Most of us have heard or read about the first black pilot in World War One, the African-American pilot Eugene Bullard. But little do we know about the black Ottoman pilot serving in the Ottoman Air Force. His name was Ahmed Ali Efendi, also known as Arab ...
The Battle of Jebel Hamrin, March 25, 1917, WW1
On this day, 25 March 1917 CE, the Sixth Ottoman army under the command of Ali İhsan Bey defeated the British forces in the Battle of Jebel Hamrin. Led by General Keary, the British Indian force of 8,000 men was concerned to prevent Ali İhsan Bey's force ...
Ottomans crush Allied fleet, Dardanelles Campaign, World War I
HMS Irresistible abandoned 18 March 1915 | Wikimedia On this day, 18 March 1915 CE, the Ottomans pushed back a naval attack launched by the Allies on the Dardanelles Straits and secured a massive victory in World War I. With three battleships sunk and ...
Russians capture Erzurum, Caucasus Campaign, WW1
On this day, 16 February 1916, the Ottoman city of Erzurum fell to the Russians after Mahmut Kamil was forced to order the 3rd Army to retreat from the city. However, Erzurum reverted to Ottoman control after the signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in ...
The Battle of Sarikamish, 1914-15
On the 17th of January, 1915 CE, the Battle or Operation of Sarikamish ended with a disastrous Ottoman defeat in World War I. The hostilities were opened by the Russians, therefore, on December 21, 1914, Enver Pasha personally led the Third Army in a cou ...
The Last Ottoman Parliament meet
On this day, 12th of January, 1920 CE, the last Ottoman Parliament met in Istanbul. This parliament issued the National Pact or Misak-ı Milli expressing the will of the Turkish people to regain the full national integrity and independence. But the occupa ...
WW1, the Ottoman Empire declares war, 1914 CE
Photo: Sheikh ul Islam declaring the war in Istanbul. | Photo: Wikimedia Today on the 14th of November in 1914 CE, the Ottoman religious leader or Sheikh-ul-Islam declared an Islamic holy war on behalf of the Ottoman government, urging the Muslims to ...
WW1, Allied Troops occupy Istanbul
The allied forces continued to occupy the Ottoman territories until the Treaty of Lausanne was signed on July 24, 1923. The Treaty of Lausanne led to the end of the occupation of Istanbul. The last troops of the Allies left Istanbul on October 04, 19 ...