Abdul Kerim Pasha | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nickname | Öpelimi |
| Born | 1872 (1872) |
| Died | 16 October 1923(1923-10-16) (aged 50–51) |
| Allegiance |  Ottoman Empire |
| Branch | Ottoman Army |
| Years of service | until 1922 |
| Rank | Lieutenant general |
| Commands | XI Corps, Right Wing of theThird Army, Third Army (deputy), General Rearguard,XX Corps, Third Army, delegate to Georgia (Tiflis), member of the First Board of the Military Appeal Court, member of the First Court-martial, president of the First Court-martial |
| Battles / wars | Italo-Turkish War Balkan Wars First World War Battle of Manzikert (1915) Battle of Erzurum (1918) Battle of Koprukoy Battle of Kara Killisse (1915) Erzurum offensive Turkish War of Independence |
Abdul Kerim Pasha (Turkish:Abdülkerim Paşa; born 1872 and died October 16, 1923(in Turkish)),[1] also known asAbdülkerim Öpelimi, was anOttoman commander on theCaucasus front ofWorld War I.
Abdul Kerim was born in the city ofSelanik.[1] He married Ismail Qemali’s daughter. He graduated from the Military Academy in 1895 and captain from the War Academy on 25 December 1898.[1]
Abdul Kerim Pasha's first battle was at theBattle of Manzikert on 25 December 1915 where he served as the Right Wing Group Commander againstRussian generalPyotr Oganovsky.[2] Abdul Kerim Pasha counterattacked against the Russians and defeated Oganovski during the battle, capturing the town of Manzikert.[3] HoweverNikolai Yudenich, replaced Oganovski, as Russian commander, and counterattacked, re-taking Manzikert.
Yudenich defeated Kerim at theBattle of Kara Killisse.[2] Pasha retreated back to Manzikert.
In February 1916, Kerim suffered a major defeat at theBattle of Erzurum. After the battle, Kerim was removed from his position as commander.
In December 1916, he was shortly reinstated as commander of theXX Corps, which was sent to support Bulgaria and Germany on theSalonika front, but already in May 1917, the force was dismantled and recalled to Mesopotamia, where the troops were urgently needed. Kerim died on October 16 1923 shortly after the liberation ofIstanbul by the Turkish forces ofMustafa Kemal Pasha.[1]
Abdul Kerim was married to Mevdet Vlora, the older daughter ofIsmail Qemal Bej Vlora.[4]