Bektashi Mujahid Regiment (Mucahidin-i Bektashiyya)

Bektaşi Mücahit Alayı (Mücâhidîn-i Bektâşiyye)

Abstract

During the First World War, the year 1915 required a struggle under very difficult conditions for the Ottoman Empire. The winter of 1915 was quite heavy, and the 3rd Army was in a very difficult situation due to typhus, typhoid and dysentery epidemics. The struggles intensified around Kars and Van, while Armenian rebellions broke out. In the continuation of these negative developments, the Russians had the opportunity to advance towards the center of Erzurum. During the First World War, mujahideen units such as the Mevlevi Mujahideen Regiment were formed and support was provided on different fronts. In this way, the Bektashi Mujahideen Regiment began to be formed around April 1915 under the leadership of Ahmed Cemaleddin Chelebi. The Bektashi Mujahideen Regiment took part in physical struggle from mid-January to mid-February 1916, that is, for a short period of about 1 month. Although they succeeded in rescuing the 9th and 11th Corps from the difficult situation, this regiment, which provided partial support in the harsh winter conditions during the period of insufficient military training and intense fighting, was shifted to the rear of the front a short time later and then was abolished.

Keywords: First World War, Erzurum Front, Bektashi Mujahid Regiment, Mucahidin-i Bektashiyya, Chelebi Cemaleddin Efendi, Sitki Baba, Gül Aga from Balaban Tribe.