Pasha.

This is coolbert:

Here, at least to my way of thinking, are two examples from the Great War [WW1] demonstrative of how the German commander, at the most senior level, perhaps was superior to his allied counter-part. German commanders, in charge of "lesser" troops, most successful on the battlefield, indicative of "superior" command abilities.

1. Liman von Sanders.

Commander, the most senior, of the Turkish troops at Gallipoli. A German general officer directing the battle at the highest echelon, in furtherance of Turkish victory.




It has been said that Ataturk [Mustafa Kamal] was the victor at Gallipoli. Kamal did command a Turkish infantry division during the campaign, and most successfully too. Stood his ground, his soldiers inspired, never relinquishing an inch to the allied attackers.

Von Sanders, however, was in overall command of the ENTIRE Turkish force deployed at Gallipoli. Made all [?] the major decisions, the Turkish government deferring to von Sanders, A FOREIGN NATIONAL!!

The Turkish government would have realized that their troops as individuals were the equal of any other in the world, the Turkish army, however, NOT possessisng commanders at the highest echelons who were knowledgable in formulating strategy, employing the operational art, etc.

"operational art - - (DOD) The application of creative imagination by commanders and staffs - . . . to design strategies, campaigns, and major operations and organize and employ military forces."

Operational art usually meaning the movement of large-scale units, division or greater, in concert, maneuver to achieve strategic aims!!

2. Colmar von der Goltz.

Known by the respectful Turkish title of Pasha. Among the Turk, Von der Goltz would have been referred to as Goltz Pasha.

Again, a German senior military commander in charge of Turkish troops, commanding in combat against the British.




Von der Goltz, a old-school Prussian officer, while in command of Turkish forces, victorious over British Indian Army troops at Al Kut [modern day Iraq].

Von der Goltz, having to fight in the manner of Caesar [the divine Julius] at Alesia, 2,000 years earlier. Fight in two directions at once, British eventual capitulation being THE WORST SUFFERED BY THE ENGLISH DURING WW1!!

"the most abject capitulation in Britain’s military history."

I would suggest that the English saw the Turk as a "lesser" opponent that would represent an "easy time" on the battlefield.

Those Turkish troops, when COMMANDED BY SUPERIOR GERMAN OFFICERS AT THE HIGHEST ECHELONS, did fight in an admirable manner, much to the consternation of the British!!

Incidentally, in 2003, an announced goal of the British forces in the Iraq War was to refurbish and tend-to the graves of the English war dead from Al Kut!! Such was the memory of what occurred during that dolorous time of the Great War!!

coolbert.