One Attack, Three Retreat: Turkish Defeat on Sinai-Palestinian Frontline and Mustafa Kemal Pascha

Abstract

The First World War between 1914-1918 has an important place in the history of the Middle East as well as for Turkish History. In this war, the Ottoman Empire fought in many different places such as the Caucasus, Iraq, Sinai-Palestine, Hejaz-Yemen, Dardanelles, Iran, Galicia, the Balkans, although it was defeated and withdrawn in some, the result of no defeat was not as devastating as the Sinai-Palestinian Front. This defeat was one of the main reasons leading the Ottoman State to sign the Armistice of Mudros. Although the Ottoman Armies in the Sinai-Palestinian Front had a general tendency to withdraw from the beginning of the war, this withdrawal never reached the level of defeat as it was after the war in September 1918. In September 1918, a new organization was made on the Sinai-Palestine Front and IV. VII. and VIII. Armies came under the command of Otto Liman von Sanders under the name of Yıldırım Armies Group. On the right side of the defense line was the VIIIth Army and on the left was the IVth Army center and the VIIth Army. IV. Army Commander Cemal Pasha, VII. Army Commander Mustafa Kemal Pasha, VIII. Army Commander Cevat Pasha withdrew against the British offensive. The 8th Army was completely dispersed and the 7th Army was forced to retreat to the East of the Jordan River. During the withdrawal, the 4th Army broke up and eventually the VII Army, but managed to stop the British in the north of Aleppo.