Teşkîlât-ı Mahsûsa
Encyclopedia
The Special Organization was an Ottoman imperial government
special forces
unit under the War Department allegedly progenitor of the National Security Service , which was used to suppress Arab separatism and Western imperialism under Ottoman Empire. The main aim of the Special Organization was to re-open the Ottoman Parliament. The members of the organization also participated in the resistance against Italians in Libya.
.
Enver Pasha assumed the primary role in the direction of the Special Organization and its center of administration moved to Erzurum
shortly before massacres
. Many member of this organization who participated in the Turkish national movement
, had played particular roles in the Armenian Genocide
The Special Organization assisted by govenment and army officials, deported all Greek men of military age to labor brigades beginning in summer 1914 and lasting through 1916.
The first leader was Süleyman Askeri Bey
. After his death, he was replaced by Ali Bey Başhampa on 14 April 1915, who held the post until the Armistice of Mudros
. During World War I
Eşref Sencer Kuşçubası was allegedly the director of operations in Arabia, the Sinai, and North Africa. He was captured at Yemen in early 1917 by the British military and was a POW in Malta until 1920 (cf. Malta tribunals
. Ahmet Efe says military archives have detailed information about the organization's personnel. He says Kuşçubası is not mentioned.
The last director, Hüsamettin Ertürk, later worked as an agent in Istanbul of the Ankara government following the Armistice. He also wrote a memoir called İki Devrin Perde Arkası (Behind the Scenes of Two Eras).
List of members of the Teşkilât-ı Mahsûsa includes allegedly notable members, according to an interview with its purported former leader Eşref Kuşçubaşı by U.S. INR
officer Philip H. Stoddard: Although the bulk of its thirty thousand members were drawn from trained specialists such as doctors, engineers, and journalists, the organization also employed criminals denoted başıbozuk, who had been released from prison in 1913 by amnesty.
. This organization held its first meeting in Berlin. However, it was forced underground by the British, who refused to let these German allies operate.
In 1921, Atatürk founded another secret organization called the National Defense Society , headed by the former chief of the Special Organization, Hüsamettin Ertürk.
, and Harbiye
. The former claim is not established, and the latter is refuted, therefore Kuşçubaşı is not a soldier of any rank. The archives of the Ministry of Defense and the Army Command have no record of Kuşçubaşı.
Efe says that Chief of Staff intelligence reports write that Kuşçubaşı was a mole for the Greeks and the British. He was the 60th person among the 150 personae non gratae of Turkey
. Kuşçubaşı is instead said to be the leader of the Anatolia Ottoman Revolution Committee which, with the help of British and Greek intelligence, repeatedly attempted to assassinate Atatürk. Kuşçubaşı's brother, Hacı Sami, also took part in a 1927 attempt.
Imperial Government of the Ottoman Empire
The Imperial Government of the Ottoman Empire was the government structure added to the Ottoman governing structure during the Second Constitutional Era. The Committee of Union and Progress was in power between 1908 and 1918...
special forces
Special forces
Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
unit under the War Department allegedly progenitor of the National Security Service , which was used to suppress Arab separatism and Western imperialism under Ottoman Empire. The main aim of the Special Organization was to re-open the Ottoman Parliament. The members of the organization also participated in the resistance against Italians in Libya.
Activities (1913-1918)
The exact date of establishment is unclear or disputed. According to some researchers, the organization might be established by Enver Pasha, who placed Süleyman Askeri in charge of the organization on 17 November 1913. It was founded on the recommendation of the English ambassador Startfort Canning and the first head of the organization was a foreigner, Civinis Efendi, who had been in the service of Catherine II of RussiaCatherine II of Russia
Catherine II, also known as Catherine the Great , Empress of Russia, was born in Stettin, Pomerania, Prussia on as Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg...
.
Enver Pasha assumed the primary role in the direction of the Special Organization and its center of administration moved to Erzurum
Erzurum
Erzurum is a city in Turkey. It is the largest city, the capital of Erzurum Province. The city is situated 1757 meters above sea level. Erzurum had a population of 361,235 in the 2000 census. .Erzurum, known as "The Rock" in NATO code, served as NATO's southeastern-most air force post during the...
shortly before massacres
Armenian Genocide
The Armenian Genocide—also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, by Armenians, as the Great Crime—refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I...
. Many member of this organization who participated in the Turkish national movement
Turkish National Movement
The Turkish National Movement encompasses the political and military activities of the Turkish revolutionaries which resulted in the creation and shaping of the Republic of Turkey, as a consequence of the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in World War I....
, had played particular roles in the Armenian Genocide
Armenian Genocide
The Armenian Genocide—also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, by Armenians, as the Great Crime—refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I...
The Special Organization assisted by govenment and army officials, deported all Greek men of military age to labor brigades beginning in summer 1914 and lasting through 1916.
The first leader was Süleyman Askeri Bey
Süleyman Askerî Bey
Süleyman Askerî Bey, also known as Suleyman Askeri, Sulayman Askari, Sulaiman al-Askari and unofficially known as Suleyman Askeri Pasha was a military officer who served for the Ottoman Army.Süleyman Askerî was born to General Vehbi Pasha, who served as military staff at Edirne...
. After his death, he was replaced by Ali Bey Başhampa on 14 April 1915, who held the post until the Armistice of Mudros
Armistice of Mudros
The Armistice of Moudros , concluded on 30 October 1918, ended the hostilities in the Middle Eastern theatre between the Ottoman Empire and the Allies of World War I...
. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
Eşref Sencer Kuşçubası was allegedly the director of operations in Arabia, the Sinai, and North Africa. He was captured at Yemen in early 1917 by the British military and was a POW in Malta until 1920 (cf. Malta tribunals
Inter-allied tribunal attempt
Reference to the need for and establishment of an Inter-allied or International Tribunal, also known as the Malta Tribunals, to launch prosecution for, among other things, a Turkish genocide of Armenians within the Ottoman Empire during World War I was made in the proceedings of the Paris Peace...
. Ahmet Efe says military archives have detailed information about the organization's personnel. He says Kuşçubası is not mentioned.
The last director, Hüsamettin Ertürk, later worked as an agent in Istanbul of the Ankara government following the Armistice. He also wrote a memoir called İki Devrin Perde Arkası (Behind the Scenes of Two Eras).
List of members of the Teşkilât-ı Mahsûsa includes allegedly notable members, according to an interview with its purported former leader Eşref Kuşçubaşı by U.S. INR
Bureau of Intelligence and Research
The Bureau of Intelligence and Research is an intelligence bureau in the U.S. State Department tasked with analyzing information. Originally founded as the Research and Analysis Branch of the Office of Strategic Services , it was transferred to the State Department at the end of World War II...
officer Philip H. Stoddard: Although the bulk of its thirty thousand members were drawn from trained specialists such as doctors, engineers, and journalists, the organization also employed criminals denoted başıbozuk, who had been released from prison in 1913 by amnesty.
Dismemberment
The organization was dismantled following a parliamentary debate and replaced by the Worldwide Islamic Revolt after World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. This organization held its first meeting in Berlin. However, it was forced underground by the British, who refused to let these German allies operate.
In 1921, Atatürk founded another secret organization called the National Defense Society , headed by the former chief of the Special Organization, Hüsamettin Ertürk.
Kuşçubaşı controversy
Stoddard's book has been criticized by historian Ahmet Efe. He has recently released a book of his own, based on archival research. Efe says that, for example, Kuşçubaşı's own history is inaccurate; he is said to be a graduate of Kuleli Military High SchoolKuleli Military High School
Kuleli Military High School is the first military high school in Turkey, located in Çengelköy, Istanbul. It was founded on September 21, 1845 by Ottoman Sultan Abdülmecid I.-History:...
, and Harbiye
Kara Harp Okulu
The Turkish Military Academy, , is a four year co-educational military academy located in the center of Ankara. Its mission is to develop cadets mentally and physically for service as commissioned officers in the Turkish Army...
. The former claim is not established, and the latter is refuted, therefore Kuşçubaşı is not a soldier of any rank. The archives of the Ministry of Defense and the Army Command have no record of Kuşçubaşı.
Efe says that Chief of Staff intelligence reports write that Kuşçubaşı was a mole for the Greeks and the British. He was the 60th person among the 150 personae non gratae of Turkey
150 personae non gratae of Turkey
After the Turkish War of Independence , the newly established Republic of Turkey presented a list of 600 names to the Conference of Lausanne, which were to be declared personae non gratae. Later, a list comprising only 150 of these, put into effect by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on April...
. Kuşçubaşı is instead said to be the leader of the Anatolia Ottoman Revolution Committee which, with the help of British and Greek intelligence, repeatedly attempted to assassinate Atatürk. Kuşçubaşı's brother, Hacı Sami, also took part in a 1927 attempt.