Kâzım Özalp

Kâzım Özalp
Speaker of the Parliament of Turkey
In office
26 November 1924 – 1 March 1935
President Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Prime Minister İsmet İnönü
Preceded by Ali Fethi Okyar
Succeeded by Mustafa Abdulhalik Renda
Minister of National Defence
In office
1 March 1935 – 18 January 1939
President Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
İsmet İnönü
Prime Minister İsmet İnönü
Celal Bayar
Preceded by Zekai Apaydın
Succeeded by Ahmet Naci Tınaz
In office
10 January 1922 – 21 November 1924
President Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Prime Minister Rauf Orbay
İsmet İnönü
Preceded by Refet Bele
Succeeded by Ali Fethi Okyar
Personal details
Born December 1880
Köprülü (Veles), Kosovo Vilayet, Ottoman Empire
Died 6 June 1968 (aged 87)
Ankara, Turkey
Political party Republican People's Party
Military service
Nickname(s) Kâzım Köprülü
Allegiance
Rank Orgeneral
Commands Van Gendarmerie Regiment, Van Mobile Gendarmerie Division, 36th Division, 37th Caucasian Division, VI Corps (deputy), 60th Division, 61st Division, XIV Corps (deputy), Kocaeli Area Command, III Corps, Minister of National Defense
Battles/wars

Kâzım Fikri Özalp (1880 – 6 June 1968) was a Turkish military officer, politician, and one of the leading figures in the Turkish War of Independence.

Biography

Born in Köprülü (now Veles, Republic of Macedonia), in the Kosovo Vilayet of the Ottoman Empire into an Albanian family, Kâzım Fikri graduated from the Ottoman military school in 1902 and completed the College of War in 1905.[1] Kâzım Özalp was involved to 31 March Incident in 1909. He was a military commander during the Balkan wars. In 1917, he was promoted to the rank of the colonel. He was one of the military commanders who organized resistance groups against the occupation of Izmir. During the Turkish War of Independence, he fought at several fronts. In 1921, Kâzım Özalp was promoted to the rank General for his success at the Battle of Sakarya.

Already a member of the first term of the parliament of the newly established Republic as an MP from Balıkesir Province, Kâzım Fikri served as the Minister of Defense in several cabinets from 1921 to 1925, and later from 1935 to 1939. He was elected Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly from 1924 to 1935. In 1950, he was elected to the parliament as an MP from Van Province.[2] He retired from active politics in 1954. He was rumored to have been a Bektashi possibly because of his opposition to the decision to close Bektashi centers (Khanqah).[2]

Kâzım Özalp wrote his memoirs in his book Milli Mücadele ("National Struggle"). He died on 6 June 1968 in Ankara. His remains were transferred to the Turkish State Cemetery.

References

  1. ↑ Gingeras, Ryan (2009). Sorrowful Shores. Oxford University Press. p. 83. ISBN 0-19-160979-X.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Küçük, Hülya (2002). The role of the Bektāshīs in Turkey's national struggle. BRILL. p. 289. ISBN 90-04-12443-8.

See also

Political offices
Preceded by
Refet Bele		 Minister of National Defence
10 January 1922 – 21 November 1924 		Succeeded by
Ali Fethi Okyar
Preceded by
Ali Fethi Okyar		 Speaker of the Parliament of Turkey
26 November 1924 – 1 March 1935 		Succeeded by
Mustafa Abdulhalik Renda
Preceded by
Zekai Apaydın		 Minister of National Defence
1 March 1935 – 18 January 1939 		Succeeded by
Ahmet Naci Tınaz