The great member of our army, the only field marshal
after Ataturk, was born in Istanbul Cihangir in 1876. He is the son of a soldier family.
After having studied in Soğukçeşme Military Secondary School and Kuleli College, he
graduated as a staff captain in 1898. He took duties in various ranks of the army. He took
part in many battles. He was awarded the rank of field marshal by Sakarya victory. He
conducted the post of Chief of the General Staff until 1944. He died in 1950. Fezvi Çakmak was the son of a soldier
family. His father was Sırrı Bey. Three sons of Sırrı bey, from Çakmakoğulları,
walked the same path. One of them in Manastır, and one of them in Dardanelles, fell
martyr. The third one of these brothers was named Fevzi.
When he attended the
army as a staff captain, we was appointed to the Fourth Department of War Procedures. Then
he was appointed to Thrace. Pursuant to eight years of successful service in Balkans, he
was promoted as a colonel. He was the commander of 35th division and Taşlıca Commander
when freedom was proclaimed in 1908. But, two stars were taken back on the ridiculous
allegation that such promotion as a colonel was a favoritism of the palace. This was sheer
injustice. However, Fevzi Bey was a stouthearted soldier and a mature person, he did not
even show an indication of grudge on even such injustice. However, he knew how to take
back by working in a short time stars they took back from him by injustice.
He was appointed as
the chief of the staff of Kosovo Army Corps in 1910 and then as the chief of the staff of
Western Army Corps. He was the director of Operations Department of War Procedures of
Vardar Army in Balkan wars. When he was assigned as the Commander of Fifth Army Corps
centered in Ankara, his rank was increased his name being Fezvi Pasha.
Fevzi Pasha took part
in Çanakkale defense during 1st World War. He was appointed as the Commander of the
Second Caucasus Army Corps from there. A long life elapsed in battlefields. His war life
continued in Syria, after Balkans and Caucasus. He was promoted as a lieutenant general
there.
After the armistice,
he was appointed in Istanbul. He was appointed as War Minister in early 1920 after his
duty as Istanbul Senior Chief of War Procedures. Thus, he acted as a Minister in the
government of Salih Pasha. During his duty, he contributed to the national fight by
sending military equipment and minutes to Anatolia. Before Damat Ferit Pasha cabinet was
established to take serious measures against this national operation, he resigned his duty
as the War Minister. He directly went to Ankara to join national movement.
Fevzi Pasha, who went
to Ankara in 1920 April, was appointed as the Minister of National Defense by Ankara
Government in a month, and as the chief of Board of Ministers.
Fevzi Pasha, who was
awarded the rank of Full General pursuant to Second İnönü victory, became Deputy Chief
War Procedures. He remained in this post and as the chief of Board of Ministers until July
in 1922 for eleven months.
Because of his service
in the great victory achieved in Sakarya, Full General Fevzi Pasha was awarded the rank of
field marshal by Turkish Parliament. Field Marshal Fevzi Çakmak became the Chief of
General Staff after the great victory and proclamation of republican government. He was a
person not only loved and respected by the army but also the people. His deep humbleness
and his simple and clean private life were his distinct properties. He was a symbol and a
flag in the people's heart.
Field Marshal Fevzi Çakmak
lived the saddest day of not only his military life but also his life full of dignity and
honor on 12 January 1944. He was retired. That was the day of bidding farewell to his
uniform he bore for 55 years... He bade farewell to his post as the Chief of the General
Staff and his uniform, which constituted a part of his body. He lived a quite life for a
period of time at his house. When multiparty period started, he joined Nation Party
established. He took part in Democracy struggle.
That symbol person,
great soldier Field Marshal Fevzi Çakmak passed away in Istanbul on 10 April 1950. His
death had incited such a great heartily grief in the country that since Istanbul Radio did
not cease music broadcasting, great demonstrations were made before the radio house. His
funeral was held with attendance of a tremendous crowd on 12 April 1950 and he was buried
in Eyup Sultan graveyard.
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