Çerkes Ethem

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Çerkes Ethem was a Turkish militia leader of Circassian origin who fought against the Allied powers invading Anatolia during the World War I and afterwards during the Turkish War of Independence.

He organized first resistance against Greek occupation in Aegean Region. In a short time a significant power was collected (as cavalry and infantry). At the beginning majority of Ethem's militia was armed with some primitive agricultural tools like as sickles and axes.Later they were armed with the weapons which were stolen from Ottoman Army warehouses or captured from Greek troops. In the period between Greek occupation and organizing Turkish National Army, Ethem's power played an important role in the west of the Turkey.