Erikli Raid

Erikli Raid
Part of Greco-Turkish War
Date 21-22 June 1919 Location Erikli (close to Erbeyli) Result Turkish victory Greek troops leave Erikli
Belligerents
Greece	Kuva-yi Milliye
Strength
2 Evzones companies (400 men)[1]	40 men[1]
Casualties and losses
30 killed and 40 wounded[1][2]	7 killed and 10 wounded[1]

The Erikli Raid was a raid performed by members of the Kuva-yi Milliye. The Malgaç Raid had shocked the Greeks, so the members of the Kuva-yi Milliye planned to perform another raid.

Prelude

Erikli was located about 20 km west of Aydın. In Erikli the Greeks had stationed two companies of an Evzones battalion. The Kuva-yi Milliye planned to lower the morale of the Greek troops by attacking them in Erikli and at the same time boost the resistance feelings of the Turkish population. Another aim was to force Greek troops to pull-out of the vicinity of Aydın.

Raid

The Turkish forces started their attack in the night of 21–22 June 1919. Supported by machine gun fire and the usage of own made hand bombs they attacked under the cover darkness. After a two hour clash and inflicting high casualties on their enemy, the Turkish irregulars retreated back to their positions under the cover of night.

Aftermath

The Greek units had suffered 30 killed and 40 wounded, while the Turks had 7 killed and 10 wounded.^[1] Facing high casualties, the rest of the Greek troops beat a hasty retreat out of Erikli.^[3] The raid was protested by the British intelligence officer in Aydın.^[2]

References

Sources

• Oğuz Gülcan, BATI ANADOLU’DA KUVAYI MİLLİYENİN OLUŞUMU (1919–1920), Ankara Üniversitesi Türk İnkılap Tarihi Enstitüsü, 2007, page 254 (Ankara University Open Archive System). (Turkish)