Azerbaijani Special Corps

Azerbaijani Special Corps (ASC; Azerbaijani: Əlahiddə Azərbaycan korpusu), was a military unit of the Azerbaijani Democratic Republic (ADR), formed from the basis of Caucasian Native Cavalry Division, or so-called "Savage Division". It was the first military unit of ADR's National Army, consisting of 5,000 men who served in the Russian Imperial Army.

Azerbaijani Special Corps
Azerbaijani: Əlahiddə Azərbaycan korpusu
Coat of arms of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.
Active26 June, 1918–January 2, 1919
CountryAzerbaijan Democratic Republic
BranchNational Army of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
TypeSpecial operations forces
Size5,000 men
HeadquartersBaku
EngagementsArmenian–Azerbaijani War
Battle of Goychay (disputed)
Battle of Baku
Commanders
CommanderAli-Agha Shikhlinsky
Chief of StaffHabib Bey Salimov

History

Caucasian Native Cavalry Division, formed in 1917 was the military force of the Transcaucasian Commissariat. On 26 June, 1918 government of the Azerbaijani Democratic Republic (ADR) established the Azerbaijani Special Corps, or ASC. This military unit consisted of 5,000 men who served in the Savage Division.

Coat of arms of the ASC was a silver-colored, eight-pointed star and a crescent.

Reconstruction the corps soon followed. The documents indicate that the commander-ship of the ASC was abolished. Under the order of the Islamic Army of the Caucasus, signed on 13 August, ASC must have no commander in charge, and its divisions must be subordinated to the Islamic Army of the Caucasus. With the abolition of the commander-ship, high ranking officers of ASC were also dismissed.

On September 2, 1918, the ASC was reestablished and lieutenant Ali-Agha Shikhlinsky became the commander of the corps, while colonel Habib Bey Salimov became the chief of staff. Initially, there were two infantry divisions within the ASC. The commander of the 1st Infantry Division was Colonel Cemil Cahit Bey, while the commander of the 2nd Infantry Division was Nazım Bey, both Ottoman officers. Each division consisted of three infantry regiments. In October 1918, the division consisted of three cavalry, one border, and one infantry regiment.

The existence of the ASC was formalized after the restoration of the Ministry of War. The commander-ship of ASC and its activities were concentrated in the hands of the Ministry of War. On November 15, 1918, ASC's Chief of General Staff Habib Bey Salimov was appointed chief of staff of ADR's National Army. on December 29, 1918, Ali-Agha Shikhlinsky was appointed deputy minister of the Ministry of War. Many of the high-ranking officers of ASC were assigned to new posts. Azerbaijani Corps was abolished on January 2, 1919, with the decision of the Parliament of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.

References

    Further reading
    • Süleymanov, Mehman (1998). zərbaycan ordusu (1918-1920). Baku: Hərbi nəşriyyat.
    • Steklov, A. (1928). Армия Мусаватского Азербайджана,. Baku.

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