Today in History – 8 October

Balkan Wars begin

Transpiring between the Ottoman State and four Balkan countries (Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, and Montenegro) in 1912-13 and leading to a loss of territory for the Ottoman State in Eastern Thrace, the Balkan Wars broke out on October 8, 1912.

When the Balkan states declared war, the Turkish army was already engaged in the Battle of Tripoli. Since the Ottoman State no imminent thread in Roumelia, a portion of the soldiers there had been demobilized and the forces were divided into two groups as East and West Armies. In addition to the weakness this reorganization created, the political polarization within the army caused the Ottoman forces to suffer significant losses against the Bulgarian, Greek, and Serbian attacks.

When the Balkan Wars broke out, Major İsmet was positioned in Yemen. After his commander İzzet Pasha was appointed to the Balkans, he remained in Yemen to finish his commander’s affairs. He was recalled to İstanbul in March of 1913 and was assigned to the General Headquarters Unit in Hadimköy.

He was part of the right wing group during the Edirne Maneuvers of June 1913. Next, he was appointed to the First Unit of the Supreme Headquarters of the Ministry of War. He provided military advice during the drafting of the Treaty of İstanbul in September 1913. In November, he conducted the investigation of some of the generals and officers in charge of the East and West armies of the Balkan Wars.