Fahrettin Altay
| Fahrettin Altay 1315-P. 1 |
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|---|---|
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| Born |
20 January 1880 İşkodra, Scutari Vilayet, Ottoman Empire |
| Died | 25 October 1974 (aged 94) Istanbul, Turkey |
| Buried at | Turkish State Cemetery |
| Allegiance |
 Ottoman Empire (1902–1920) Turkey (1920–1945) |
| Service/branch |
 Ottoman Army Turkish Army
|
| Years of service | 1902–1945 |
| Rank | Orgeneral |
| Commands held | Chief of Staff of the III Corps, Deputy undersecretary of the Ministry of War, 6th Division, 26th Division, XV Corps (deputy), 26th Division, XII Corps, III Corps XII Corps, V Cavalry Group, V Cavalry Corps, First Army (deputy), V Corps, Second Army, First Army, member of the Supreme Military Council |
| Battles/wars |
Balkan Wars World War I Turkish War of Independence |
| Other work | Member of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) from Mersin |
Fahrettin Altay (12 January 1880 – 25 October 1974) was an Ottoman military officer and Turkish general.
He was born to Turkish parents, Ismail Bey and Hayriye Hanım that lived in İşkodra (present day: Shkodër) in Scutari Vilayet.
He was known as the commander of V Cavalry Corps that participated in various battles of the Turkish War of Independence. His most valued and priced action was the role of V Cavalry Corps during the famous Battle of Dumlupınar, where the V Cavalry Corps passed behind the Greek lines in the beginning of the battle. His cavalry cut Greek supply and communication. They raised havoc among the retreating Greek Corps and also captured General Nikolaos Trikoupis, CO of Greek forces in Anatolia. In Great Smyrna Offensive, V Cavalry Corps was one of the vanguards of the Turkish Army.
According to Altay Spor Tarihi ("The History of Altay Sports Club"), in 1966 when Fahrettin Altay visited the Altay Sports Club at Izmir, he explained to Erdoğan Tözge how his surname was given. According to Erdoğan Tözge, he presented a gold fountain pen to Fahrettin Altay, and asked him how he chose Altay as his surname. Fahrettin Altay replied, When we visited Izmir with Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha during the years of armistice, the Altay club played football against a mixed team consisted of Royal Navy personnel. We watched the game together. Altay club played very nice and when they won against the British, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha was affected, honored and expressed his appreciation. After a long time had passed and Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha sent me to Tabriz to settle border dispute with Iran. During my staying at Tabriz, the Surname Law was adopted in the Grand National Assembly, and the Assembly gave the name Atatürk to Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha unanimously. All country congratulated him because of his new surname. I also sent a telegraph and celebrated. Atatürk's response that he received the next day, was:
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Wikipedia