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Topal Osman

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Name
  
Topal Osman


Died
  
April 1, 1923, Ankara, Turkey

Similar People
  
Nureddin Pasha, Ismail Hakki Tekce, Cerkes Ethem, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk

Topal Osman Agha (1883, Giresun, Trebizond Vilayet – 2 April 1923, Ankara) was a Turkish militia leader of the late Ottoman and early Republican periods. He commanded the 42nd Giresun Volunteer Regiment and 47th Giresun Volunteer Regiment. His last rank was Lieutenant-colonel of militia (Milis Yarbayi).

Contents

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Balkan Wars

He was a veteran of the 1912–1913 Balkan Wars, where he became lame in one foot (Turkish: topal).

Greek Genocide

Topal Osman Pasha was one of the key perpetrators of the Greek Genocide particularly in the north eastern region of Turkey historically known as Pontus. According to Mustafa Kemal's recent biographer, Topal Osman was a "sadistic ethnic cleanser of Armenians and Greeks." Osman along with his gang of cut throats, were responsible for massacres, deportations, destruction and confiscation of property, extortion, rapes and other atrocities throughout this region including the cities, towns and villages of Samsun, Marsovan, Giresun, Tirebolu, Unye, Havza and Bulancak.

Armenian Genocide

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Topal Osman was known to have been responsible for massacres against Armenians during the Armenian Genocide in the Pontus region where he was stationed during World War I. While in Trabzon, Osman made a name for himself in the spring of 1915 as commander of a squadron of gangs. Osman, along with Ishak Cavus, were known to have partaken in the drowning and massacres of the local Armenian population. During this time, Osman had also profiteered from the confiscation of assets and property belonging to the Armenians.

Murder of Ali Sukru Bey

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For his work in the national movement, Osman became commander of Mustafa Kemal's special Bodyguard Regiment. and his loyal vassal Captain of militia Mustafa Kaptan was appointed the commander of the Guard Battalion of the Grand National Assembly. He choked Trabzon deputy Ali Sukru Bey to death on 27 March 1923, allegedly in response to Sukru's criticism of Mustafa Kemal.

Topal Osman Affair

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Mustafa Kemal ordered Ismail Hakki Bey, who was the commander of the Presidential Guard Battalion, to take Topal Osman and his fellows into custody. Osman was surrounded at his hideout in Seyran Baglari wards, and in the resulting exchange of fire, was wounded and captured on 1 April 1923. Later that day, under Ismail Hakki's orders, he was executed by a shot to the head.

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On 2 April, at the insistence of the "Second Group", his body was dug up and hung at the gate of the parliament building (today War of Independence Museum) for exhibition to the public. According to some sources, his decapitated corpse was hung in the Ulus Square. He now rests in Giresun.

Legacy

Toktamis Ates of Istanbul University claims that former primer minister Tansu Ciller had once promised to open a university in Topal's name.

A statue of him was erected in his home town of Giresun in 2007. The erection of the statue has been linked to retired General Veli Kucuk, currently under arrest for serving as a member of Ergenekon. Kucuk's first attempt to erect the statue was in 1981, but it was blocked by the Turkish Historical Society. Kucuk tried again in 2001 but failed in his attempt after strong opposition from Mayor Mehmet Isik. It was finally erected in 2007 with the assistance of Ali Kara, chairman of the local small businessmen group of Giresun. Kara was one of the figures whose deposition was taken during the Ergenekon investigation.

References

Topal Osman Wikipedia