 Zeki Pasha, in January 1918. | |
| Nickname | Halepli Zeki (Zeki from Aleppo) |
| Born | 1862 |
| Died | 1943 (aged 80–81) |
| Allegiance |  Ottoman Empire |
| Branch | Ottoman Army |
| Service years | 1883–1923 |
| Rank | Field marshal |
| Commands | Vardar Army,2nd Army,4th Army |
| Conflicts | Greco-Turkish War (1897) Italo-Turkish War Balkan Wars World War I |
| Other work | Private representative of SultanMehmed V in Berlin |
Zeki Pasha[2] (Turkish:Zeki Paşa; 1862–1943),[3][2] known asMehmet Zeki Baraz Kolaç Kılıçoğlu after the 1934Surname Law,[1][3] was an OttomanBalkan Wars andWorld War Ifield marshal of theOttoman Army. He was ofCircassian descent.[4]
He graduated from theOttoman Military Academy in 1883 and the Staff College in 1887.[3] As his sister was one of the favourite wives of SultanAbdul Hamid II,[5] Zeki Pasha had a direct link with the Palace and was much trusted by the Sultan. As Commander of theIV Corps he was responsible for the tribalHamidiye cavalry. In 1894, he was decorated for his participation during theSassoun massacre.[6][7][8] During the massacres, he reportedly stated, "not finding any rebellion we cleared the country so none should occur in the future."[9]
In 1912–1913, he was commander of theVardar Army during theFirst Balkan War. Following the orders ofNazim Pasha, Chief of Staff of the Ottoman Army, Zeki Pasha initiated theBattle of Kumanovo againstSerbia.[10]
His failure to emplace key artillery hindered the forces under his command and led to their defeat at Kumanovo.[11] During the frantic Ottoman retreat from Kumanovo, a disgruntled Ottoman soldier attempted to assassinate him, contributing to the panic.[12] The Vardar Army; consisting of theVII Corps commanded byFethi Pasha, theVI Corps commanded by Djavid Pasha and theV Corps commanded by Kara Said Pasha, all under Zeki Pasha's command, retreated to Monastir (present day:Bitola) after the defeat atKumanovo.[13]
Zeki Pasha established a strong defensive position on the Oblakovo heights northwest of Monastir prior to the battle. However, during theBattle of Monastir, Serbian artillery and infantry managed to defeat the Ottomans. Fethi Pasha was among the casualties.[14]
On 21 November 1914, he was assigned the Ottoman liaison officer toKaiser Wilhelm II and was sent toGerman Empire. The German GeneralLudendorff described him as a “noble Ottoman and reliable friend of Germany, an amazingly discreet and good advocate of his army.”[15] He led the Ottoman delegation that signed thearmistice with Russia on 15 December 1917. After the armistice, he returned to Constantinople and served as the Ottoman Chief of General Staff between 23 October 1920 and 1 November 1922. He retired from the army in 1923 and settled inIstanbul.
Hamidiye Alayları Başkomutanı Zeki Paşa da Çerkes kökenliydi
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