish nationalists, the British were ready to maintain their positions on the side of the Dardanelles. The British government sends a request for military support to the French. The answer is negative and the Greek and French troops withdraw west of the Maritsa river.
Cilicia campaign [ modifier | Modifier and code ]
The first landing takes place on In Mersin with a force of around 15,000 men, mainly volunteers from the Armenian Legion, accompanied by 150 French officers. The first objectives of this contingent are to occupy the ports and dismantle the Ottoman administration. On November 19, Tarsus was busy to secure the surroundings and prepare for a headquarters in Adana.
After the occupation of Cilicia itself, at the end of 1918, French troops occupied the Ottoman provinces of Antep, Maraş and Urfa in South Anatolia in late 1919, ceded by British troops as agreed. In the extreme east of the occupation area in the south, the city of Mardin is also occupied for one day, the .
The governors of Cilicia appointed by France in the French occupation zone in the south are, from At , Édouard Brémond, and September 1920 at , Julien Dufieux. In the occupied regions, the French face the resistance of the Turkish majority from the first hour, mainly because they are associated with Armenian objectives.
The Taurus mountains are important for Mustafa Kemal. In addition, French soldiers are foreign to the region and they use an Armenian militia to obtain their information; The Turks have previously cooperated with the Arab tribes in the region. Regarding France, Mustafa Kemal expressed the idea that if the Greek threat can be dispersed, the French will accept a withdrawal.
The resistance of the national forces is a surprise for France. The fault is rejected on the British forces which have not controlled the power of resistance of the premises. The strategic option to open a front in the south by opposing the Armenians to the Turkish forces failed after the defeat of the Greek and British forces to the west.
Marash affair (January-February 11, 1920) [ modifier | Modifier and code ]
The , two days after taking Maraş by the French, the incident of Sütçü ̇mam (in) ,, named according to the defender of three Turkish women harassed and attacked in the street by auxiliaries of the Armenian Legion, is the trigger for tensions in the city. Sütçü İmam shoots one of the attackers, then is forced to hide. The incident triggers a series of events that leads the Turkish majority of Maraş to stand up against the occupation forces, and the culmination of which results in large -scale urban guerrilla warfare two months after the initial incident. At the end of twenty-two days of urban fighting, French occupation troops, mainly units of the 412 It is infantry regiment ( 412 It is Ri) a you 18 It is Algerian tirailleurs regiment ( 18 It is RTA), are forced to evacuate, the , Maraş, followed by the City’s Armenian community, under the repeated assaults of Turkish nationalists. The rebels of Maraş continue the war effort by taking part in the reconquest of other points in the region, forcing the French forces to gradually withdraw, city by city.
URFA affair (February-April 11, 1920) [ modifier | Modifier and code ]
Faced with her refusal to leave Urfa (Édesse), the French garrison made up of a company of 412 It is RI, of two companies from 18 It is RTA, from a section of 17 It is Senegalese skirmisher regiment ( 17 It is Rts) and a spahis peloton (a total of 473 men), under the orders of the Hauger battalion chief, was besieged on February 9, 1920. On April 6, almost to the end of food and ammunition, Commander Hauger negotiates with Captain Ali Bey Saip a safe conduct for his troops and the lack of reprisals against the Christian population in exchange for the evacuation of the city. On April 11, 1920, the 300 survivors, mainly soldiers of 412 It is Ride a you 18 It is RTA, fall into an ambush (in) at the Col de şebeke on the way to Syria. They are almost all killed or taken prisoner. The same evening, the head of Commander Hauger, killed during the fight, and that of several other officers or troops are walked in the streets of the city, at the end of spikes.
Bozanti affair (April-May 28, 1920) [ modifier | Modifier and code ]
Since , the garrison of Bozanti made up of a reduced battalion of the 412 It is RI, from a company of 18 It is RTA, an artillery section and a genius section, under the orders of Commander Mesnil, undergoes several Turkish attacks and on April 9 the city is surrounded. An attempted clearance of Tartous on May 17 fails. The evacuation of the city was then decided on May 27. On May 28, while the column was engaged in a narrow and conceded valley, it was attacked by the Turks. After a desperate fight of more than four hours which continues only by the complete exhaustion of the ammunition, more than 200 soldiers of the 412 It is RI are killed and many taken prisoner [ 5 ] .
Headquarters of Aïntab and Turkish surrender on February 8, 1921 [ modifier | Modifier and code ]
The major fact of the conflict is the seat of the city of Aïntab (Gaziantep), 120 km north [ 6 ] . The Algerian skirmishers commanded by Colonel Édouard Andréa investigated the city from October 1920 to February 1921. After a siege of more than six months, including two and a half months of blockade, the 2,500 Turkish interior defenders and the five divisions from the outside renounces defeating French obstinacy and surrendering on February 8, 1921. Turkish capitulation put an end to active operations [ 6 ] , [ 7 ] , [ 8 ] .
Lieutenant-Colonel Abadie, commanding the area and the garrison of Aïntab, distinguishes the following phases [ 7 ] :
- April 1 – 16, 1920: First Turkish headquarters
- April 30 – May 23: second Turkish headquarters
- May 30 – June 18: 18 -day armistice
- July 29 – August 10: Third Turkish headquarters
- August 11: Beginning of the seat of French troops
- November 21 – December 18: the Goubeau column, general commanding the 4 It is Levant division, strengthens the blockade
- February 7, 1921: Last exit attempt
- February 8: Request to stop the Turkish fire
- February 9: capitulation
Cilicia peace treaty, Ankara treaty and end of hostilities [ modifier | Modifier and code ]
The Cilicia Peace Treaty of is signed between France and the Turkish national movement to put an end to the Cilicia campaign. The treaty does not have the expected effect and is replaced by the Ankara Treaty, signed on October 20, 1921 [ 9 ] Between representatives of the French government and the great National Assembly of Turkey the . France restores Cilicia to Turkey. The treaty is finalized by the Mudanya armistice.
These agreements raise criticisms: “Territories dearly acquired by the French army of the Levant are thus abandoned, and Christian populations who had fought the Turks alongside the French will soon be massacred. Paris is ready to sacrifice Cilicia in order to consolidate its presence in Syria and Lebanon ” [ ten ] .
The French forces withdrew from the occupation area at the very beginning of 1922, about 10 months before the Mudanya armistice. From January 3, French troops evacuated Mersin and Dörtyol; On January 5, Adana, Ceyhan and Tarsus. The evacuation was completed on January 7, the last troops leaving Osmaniye.
The Ankara Treaty (also called “Franklin-Bouillon Agreement”) could not solve all Franco-Turkish problems, especially in relation to the Alexandrette sandjak. However, positive relationships are maintained. During the 1922/1923 Lausanne conference, tensions reappear on the Sandjak of Alexandrette, which according to the Misak-ı bill (in) should have been included within Turkish national borders, which remained under French control until 1938.
As for the French financial interest, namely the Ottoman debts, it is settled by the young Republic of Turkey, in accordance with the Lausanne Treaty of 1923.
Military quotes [ modifier | Modifier and code ]
Military quotes payable by the army of some units that participated in the campaign
- 19 It is Algerian tirailleurs regiment (19th RTA)
“Superb and tireless regiment, which immediately classified the equal of the most valiant among the old regiments of Algerian skirmishers. Under the orders of a magnificent soldier, Lieutenant-Colonel Andréa, has, since November 6, 1919, victoriously walked his pennants, from Palestine to Taurus, from the Mediterranean to the Djézireh. Approached and defeated the enemy in more than 30 fights, in particular in 1920 and 1921 in Biredjick, Sadjour, Sinab Sou, El Mali, Sis, Bos Tépé, Arab-Pounar, Ulu Mezré, Kul Tépé, In Idlib, Feltina, Djirs-el-Chogor, Djenkeine. Was covered with glory at the headquarters of Aida from August 1920 to February 1921, not being stopped by the hot summer sun or the snow of winter, only by the fire of the enemy; Removing a HQ of Turkish army corps and taking a cannon in Sankeui (21/8/1920) supporting Idiz-Kouyou (18/1/1921) with one of its battalions and a battery of 65 an epic fight against 5,000 Turkish regular supported by 18 guns, beating them and forcing the passage. Under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Fouin, then Colonel Pichot-Duclos, continued to write his glorious history, conquering in high struggle in March 1921 in the Djebel Zaouié the heights of Eriha and the rocks of Seredje. On the Euphrates, in October 1921 taking off in a magnificent momentum, at the run, the harsh trenches defended from Acham, the village and the Citadel of Bessiré, occupying Rakka; Finally, supporting, during the summer and fall of 1922, the fight against bands west of Aleppo and pacifying during the same period the region west of the Euphrates. Covered more than 15,000 km losing by the fire of the enemy 13 officers, 29 non-commissioned officers, 329 skirmishers. »»
– Quote to the order of the army attributed to 19 It is RTA after the fighting in Cilicia then in Syria, general order n ° 163 of December 11, 1922 of the Levant army
- 21 It is Algerian riflemen regiment (21st RTA)
“Combat unit perfectly trained and educated by its leader, Lieutenant-Colonel Clément-Grandcourt, who, maintaining the vigor and morale of his troops, knew how to give his officers and to
His men an offensive spirit, which no difficulty put off. After fighting for five months
Continuously, from Aida to Kosseir, on the Kurd-Dagh and the Djebel Zaviyé, took part, from May to July 1921,
to operations among the Alawites leading to the high mountains a series of fights, in particular the
May 24, June 12 and 18, always surprising the enemy by the speed of his attacks and his maneuver,
the pursuer without giving him any respite despite the extreme difficulty of the field and the fatigue which
resulted, thus used as an example to young units fighting with him and giving them confidence
in themselves by showing them not to fear the difficulty and to defeat it. »»
– Quote to the order of the army attributed to 21 It is RTA after Cilicia fights, General Order No. 80 of August 22, 1921 of the Levant army
- 2nd battalion of 412 It is infantry regiment regiment (412nd RI)
“Superb battalion, which has always shown the most beautiful qualities of ardor in combat, discipline and
endurance. Under the skillful and energetic command of Battalion Chief Mesnil, organized and held, from January to
May 1920, in particularly difficult circumstances, the Bozanti sector. During the hard battles fought by a higher enemy in number and provided with artillery, showed admirable tenacity and offensive spirit. Pushing all the attacks, victoriously counterattacing, inflicted heavy losses to him, and forced him to keep a defensive attitude. »»
– Quote to the order of the army attributed to the 2nd battalion of the 412nd RI after the Buzanti fight in May 1920, General Order No. 51 of January 16, 1921 of the Levant army
- The first bullet and Dörtyol’s liberation from enemy occupation in the National Struggle
- Western Society for French History. Meeting: Proceedings of the … Annual Meeting of the Western Society for French History, New Mexico State University Press, 1996, page 206
- Ahmet Hulki Saral, Turkish Independence War Southern Front IV, Ankara, 1996, PG 47
- Military Training Publishing Corporation, 1921, National service (Volumes 9–10), page 287
- General Hays, The French armies at the Levant: Le Temps des Combat, 1920-1921 , SHAT, 1979, p. 251-254
- “The conflict is reborn in Cilicia. The major fact is the headquarters of Ain-Tab (Gaziantep), 120 km north of Aleppo, undoubtedly cited Turkish. Algerian skirmishers took over the city from October 1920 to February 1921. The Turkish surrender, on February 8, put an end to active operations. Finally, the Ankara Treaty in October 1921 will restore Cilicia to Turkey. »» , Pierre Montagnon, The African army. From 1830 to the independence of Algeria , Pygmalion, p. 179
- Maurice Abadie, Operations in the Levant – The four seats of Aida (1920-1921) , Charles-Lavauzelle and Cie, 1922 on line
- “The capitulation of Aïn-Tab marked the end of important operations on the northern front. »» , Charles de Gaulle, “History of the troops of the Levant (1931)” in France and its army Time Perrin, 2016 p. 343
- (fr) The Ankara Treaty
- Aurore Bruna (presentation of the book by Tigrane Yegayan in the diplomatic world of May 2019 p. 26), The Angora Agreement of 1921. Théâtre des Relations Franco-Kémalistes et du destin de la Cilicie , Paris, editions of the deer, , 360 p.
Bibliography and sources [ modifier | Modifier and code ]
- Charles du Haÿs, The French armies at the Levant: Le Temps des Combat, 1920-1921 , Historical Army Service, 1979
- Maurice Abadie, Levant operations – The 4 Aida seats (1920-1921) , Charles-Lavauzelle and Cie, 1922 (on line)
- Édouard Andréa, Military life in the Levant. In column for a year in northern Syrian and Mesopotamia. March 1920-March 1921. Headquarters of Ain-Tab , 1923 (on line)
- Charles de Gaulle, “History of the Levant troops (1931)” in France and its army Time Perrin, 2016 p. 299-381
- Guévork Gothician, « The East Legion and the French mandate in Cilicia (1916-1921) », Contemporary Armenian History Review , vol. III: La Cilicia (1909-1921), (ISSN 1259-4873 , read online )
- Cosima Flateau « The exit from the War of the Ottoman Empire », SIRCE NOTEBOODS , n O 17, , p. 29–45 (ISSN 1967-2713 , read online , consulted the )
- Robert Normand « Cilicia », Geography annals , vol. 29, n O 162, , p. 426–451 (DOI 10.3406/geo.1920.9059 , read online , consulted the )
- Julien Zarifian, ” The rise of Kemalism in Cilicia. 1919-1920: The French Administration of Sandjak of Kozan in the face of Turkish nationalism », CEMOTI, Cahiers d’études on the eastern Mediterranean and the Turkish-Iranian world , vol. 38, n O 38, , p. 235-260 ( read online , consulted the )
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