The History Of Turkish Land Forces Command

[oderman]

The History Of Turkish Land Forces Command

Turkish Land Forces was founded in BC.209 during the era of Empire of Hun by Mete Khan. Gaining the independence by defeating the people of Ghazna in Dandanakan Field Battle in 1040 and making Anatolia a new Turkish country by defeating Byzantiens in Malazgirt Field Battle in 1071, 26th August, Great Seljuks have established strong bases in organization and training of Land Forces. The effects of Seljuks and Mamelukes have been seen in the first years of Ottoman Empire that had been founded in 1299. The first appearance of organized Ottoman Army, has been in the era of Sultan I.Murat. While Ottoman army, the first including cavalry troops, had initially been consisting of Horseman Raiders, then it was transformed into a permanent structure known as the whole corps of Janizary forces by the participation of unmounted units. The whole corps of the Janizary forces played an important role in the rising period of the Ottoman Empire.

By the degression period of Ottoman Empire, following the put down of the Janizary rebellion which had started in 1826, 15th June, these forces had been terminated. A new army named “Asakir-i Mansure-i Muhammediye” was established. The battalions named “Kol” had been forming the bases of this force. Reserve force “Redif” has also started its duty in this period.

5 armies, consisting of personnel subjected to five years service, had been established by a new arrangement in 1843, and the number of armies had been increased to 6 by a change made in 1848. The Ottoman Army had reached to a force of approximately 300,000.

At the end of the victory that has been achieved in the National Independence War by the leading of Atatürk, Turkish Land Forces has organized in three army inspector departments consisting of 9 corps and 3 cavalry divisions with two divisions each in the beginning of Republic period. The first tank troops have been established in 1934. Then, commando and parachute troops have been established, production of weapons, equipment and every kind of materials have been initiated. Army Commands have been put under the Command of Land Forces that has been established in 1949. Turkish Land Forces had abolished cavalry troops so, motorized troops have gained importance in the modernization period.

In the present, Land Forces has been consisted of four army commands, 4.Corps Command, Cyprus Turkish Peace Force Command, Land Forces Training and Doctrine Command and Land Forces Logistic Command.

Changing international political and military environment along with developing technology have necessitated Land Forces to reorganize, The forces have been adapted to modern war environment in 1990’s. A new organization has been established depending on the bases of Corps, Brigade and Battalion in order to improve the capability of Land Forces with this new concept.

The training in Turkish Land Forces; is implemented in integrity from personal training that is applied as a mission oriented war environment to joint exercises and to train ready troops to the war.

Turkish Land Forces is trying to modernize combat weapons and vehicles with a plan, by using existing resources efficiently, along with the studies about new force structure. In order to organize 2000’s Land Forces, the followings are the important and prior modernization projects that are proceeding;

1. Attack/Tactical Reconnaissance Helicopters Project
2. Target Acquisition/Identification Project
3. Modern Infantry Rifle Project
4. Anti-tank Project
5. Artillery Automation Project
6. Self-propelled STINGER Project
7. NBC Projects
8. Artillery Acquisition Radar Project
9. Air Defence Early Warning System
10. Modern Tank Project
11. Mine Acquisition System Project
12. Antiaircraft Artillery Project
13. Cargo Helicopter Project
14. APC/ACV Project
15. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Project
16. Tactical Field Communications System Project
17. Integrated Intelligence System Project
18. Logistic İnformation System Project

Modernization studies are not limited with modernization of combat weapons and vehicles, they also contain the necessary training and education activities that will make the future officer candidates to have the required qualities of 2020’s in order to create the main executive staff of Turkish Land Forces.In this frame;

1. Implementation of System Engineering academy program has been initiated by the academic year 1991-1992 in Army War Academy. Army War Academy is aimed at graduating officers who have the bachelor of Science degree in System Engineering.
2. Training and education activities of Military High Schools and Noncommissioned Officer Preparation Schools forming the first steps of leader staff have been arranged according to the information age requirements and implementation of model aiming at development of the creativity and critical thinking that are identified as “learning the learning at school” has been started at all middle degree military schools by the training and education year of 1996-1997

By terminating the four terms training system by the academic year 1996-1997, two terms, each 6 month, training system has been started to be applied. Therefore, personnel and the troops have the opportunity of performing end-of-term exercises completely prepared and the efficiency of the training has been increased. Performing its task completely, being disciplined/trained/properly maintained, having sharp shooter in the superior combat power, adapting to the development of the age, always being ready to the mission, operating at every condition, having the guidance of the thought of Atatürk are taken as the primary goals for training the troops by Branch Schools/Branch Scool and Training Center Commands along with Enlisted Training Center Commands in the body of Turkish Land Forces.
By increasing the effectiveness of education with new and modern weapons, vehicles and materials that are in the inventory of our army, training of the enlisted with weapons, vehicles and materials that will be used in the troops have been provided.

Simulation and training of the simulator have been given importance in primarily Branch School/Branch School and Training Center Commands, and this has saved on labor, time, personnel and money.

Turkish Land Forces has been very successful in keeping the peace of the world and especially the region at every period of history of our Republic. Turkey has joined Korea War with a brigade and by fighting for the ideal of United Nations, Turkey has gained the appreciation of the world. Land Forces has showed that it has always been ready to do its mission given to it, as a result of Cyprus Peace Operation which occured in 1974. While Land Forces has played an effective role in Somalia in 1993-1994 in keeping the world peace, it has been maintaining the same mission succesfully in Bosnia-Herzegovina by 1994 and in Kosova by 1999. Besides, in the integration frame of partnership for peace (PfP) nations, the execution of NATO Partnership For Peace Exercise has been initiated by 1995.

Turkish Land Forces, with its existing structure, as the part of Armed Forces which is the steeled expression of Turkish union, Turkish strength and capability, Turkish patriotism, is always determined to serve our great people as they deserve and has the honor and pride of being under the order of its people.

for more about Turkish Land Forces visit: Turkish Land Forces Website

[oderman]

Turkey Historical Role of the Armed Forces

http://www.photius.com/countries/tur...of_t~2458.html
Sources: The Library of Congress Country Studies; CIA World Factbook


THE ARMED FORCES have figured prominently in Turkish national life for centuries. Under Ottoman rule, the government and the military establishment were virtually indistinguishable. After World War I, the army commander, Mustafa Kemal, later called Atatürk (meaning Father Turk), evicted the occupying forces of the victorious Allies from Anatolia and formulated the principles underlying the modern Turkish state. On three occasions since then, the military leadership has intervened to protect the nation's democratic framework. The third interlude of military rule, which lasted from 1980 to 1983, was welcomed by many Turkish citizens because it ended the terrorism of the 1970s. The military's actions, however, also limited the democratic process.

A member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) since 1952, Turkey long had the vital mission of anchoring the alliance's southern flank against the military power of the Warsaw Pact and the Soviet Union. Turkish armed forces defended the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits and Turkey's northeastern border with the Soviet Union in the Transcaucasus region. Vessels of the Soviet Union's Black Sea fleet had to transit the Turkish-controlled straits to enter the Mediterranean.

The disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991 fundamentally changed Turkey's security environment. Fear of Soviet aggression no longer looms over the nation, yet Turkey remains at the center of a region seething with political and economic discord. The stability of Turkey's borders is threatened by turbulence among the newly independent republics of the Caucasus and by hostile states in the Middle East. Turkey's concern over the fortunes of the Turkic states of Central Asia could bring it into conflict with Russia or Iran. Turkey is an advocate of the interests of Muslim peoples in the Balkans, but its modest military role as part of the United Nations (UN) Protection Force in Bosnia has generated controversy because of memories of the Ottoman Empire's long involvement there.

The Turkish government has taken sweeping measures to restructure and modernize the armed forces to deal with the new conditions, in which Soviet military might has been superseded by a multiplicity of threats near Turkey's eastern and southern borders. The new strategy emphasizes the ability to perform a variety of missions, move forces rapidly from one region to another, and mount firepower sufficient to meet any foreseeable threat. Undergoing the most radical reorganization have been the land forces, which were reduced from about 525,000 troops in 1990 to about 393,000 in 1994. For added flexibility, the army has adopted a brigade structure in place of the previous divisional pattern. The army's stocks of tanks and armored vehicles have been enlarged and improved; self-propelled howitzers and multiple rocket launchers also have been added. Troop-carrying helicopters will ensure greater mobility.

An expanded Turkish defense industry has played a major role in the modernization of the armed forces. Under joint-venture programs with United States manufacturers, combat aircraft, armored vehicles, rocket systems, and tank upgrades have been supplied. Submarines and other vessels have been produced in cooperation with the German shipbuilding industry. The centerpiece of the modernization effort has been the United States-Turkey F-16 coproduction project, which is expected to add 240 high-performance fighter aircraft to the Turkish inventory during the 1990s.

Turkey and the United States developed many defense links and common goals after United States military and economic assistance began in 1947 in response to the threat of Soviet expansion. For instance, Turkey has permitted the United States to use forward bases and intelligence installations on Turkish territory. During the Cold War, these installations were of vital importance in monitoring military activity and weapons testing by the Soviet Union. Following the end of the Persian Gulf War in 1991, Turkish bases enabled the United States and coalition forces to conduct Operation Provide Comfort, an effort to supply humanitarian relief to Kurds in northern Iraq and enforce a "no-fly zone" in the area against Iraqi aircraft.

Overshadowing all external threats to Turkish security is the Kurdish insurgency, which began in 1984 in the southeastern region of the country. This movement, which involves only a small minority of Turkey's Kurdish population, is led by the extremist-Leninist Kurdistan Workers' Party (Partiya Karkere Kurdistan--PKK). The conflict became particularly violent beginning in 1992. Some 4,000 Kurds and government security personnel were killed in 1993 alone, many of them noncombatants. The activities of the PKK complicate Turkey's relations with Syria, Iraq, and Iran, where the PKK insurgents have maintained supply and training bases. By early 1995, the Turkish government had deployed nearly 200,000 soldiers and police to the region, and had adopted a policy of forcibly evacuating and often burning Kurdish villages believed to be aiding the insurgents. These measures apparently dampened the insurgency, but at the cost of alienating large numbers of Kurds not involved in the separatist movement.

Historical Role of the Armed Forces


The professional armed forces of Turkey trace their origins back more than five centuries, to a permanent body of men recruited to form the nucleus of the much larger armies mobilized to conduct annual campaigns against selected objectives. A unique feature of the Ottoman military organization was the janissary army, whose members were conscripted as youths from among the empire's non-Muslim subjects in the Balkans, converted to Islam, and given military training. Gradually acquiring high status, prominence, and privilege, the janissaries ultimately constituted a reactionary palace guard resistant to reforms and of little military value to the reigning sultan.

Military conquest permitted the spread of the Ottoman Empire through the Middle East, North Africa, the Balkans, and most of Eastern Europe. The sequence of Ottoman victories was finally halted and a gradual military eclipse ensued after the failure of the siege of Vienna in 1683 (see Köprülü Era, ch. 1). Vast territories were relinquished as a result of a century of setbacks in battles with the European powers.

The need to modernize a military system engaged in a losing struggle to maintain Ottoman control over the Mediterranean littoral and the Middle East was recognized by the first of the reforming sultans, Selim III (r. 1789-1807). He introduced French instructors to train the soldiers of a new volunteer army organized along the lines of contemporary European armed forces. However, his efforts were successfully resisted by the janissaries, who concluded that reform foreshadowed an end to their traditional privileges. Rising up in 1807, the janissaries precipitated the sultan's abdication and the dismantling of the new army. Mahmud II (r. 1808-39) eventually became strong enough to challenge the power of the traditional military caste. He reinstituted the reformed army and, in 1826, crushed the janissaries with a massive artillery barrage aimed at their barracks.

The internal decay of the Ottoman Empire during the late nineteenth century was accompanied by growing disaffection and turmoil among younger military officers and civil servants. Coming together as the Committee of Union and Progress (better known as the Young Turks), and operating as secret cells within military units, the dissidents instigated a series of upheavals and mutinies within the military that culminated in the revolution of 1908 and the fall of Sultan Abdül Hamid II (see The Young Turks, ch. 1). Divided between nationalist and liberal factions, the Young Turk officers could not prevent foreign powers from seizing portions of the empire's Balkan holdings. After the empire's defeat at the hands of Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, and Serbia in the Balkan Wars of 1912-13, a military dictatorship emerged, under the nominal control of the sultan. Motivated by their fear of Russia, the nationalist officers made the fateful error of joining the Central Powers in World War I. Initially, the Turkish army was successful, stubbornly resisting the landing of British and Australian forces at Gallipoli in 1915 and forcing their withdrawal the following year. But operations against Russia went badly, and tsarist forces advanced onto Turkish soil. In Mesopotamia and Palestine, British and Arab units also prevailed against the Turks (see World War I, ch. 1).

A new contingent of Young Turks led by the war hero Atatürk resisted the postwar occupation of most of Turkey by Greek, French, Italian, and British forces. A series of defeats were administered to the Greek troops, resulting in their withdrawal in 1922. The Turks subsequently forced the occupying Allies to accede to a peace treaty recognizing the present borders of Turkey and enabling the proclamation in 1923 of the Republic of Turkey, with Atatürk as its president (see War of Independence, ch. 1).

Atatürk envisioned Turkey as a modern, secular democracy in which the army would distance itself from the civil functions of government. The army nevertheless preserved the right to intervene as the ultimate guardian of the state if the political system became deadlocked or Atatürk's reforms were endangered. Although active-duty officers were forbidden to engage in politics, the interests of the military did not go unrepresented. Until 1950 many influential leadership posts and at least 20 percent of the seats in the Grand National Assembly were held by individuals with military backgrounds. For nearly thirty years, the nation was governed by two military heroes of the War of Independence--first Atatürk and then, after his death in 1938, Ismet Inönü--and a single political party in which retired senior officers were heavily represented.

Data as of January 1995


NOTE: The information regarding Turkey on this page is re-published from The Library of Congress Country Studies and the CIA World Factbook. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Turkey Historical Role of the Armed Forces information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Turkey Historical Role of the Armed Forces should be addressed to the Library of Congress and the CIA.


NOTE 2: Notice that this CIA article is quite outdated, 1995- more then 10 years...

Click for Current (2005) Military Profile of Turkiye

...

[oderman]

Kara Kuvvetleri Komutanligi - Turkish Land Forces

by global.security.org

The army (officially referred to as the Turkish Land Forces) is by far the largest of the three service components. During 1992 the army introduced a sweeping reorganization, shifting from a predominantly divisional and regimental structure to one based on corps and brigades. The personnel strength of the army was reduced in 1994 to about 393,000 (including about 345,000 conscripts). Major equipment acquisitions have enabled the army to upgrade firepower and mobility while enhancing command and control.

Until the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact in 1990, the army had a static defense mission of countering Soviet and Warsaw Pact forces in the Caucasus and any possible attack on Thrace. When the General Staff attempted to shift 120,000 troops to the frontier with Iraq in 1990, they discovered that there were serious deficiencies in the army's ability to respond to crises that could erupt suddenly in distant regions. The army was even less prepared for a situation requiring the deployment and logistical support of forces in operations beyond Turkey's borders.

Prior to the army reorganization, the principal tactical units consisted of sixteen infantry divisions and one armored division, plus twenty-three independent brigades, of which six were armored and four mechanized. Under the reorganization, all divisions except three were dismantled. The existing nine corps were retained, with brigades directly responsible to the corps commands. The brigades were reconfigured as seventeen mechanized infantry brigades, fourteen armored brigades, nine infantry brigades, and four commando brigades. Each armored brigade consisted in late 1994 of six battalions: two armored, two mechanized, and two artillery. The mechanized brigades consisted of one armored battalion, two mechanized battalions, and one artillery battalion, plus a reconnaissance squadron. The infantry brigades consisted of four infantry battalions and one artillery battalion. Each commando brigade consisted of three commando battalions and one artillery battalion.

The Military Balance, 1994-1995 also lists a Presidential Guard regiment, an infantry regiment, five border defense regiments, and twenty-six border defense battalions. The fate of these independent units under the reorganization remained unclear in early 1995.

General Hikmet Bayar, the commander of Turkish land forces in early 1995, operated from headquarters in Ankara. The capital is also the home of the Ankara garrison and of the training and logistics commands. The country is divided into four military sectors on the basis of strategic conditions of terrain, logistics, communications, and the potential external threat. The sectors are assigned to four field armies, the first three of which would come under NATO command in the event of a NATO reinforced alert.

The First Army, with headquarters in Istanbul, is widely deployed in the European part of Turkey known historically as Thrace, with responsibility for the defense of that province, the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits, and the Kocaeli Peninsula. The Second Army, headquartered at Malatya, is deployed in southeastern Anatolia with a defensive mission facing Syria, Iraq, and Iran. The Third Army, with headquarters at Erzincan, is deployed throughout the rugged mountains and deep valleys of eastern Anatolia, covering the borders with Georgia and Armenia and the historical invasion routes from the east. During the buildup preceding the Persian Gulf War, the Second Army was deployed along the Iraqi border along with some units from the Third Army. Under the new structure, most of the armored, mechanized, and commando brigades are located in the central region with the mission of rapidly reinforcing brigades in each theater as required.

The Aegean Army (sometimes called the Fourth Army) was organized in the mid-1970s in response to tensions with Greece in the Aegean Sea. Headquartered in Izmir, it is responsible for the vast area facing the Aegean coast from the Dardanelles in the north to the southernmost Greek offshore islands. Turkish commanders describe the Aegean Army as composed simply of training elements from which the major army units are supplied. They presumably would have the mission of defending the Aegean coast and keeping lines of communication open in the Aegean district in an emergency, although their capability for this mission seems highly limited. The Turkish corps on Cyprus is within the Aegean Army command structure. Known as the Cyprus Turkish Peace Force, it is said in The Military Balance, 1994-1995 to consist of 30,000 troops, equipped with 235 M-48 tanks, 107 armored personnel carriers (APCs), and numerous pieces of towed and self-propelled artillery.

In late 1994, in addition to 1,500 troops who served with the United Nations Protection Force in Bosnia, a contingent of about 300 Turkish soldiers had participated in the UN operation in Somalia. The overall commander of the UN force in Somalia in 1993 was Turkish general Cevik Bir.

Accompanying the reorganization of the land forces was a significant upgrading of weapons systems, armor, and transport. Under the NATO harmonization program adopted under the CFE Treaty, considerable equipment subject to removal from the central front was passed on to other NATO armies, notably those of Greece and Turkey. Turkey's share included more than 1,000 United States M-60 and German Leopard main battle tanks and some 700 armored combat vehicles, as well as self-propelled howitzers and United States Cobra attack helicopters.

Under the CFE Treaty, NATO and Soviet Union/Warsaw Pact countries also were to reduce the size of their conventional forces. Russia has sought to change this commitment on the grounds that it needs forces for "police" actions and to assist former member states of the Soviet Union, such as Armenia, where Russian troops are stationed. Turkey has endeavored to prevent Russia's backing out on its commitment because, among other reasons, Turkey shares a border with Armenia.

In addition to the arms received as a result of the CFE Treaty, Turkey's arsenal of more than 3,000 M-48 tanks was being upgraded with advanced fire controls. By 1994 deliveries had begun of armored infantry fighting vehicles, large numbers of which were to be supplied under a Turkey/United States coproduction program. Procurement of a multiple-launch rocket system was proceeding under a similar program.

Turkey acquired 300 Russian BTR-60 APCs for use in the struggle against the Kurds because weapons of NATO origin were not approved for this purpose. In spite of the fact that the engines and transmissions of the BTR-60s had to be replaced after brief use, Ankara announced in 1994 that it had acquired 110 BTR-80s. These APCs were assigned to the gendarmerie, who were actively engaged in the war against the Kurds.

More effective employment of commando and infantry units would become possible with the United States UH-1H Iroquois (of which Turkey had ninety-six in 1994) and other modern troop-lift helicopters entering the army aviation inventory. The addition of missile-armed Cobra AH-1 (Bell 209) assault helicopters and five Super Cobras promised by the United States was expected to improve antitank capabilities.


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Notice that global security org pages contain fairly old (~10 years old) data, for current conditions/ developments visit:

Turkish Army / Land Forces Official webpages (En)



and the Gendarmarie forces official website :

[craig.reiss]

So oderman, here is your Gendarmarie Forces History

******

When you look at the history of Turkish people, you will see that the government’s administrative, juridical and security services were carried out by commanders. Kings called Başbuğ Kağan and Hakan were interested in security services. In Orhun Epitaphs, it is told that law enforcement officers called Yargan were managed by the kings and they carried out security services.

“Gendarmerie” was called “Surta” in the State of Seljukian, in Ottoman Empire it was “Subaşı” and then it was called “Zaptiye”.

In Ottoman Empire, in districts “Subaşı”, in provinces “Mirliva” and in states “Mirmiran” or “Bey” had military and administrative authority and they carried out security services.

In İstanbul, the capital city of the empire, a different agent carried out security services. Police stations were founded in the city. In the stations, Yeniçeri soldiers called “Karakullukçu” worked. Besides, “Yeniçeri Ağası”, “Cebecibaşı”, “Cebeciler”, “Kaptan Paşa”, “Topçubaşı”, “Topçular”, “Bostancıbaşı” and “Bostancılar” had the responsibility for security services.

After Yeniçeri Army was abolished on 18 June 1826, “Asakir-i Muntazama-i mansuri”, “Asakir-ı Muntazama-i Hassa “ and 1834 “Asakir-i Redife” were established to carry out security services in Rumelia and some parts of Anatolia.

According to Tanzimat Declaration proclaimed on 03 November 1839, the society’s security of life and property should be protected by the officials under the control of governors.

“Zaptiye Müşirliği” was founded on 16 February 1846. Then “Umuru Zaptiye” services were carried out by it. This term is also called “Tevhid-i Zabıta” (Integration of security services). “Seraskerlik”, after sometime, took the control over “Zaptiye Müşirliği”. Therefore a new law enforcement office were set up so as to provide order and internal security in society.

In 1851, the name of “Zaptiye Müşirliği” was changed into “ Zaptiye Kaymakamlığı”.

On 14 June 1869 the first rule book of the agent “Asakir-i Zaptiye Nizamnamesi” was brought into force. According to the rule book, the powers and responsibilities of law enforcement officers were put into a legal framework and in every city, security Regiment was founded together with this regiment, battalion and company were organized as well.

Since the term Gendarmerie was found in the Designation Decrees published years passed (1840,1841...) after the Tanzimat Declaration, it has thought that Gendarmerie was founded after the Tanzimat Declaration in 1839, but absolute foundation date has not been determined. During the study of writing Gendarmerie History, they have found the 863 and 894 numbered Gendarmerie Decrees which proved that Gendarmerie foundation date is not 1846. Therefore, “14 June” is accepted as the foundation date of the Gendarmerie, since 14 June 1896 is the date of the first rule book of the agent “Asakir-i Zaptiye Nizamnamesi” and the Declaration of Tanzimat.

After 1877-1878 Ottoman-Russia war, Prime Minister Sait Pasa decided to take some English and French Officials to the country, a few changes were made and on 20 November 1879 “Umum Jandarma Merkeziyesi” was established. This new agent was under the control of “Seraskerlik”.

Gendarmerie, after the proclamation of II. Constitution in 1908, achieved great successes in Rumelia. For this reason, the agent was taken the charge of “ Harbiye Nezareti” and then it was called “Umum Jandarma Kumandanlığı”.

Gendarmerie units achieved so many successes in the First World war and in Independence War ( 1919-1922) that it became the most important part of Armed Forces. Its bravery and successes in the wars are its proudest achievements.




A monument and graveyard for martyrs built in memory of Bursa, Gelibolu mobile Gendarmerie Battalion Soldiers died in Çanakkale Wars


After 29 October 1923, the proclamation of Republic, as in other institutions of the government, the Gendarmerie Agent started the reorganization activities in the Institution.

Gendarmerie NCO College closed in 1918 was re-opened in İzmit. Gendarmerie Regional Inspectorships and City Gendarmerie Regiment Commands were reorganized as well.

On 10 June 1930 the Law no: 1706 was brought into force and Gendarmerie had its current legal statute.

In 1935 it was accepted to train Gendarmerie officials in the Army Academy.

In 1937, “Gendarmerie Agent and Duty Rule Book” was came into force.

In 1939, Gendarmerie was re-organized in three parts; the first is Fixed Gendarmerie Units, the second is Mobile Gendarmerie Units and the third is Gendarmerie Training Units and Schools.

In 1949, in the cities with high population Gendarmerie Units were founded but they were abolished in 1960.

The law no: 6815 dated 1956 gave the responsibility of protecting the borders and territorial waters sand preventing the smuggling in customs regions to Gendarmerie.

In 1957, Gendarmerie Border Units were changed into brigades and Gendarmerie Training Brigades were established.

In 1966-1967 Gendarmerie Regional Commands were founded. These involved more than one City Gendarmerie.

In 1968, in Diyarbakır the first Gendarmerie Aviation Units were founded in the name of The Command of Helicopter Company.

In 1974, Gendarmerie Commando Units and Gendarmerie Aviation Units joined Cyprus Peace Operation and achieved a great success.



Gendarmerie Commandos in Cyprus Peace War

In 1982, with the Law no: 2692 the protection of our coasts and territorial waters was transferred into Coast Guard.

In 1983, “Gendarmerie Agent Duty and Power Law “ no:2803 was came into force.

In 1988, with the Law no: 3497 The Command of Land Forces started to protect the land borders. However, some parts of Iran and Syria borders and Iraq border are still under the control of General Command of Gendarmerie.

Gendarmerie Units have achieved great successes in combating PKK and other terror groups since 1984 for the sake of this a lot of young soldiers were martyred and injured badly. It will go on its struggle in future and will always do everything to protect Turkey’s unity.

click for original webpage :

[oderman]

Turkish General Staff


History


The history of the Turks whose political order was developed in line with its military order dates before 4000 years. This long story, started in Central Asia, which spread throughout all the major continents as a result of the great immigrations. The Khun, Kokturk and Uighur nations in the East and the first Turkish state, namely the Great Seljuk Empire founded by Turks of the Oghuz origin, in 1040 in the West were instrumental in introducing the Turks to the World.

Entering Anatolia thanks to Malazgirt victory in 1071, the Turks founded many provinces (called as Beylikler), The Anatolian Seljuk State and the Ottoman Empire, one of the most significant states of the Turks. Language, religion, custom and traditions were the common elements of these Turkish communities.

Over centuries, the Turkish Flag flew from one end to the other. The Turks watering their horses in theDanube, knocked on the doors of Vienna, established an absolute sovereignty in the Mediterranean and seized the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa.

Devoted soldiers as individuals, the Turks proved themselves to be an army-nation to the whole world. Beginning from the Turkish nations inCentral Asia till today, being a soldier was not considered as a profession, since every Turk was regarded as a naturally born warrior.
The God-given military mission, as depicted in the Kokturk Inscriptions, was accepted by the Turks as an ideal for all times.

Having increasingly lost its power as a result of geopolitical and geostrategic circumstances, the Ottoman Empire, during its weakest period, took part in the World War I, resulting in new and legendary pages in the history of the Turkish Army. The Gallipolis War, which played a vital role in the geographical and political order of the world, ended with the victory of the Turkish Army, leading to the extension of the war.
The defeat of its allies determined the end of theOttoman Empire, with the country being invaded and its army disarmed.

The demise of this deep-rooted empire, gave way to the rise of a new sun, laying the foundations of theTurkish Republic that would last forever. Breaking through the dark clouds, this sun was Mustafa Kemal ATATÜRK, the great soldier and statesman of the XXth Century. As a reformist of military origin, Atatürk proved his genius to the nations of the world, by improving the state, which he founded, in every field. A completely new Republic now arose over the soils of Turkey, whose borders were drawn with blood.

The great Atatürk led the Turkish Nation and Armed Forces, continuously strengthening them.

While the flames of World War II were grazing the Turkish borders, the Turkish Army was on duty. Closely monitoring the developments taking place all over the globe after the World War II, the Turkish Armed Forces attracted everyone’s attention in 1950 by participating in the Korean War solely for humanitarian purposes. The reinforced infantry brigade deployed to Korea became a good example to many nations’ armed forces due to its military courage, discipline and spirit it displayed in the wars it participated in. 731 Turkish soldiers became martyrs in Korea.

Becoming a member of the NATOAlliance on February 18, 1952, the Turkish Republic initiated a comprehensive modernisation programme for its Armed Forces. The Turkish Armed Forces, whose power of deterrence continuously increased, proved its power and capabilities once more during the 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation. Towards the end of the 80s, a re-structuring process has been initiated in the Turkish Armed Forces.

Turkey is located in a vitally important and challenging region with various political regimes, religions, economic systems and military powers. Due to its dominant position surrounded by the Black, Aegean and the Mediterranean Seas, as well as the Balkans and the Middle East, it is a focal point of strategic lines beginning from Gibraltar, where land and sea lines of communication intersect, to Middle East and Central Asia on three continents.Turkey, with its Turkish Straits is also well positioned to control the Suez Canal and consequently the maritime traffic in the region.

East and Southeastern Anatolia are the shortest land and air transport routes to the vast energy resources in the Middle East. Radical changes are taking place in the region where Turkey having vital strategic importance, is located and this process of radical changes brings great challenges with it. While the uncertainties in the content and duration of the changes continue, Turkey stands firm as an element of stability in the region.

In this environment of uncertainty, the threat to the security of Turkey no longer comprise solely the regional military powers, but also political, economic and social instabilities, border disputes, struggles of power as well as terrorism. The conditions of the region whereTurkey is located, pose a clear threat.

In addition to the regional crises, the Turkish Armed Forces, must, based on political decisions, also be prepared to respond to crises that pose a threat to the World Peace.

Strictly adhering to great Atatürk’s principle, ‘Peace At Home, Peace In The World’, the Armed Forces of the Turkish Republic does not have any aggressive intentions, but it is employed when its independence, nation, country and honour are under threat or in parallel with the common ideals of international organizations of which it is a member.

As a member of the NATO Alliance, the Turkish Republic ensured an increased security and contributed to the protection of the global balance, as well. Turkey cooperates in defence and economic fields with the US as the sole super power as a result of the changing balances and fully supports the initiatives towards Disarmament and Arms Control. In this context, Turkey is committed to a Disarmament that is realized under an effective control mechanism, which does not adversely affect the security of any nation.

In an environment full of hot conflicts,Turkey, having great importance as the last link within the NATO defence chain, must have a powerful national defence capability and a strong armed forces ready to effectively react to potential dangers from peacetime.

Elements of the Turkish Defence Policy are determination and will for National Defence, NATO solidarity and the Turkish Armed Forces.
The Armed Forces of the Turkish Republic having great geopolitical and geostrategic importance comprise the Army, Navy and Air Force that are subordinate to the Turkish General Staff. The General Command of Gendarmerie and the Coast Guard Command, which operate as the parts of internal security forces in peacetime, are subordinate to the Land and Naval Forces Commands, respectively in wartime.




Turkish Armed Forces official websites::



General Issues
History
Commander of TAF
MissionDefense Policy
Defense Organization
Force Structure
Brief History Of The General Staff Headquarters Building




International Issues

*International Security Assistance Force ( ISAF )
*Vienna Document
*Treaty on Open Skies
*OSCE*Treaty On Conventional Armed Forces In Europe (CFE)
*PFP Training Center
*Northern Watch
*Mediterranean Dialogue
*NATO Infrastructure
*NATO's Enlargement
*Changing Strategy and Concepts Under Nato Logistics
*Ottawa Convention
*Southern Europe Defence Ministry (SEDM) Web Site
*Maritime Security in the Black Sea
*Armenian Issue