Turkish Fifth Army

Map of the disposition of the Turkish Fifth Army at Gallipoli prior to the landings of April 25, 1915 during the Battle of Gallipoli

Traced from Map No. 8 in Ch.11, Vol. I "The Story of Anzac" of the Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-18 by C.E.W. Bean.



The Turkish Fifth Army was formed on March 24, 1915 with the responsibility for the defence of the Dardanelles straits after the Ottoman Empire entered World War I. The original commander of the army was the German military advisor to the Ottoman Empire, General Otto Liman von Sanders, who had previously commanded the Turkish First Army in Constantinople. Later in the campaign, command passed to Vehip Pasha who became responsible for the Helles front while von Sanders still wielded considerable influence.
Disposition of the 5th Army at Gallipoli
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Disposition of the 5th Army at Gallipoli

In early 1915, as the Allied campaign to seize the Dardanelles (Battle of Gallipoli) commenced, the Fifth Army comprised two army corps; the Turkish III Corps was defending the Gallipoli peninsula and the Turkish XV Corps was defending the Asian shore. In addition, the 5th Division was positioned north of the peninsula. The corps contained the following divisions:

* III Corps (commanded by Esad Pasha)
o 7th Division
o 9th Division
o 19th Division
* XV Corps
o 3rd Division
o 11th Division

The Fifth Army also contained the Çanakkale Fortress Command and one aircraft squadron.(1)

(1) 1st Aircraft Squadron (later in the campaign a German detachment joined the Turkish squadron, still later, in early 1916, as the Allies were withdrawing, the 6th Aircraft Squadron joined.)