Third Army (Ottoman Empire)

Third Army
Before the Battle of Sarikamish, Enver and Feldmann inspecting the units
Active	August 5, 1914-October 15, 1918
Country	Ottoman Empire
Type	Field Army
Engagements	Caucasus Campaign (World War I)
Commanders
Notable commanders	Hasan Izzet Pasha (November 1–December 19, 1914) Enver Pasha (December 22, 1914–January 10, 1915) Hafiz Hakki Pasha (January 12- February 13, 1915) Mahmud Kâmil Pasha (February 13, 1915–February 23, 1915) Abdul Kerim Pasha (February 23, 1915-February 16, 1916) Vehib Pasha (February 1916–June 1918) Esad Pasha (June–October 1918)

The Third Army was originally established in the Balkans and later defended the northeastern provinces of the Ottoman Empire. Its initial headquarters was at Salonica, where it formed the core of the military forces that supported the Young Turk Revolution of 1908. Many of its officers who participated in the Revolution, including Enver Pasha and Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, rose to fame and power.

By 1911, the Army had been moved to Erzincan in northeastern Anatolia, and with the onset of World War I, it was moved to Erzurum. During the war, it fought against the Russian Caucasus Army, Armenian volunteer units and behind the lines dealt with the Armenian Resistance within its designated area. During this period, the Battle of Sarikamish, Battle of Koprukoy and the Battle of Erzurum were significant engagements. The army's headquarters was moved to Susehir (a town near Sivas) after the dusastrous Battle of Erzurum, and by late 1916 the army lacked any offensive capability. After the Russian Revolution, the Russian Caucasus Army disintegrated.

Between 1917 and 1918 it advanced against forces of the Armenian national liberation movement established by Armenian Congress of Eastern Armenians which became the Armenian Army with the declaration of the Democratic Republic of Armenia. During this period, the Third Army engaged the Armenian forces at Sardarapat, Abaran, and Karakilisa.