Three Pashas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"The Three Pashas", also known as the "dictatorial triumvirate", of the Ottoman Empire included the Ottoman minister of the interior, Mehmed Talat Pasha (1874–1921), the minister of war, Ismail Enver, (1881–1922) and the minister of the Navy, Ahmed Djemal, (1872–1922). They were the dominant political figures in the empire during the First World War.
Contents |
[edit] Arguments regarding triumvirate
[edit] Policymaking
It is widely believed that after the Coup of 1913, these three became the de facto rulers of the Ottoman Empire until its dissolution following World War I. It was undeniable that most of the key decisions passed through them. The idea that the triumvirate ruled the empire during World War I has been used to develop (that is, easier to ascribe) conspiratorial designs[1]. However during the war years, more than free will of these men, the policies that they pursued (in their capacity) were to a large extent determined by the collective will of the Committee of Union and Progress[1]. It was hard to say during this time Committee of Union and Progress was a monolithic political system and they had a united political front (fractions existed), as much as these three men united[1]. The idea of a triumvirate as the main policy maker was challenged, however they were at the front page with negative news. Given the fact that Ismail Enver had only once took the control of any military activity (Battle of Sarikamis), and left the 90% of the Third Army in ruins. In covering this loss, two other armies were united under the Third Army to enable its operational responsibilities. The First Suez Offensive and Arab Revolt are Ahmed Djemal's most significant failures.
[edit] War responsibility
The Three Pashas were the principal players of the Ottoman-German Alliance and the Ottoman Empire's entry into World War I on the side of the Central Powers. Ahmed Djemal was opposed to an alliance with Germany. During the initial phase the diplomacy from France and Russia attempted to keep the Ottoman Empire out of the war, but Germany was agitating for a commitment. Finally on 29 October, the point of no return was reached when Admiral Souchon took Goeben, Breslau and a squadron of Turkish warships into the Black Sea and raided the Russian ports of Odessa, Sevastopol and Theodosia. It was claimed that Ahmed Djemal agreed in early October 1914 to authorize Admiral Souchon to launch a pre-emptive strike.
[edit] Fate of triumvirate
- See also: Turkish Courts-Martial of 1919-20 and Operation Nemesis
On November 2, after the Armistice of Mudros, Enver, Talat and Djemal, fled from Constantinople. All three were later tried in absentia at Turkish Courts-Martial of 1919-20 and were sentenced to death. Talat and Djemal were assassinated by Operation Nemesis and Enver was killed by a Red Army soldier in central Asia during the Russian Civil war, which was also claimed by Operation Nemesis.
