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Battle of Gediz
Part of Greco-Turkish War
Date24 October - 12 November 1920
LocationGediz River, Gediz
Result Tactically Inconclusive[1]
Later Greek forces evacuate Gediz and retreat to their winter bases[2]
Turkish forces enter Gediz[2]
Belligerents
Kingdom of Greece Greece Ottoman flag alternative 2 Kuva-yi Milliye
Commanders and leaders
Kingdom of Greece Leonidas Paraskevopoulos Ottoman flag alternative 2 Ali Fuat Cebesoy
Ottoman flag alternative 2 Çerkes Ethem
Units involved
13th Division[2] 61st Division
11th Division
Kuva-yi Seyyare[2]
Strength
Initially 1 Division[3] (12,000-15,000 men) 8,000 men
Casualties and losses
42 killed
123 wounded
181 killed
135 wounded[4]


The Battle of the Gediz was fought between pro-Turkish Kuva-yi Milliye forces and the Greek forces near the Gediz River in the city of Gediz. The Turkish forces attacked Gediz in order to find out if a force composed mainly of irregular forces could compete with the Greek army in a larger battle. Although the battle temporarily stopped the Greek advance towards Ankara, it also showed that the irregular forces lacked discipline and experience; they had no chance in open field battles against the Greeks. The experiences gained in this battle, lead the GNA to the conclusion that it would be necessary from now on to establish and fight with a regular army against the Greek army instead of irregular forces.

References[]

  1. Talat Yalazan: Türkiye'de vahşet ve soy kırımı girişimi: (15 Mayıs 1919 - 9 Eylül 1922). 15 Mayıs 1919 - 13 Eylül 1921, Gnkur. Askeri Tarih ve Stratejik Etüt Başkanlığı yayınları, Genelkurmay Basımevi, 1994, page 139. (Turkish)
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Ayfer Özçelik :Gediz Taarruzu, Atatürk Araştırma Merkezi Dergisi (Number 21, Volume: VII, July 1991) (Turkish)
  3. Uluğ İğdemir: Atatürk, Turkish National Commission for Unesco, 1963, page 79.
  4. Sabahattin Selek: Anadolu ihtilâli (Volume 1), Kastaş 1912-1922 Türk savaşları belgeseli , Kastaş A.Ş. Yayınları, 1987, page 114. (Turkish)
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