GHAZI OSMAN PASHA

GHAZI OSMAN PASHA


A golden gilded page of Turkish history all pages of which is full of heroism stories, is the defense of Plevna. This is such a page that enemy commanders stood for respect before this page. This page was written by glorious Ghazi Osman Pasha. Ghazi Osman Pasha was born in 1832 in Tokat. He is a member of a family referred to as Yağcıoğulları. His father had settled down in Istanbul because of civil service. After little Osman completed his primary education in a primary school, he entered Kuleli military secondary school. After having completed this school, he entered Military college and graduated in 1852. He was promoted to captain because of his successes in Crimea War and Rumelia. After that, he carried on War Procedures class and became a Kolağasi. Once he was commissioned for matriculation of Bursa population.

He was promoted to major in Hasa army in 1861. He came out successful in Crete rebellion. He was sent to put down Yemen rebellion three years later. Because of his high success there, he was awarded the rank of "pasha" there. After turning back from Yemen, he was appointed to Iskodra and Bosnia command. Because of his unique heroism during Serbian rebellion, he was granted the rank of field marshal. He gained worldwide reputation because of his heroism in Plevna war in 1877. The Russians revealed their wishes to come down to Balkans in the second year of Abdulhamid's ascending the throne. They got prepared London Protocol to fulfil their wishes. However, when Turkey rejected London Protocol, Russian Czar Alexander the 2nd declared war against Ottoman Empire on 24 April 1877 and began to march south to Balkans through Danube.

Abdulhamid the 2nd was confused having just proclaimed first constitutional monarchy. The people were agitated, however. The newspapers published emotional articles. They proclaimed that all Muslim states would help this war. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Saffet Pasha, wanted assistance of states which undersigned Paris Agreement. The states which promised that they had guaranteed independent Turkey replied: "Agreements go invalid in time". Thus, Ottomans and Russians were left alone.

Russians, who saw that no Western states helped Ottoman Empire, crossed our border from three branches with their armies and invaded Romania, and stood near Danube. The Russian Commander of Danube Army was Czar's brother Nikola. He had a force of 250.000 people under his command. Another Russian General, Malinkov took the offensive from Eastern provinces to Central Anatolia with a force of 60.000 people. Ghazi Ahmet Muhtar Pasha met the Russian forces. He won Kars and Zivin victories against Russians there.

Ghazi Osman Pasha forces were in Vidin and Suleyman Pasha was in the border of Karadag when Russian War started. Chief Commander Abdulkerim Pasha was appointed to Danubian Armies Command. Turkish Army consisted of 186.000 people. Upon Russians' crossing Danube and invading Bulgaria, Ghazi Osman Pasha, who was in Vidin, moved to take Plevna, crossroads of Bulgarian roads on foot.

He entered Plevna with a speed rare in the world. This old Turk from Tokat of Central Anatolia, dug stature trenches around Plevne, for the first time in history. These trenches were the first invention of bastion method. He took his artillery men and forces under the ground. The Russians used to war in open areas. Plevna war, which won great fame in world history, made Russians suffer great losses.

As they admit, only a few people could turn back alive in some battalions. Plevna city was burning in flames. Children and families died under wreckage. However, no matter what they did, they could not take Plevna from Ghazi Osman Pasha. Russian commander Nikola went crazy. At last, Russian Czar Alexander came to Plevne too. They decided to force Plevna to surrender by means of siege due to hunger and lack of munitions.

Indeed, as time passed, starvation began in Plevna. Women and children died of hunger. Munitions were about to run out. Despite all those, Turk, who had heroism in his character, resisted Russian crowds with his chest full of belief and wrote an epic of patriotism. Neither Istanbul nor the world helped the Ghazis. Suleyman Pasha wrote hero epics in Shipka, the most important passage of Balkan mountains. What could Osman Pasha do himself against a great Czardom? At last, Ghazi Pasha decided to split the siege and go out. One night, Turkish forces went out of Plevna. Children, families, Plevna people followed the army. However, Bulgarian spies informed Russians of this operation.

When Turkish forces were about to cross Vid river on 10 December 1877, Russians opened violent artillery fire on Turkish forces. They sent bullets like lightning on the army. People and soldiers mingled. Thousands of people were broken into pieces under artillery fire. The field turned into some kind of bloody judgement day. At last, a bloody fight took place between the parties. Osman Pasha got injured during this fight. Turks, who came out victorious in three Plevna Wars, were defeated in this third Plevna battle. The siege had lasted for 145 days.

They took Ghazi Osman Pasha to a mill and bandaged his injury. Two Russians came to the mill and said to Osman Pasha "unconditional surrender". Osman Pasha said "Two days are not the same, this seems to be the divine destiny!" and surrendered his "ghazi" sword to the enemy general. Theese two generals took Osman Pasha and his aide-de-camp Talat Bey to Plevna city with a car. They came across Russian Commander General Nikola on the way. General Nikola said to Osman Pasha: "I congratulate you for your success in defending Plevna. This defense is one of the brightest military occurrences in defense history".

Russian officer rushing to see Osman Pasha applauded him saying "Bravo Osman Pasha". Many of them told each other "we saw a great man's face in this world..." They took Ghazi Osman Pasha to a house in Plevne. They took limping Ghazi Osman Pasha before Russian Czar Alexander the second the next day. Alexander the 2nd asked to Osman Pasha: Why did not you surrender your arm? Osman Pasha said: My state gave those weapons to me "not to leave them when I see the enemy, and to use it always." They sent me here for fighting.

Czar Alexander got excited before this great Turk and shaking his hands, spoke as follows: I congratulate you for your forceful defense of Plevna. This is one of the most exciting events of military history. You are really a brave soldier. We cannot take the sword of such a commander like you. You have the right to bear your sword and marks with you here and in Russia.
Fifteen days later, Russians took osman Pasha to Harkov city in a hotel. The Russian forces began to march toward Istanbul from Bulgaria. At last they reached Yeşilköy. Russian armies carried out a maneuver near Kagithane. General Nikola went to Beylerbeyi Palace going to Istanbul with a delegation and had a negotiation with Ottoman Emperor Abdulhamid the 2nd. Istanbul as a whole, got excited because of this defeat. Russians could not enter Istanbul because of intervention of European states and British in particular. However, they built a monument in Yeşilköy as the memory of this victory. At the end of this war, with Ayastefanos and Berlin Agreements were signed and Balkan countries won their independence.

Istanbul people, hearing that Ghazi Osman Pasha was taken captive, gathered in front of Pasha's house. They mounted Osman Pasha's son on a horse and walked around in Istanbul streets saying "we could not meet the Pasha, so we can show around his son".

Ghazi Osman Pasha turned back from captivity two months later. It was a highly emotional day for Istanbul. Abdulhamid the second appointed Osman Pasha as Marshal of Palace.

At last, he passed away on 5 April 1897 when he was 65, like all mortals. He was buried at Fatih tomb garden upon his will.