VI Corps (Ottoman Empire)
The VI Corps of the Ottoman Empire (Turkish: 6 ncı Kolordu or Altıncı Kolordu) was one of the corps of the Ottoman Army. It was formed in the early 20th century during Ottoman military reforms. It is most notable for its participation in the offensive phase of the 1916 Romanian Campaign of World War I, where it was involved in heavy action all throughout the five months, inflicting heavy casualties on the Russo-Romanians and breaking through the Allied lines in several key areas.[1] Additionally the VI Corps took 8,512 prisoners in Romania, including 6,512 Russians and 2,000 Romanians.[2]
| VI Corps Altıncı Kolordu | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1911– |
| Country | Ottoman Empire |
| Type | Corps |
| Garrison/HQ | Monastır, Aleppo |
| Patron | Sultans of the Ottoman Empire |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Mustafa Hilmi Pasha |
Formation
Order of Battle, 1911
With further reorganizations of the Ottoman Army, to include the creation of corps level headquarters, by 1911 the VI Corps was headquartered in Salonika. The Corps before the First Balkan War in 1911 was structured as such:[3]
- VI Corps, Monastir
- 16th Infantry Division, İştip
- 17th Infantry Division, Monastir
- 49th Infantry Regiment, Monastir
- 50th Infantry Regiment, Monastir
- 51st Infantry Regiment, Monastir
- 17th Rifle Battalion, Resne
- 17th Field Artillery Regiment, Monastir
- 17th Division Band, Monastir
- 18th Infantry Division, Debre
- Units of VI Corps
- 6th Rifle Regiment, Monastir
- 7th Cavalry Brigade, Monastir
- 6th Cavalry Regiment, Monastir
- 16th Cavalry Regiment, İştip
- 13th Horse Artillery Regiment, Pirlepe
- 3rd Horse Artillery Battalion, Monastir
- 2nd Mountain Artillery Battalion, Monastir
- 8th Mountain Artillery Battalion, Monastir
- 9th Mountain Artillery Battalion, Elbasan
- 5th Field Howitzer Battalion, Monastir
- 6th Engineer Battalion, Köprülü
- 6th Telegraph Battalion, Monastir
- 6th Transport Battalion, Monastir
- Border companies x 2
Balkan Wars
Order of Battle, October 19, 1912
On October 19, 1912, the corps was structured as follows:[4]
- VI Corps (Serbian Front, under the command of the Vardar Army of the Western Army)
- 17th Division, 18th Division, 16th Division
- Manastir Redif Division, Drama Redif Division
Order of Battle, July 1913
- VI Corps (Anatolia)
World War I
Order of Battle, August 1914, November 1914
In August 1914, November 1914, the corps was structured as follows:[5]
- VI Corps (Thrace)
- 16th Division, 26th Division
Order of Battle, Late April 1915, Late Summer 1915, January 1916
In Late April 1915, Late Summer 1915, January 1916, the corps was structured as follows:[6]
- VI Corps (Thrace)
- 16th Division, 24th Division, 26th Division
Order of Battle, August 1916
In August 1916, the corps was structured as follows:[7]
- VI Corps (Romania)
- 15th Division, 25th Division
Order of Battle, December 1916, August 1917
In December 1916, August 1917, the corps was structured as follows:[8]
- VI Corps (Romania)
- 15th Division, 25th Division, 26th Division
Order of Battle, June 1918
- VI Corps (Caucasus)
- 3rd Division, 36th Infantry Division
Sources
- Erickson 2001, p. 140-145
- Arslan, Nebahat Oran: Birinci Dünya Savaşı’nda Türkiye’de Rus Savaş Esirleri [Russian Prisoners of War in Turkey During World War One], Istanbul 2008, pp. 112-113
- Edward J. Erickson, Defeat in Detail, The Ottoman Army in the Balkans, 1912–1913, Westport, Praeger, 2003, pp. 376-377.
- Edward J. Erickson, Defeat in Detail, The Ottoman Army in the Balkans, 1912–1913, Westport, Praeger, 2003, p. 170.
- Edward J. Erickson, Order to Die: A History of the Ottoman Army in the First World War, Greenwood Press, 2001, ISBN 0-313-31516-7, p. 38, 43.
- Edward J. Erickson, Order to Die: A History of the Ottoman Army in the First World War, Greenwood Press, 2001, ISBN 0-313-31516-7, p. 86, 109, 126.
- Edward J. Erickson, Order to Die: A History of the Ottoman Army in the First World War, Greenwood Press, 2001, ISBN 0-313-31516-7, p. 134.
- Edward J. Erickson, Order to Die: A History of the Ottoman Army in the First World War, Greenwood Press, 2001, ISBN 0-313-31516-7, p. 154, 170.