This map of Erzurum city was drawn in 1904 by a
Captain named Fuat Bey. In February 1916, our Fuad
Bey and his fellow soldiers were fleeing from the
advancing Russians, east of the city.
1-2 February 1916 (no entries)
3 February 1916
We’ve been staying in Alibezirgan. Now and then there have been
skirmishes with the enemy. Over the past day the enemy has advanced
somewhat. I received a letter and some other things from my father.
4 February 1916
Because of the enemy’s advance yesterday the regimental command
was moved to Sığırlı and the veterinarian and I settled into a room in a
dilapidated house. The soldiers are wrecking the place, taking the wood
to the rear.
5 February 1916
We stayed in Sığırlı. The enemy attacked at night and took Alibaba
Mountain, along with some prisoners from the 8th Company. Ziya of
Tefenni became a first lieutenant (I know him from school). At night
Salih and I went hither and yon with the commander's order, passing it
to the battalions.
6 February 1916
At mid-day we moved the command to the southeast of Güllü under
the occasional cannon fire. I am in a tent with Doctor Nuri and the
veterinarian. The enemy is bombarding Güllü incessantly.
7-8 February 1916 (no entries)
9 February 1916
We’ve been southeast of Güllü and no incidents. The 2nd Battalion
was only able to hold Danagöl Mountain for two days and the first day
I toured it a bit with Division Chief of Staff Abdullah. We couldn’t find
Danagöl Mountain as it is shown on the map (because the map was not
good). But quite a bit of time passed.
10 February 1916
The enemy made a sudden attack in the morning and took Danagöl
Mountain. Our forces defended in a place on the mountain’s skirts. If
the enemy launches another attack our forces will spill into the river.
Fortunately, this position wasn’t defended very long. Finally, the entire
2nd Battalion joined the battle. Cannoner Rıfkı’s cannons gave a good
account of themselves. Late in the afternoon our forces launched an
attack and the enemy ran away. There were more than 400 enemy losses,
almost all of them at the hands of our machine gun. I took quite a few
shots myself. Salih was wounded at mid-day and Mustafa from the 1st
Battalion was killed. The commander of the 1st Battalion was seriously
wounded and later died. There are many wounded. In the evening we
went to Danagöl Mountain. Bodies, like doomsday.
11 February 1916
Today was calm. We remained southeast of Güllü.
Güllü is located southeast of Nene Hatun, far right, but is
not shown on this map.
not shown on this map.
12 February 1916
The battle is continuing at the17th Division’s front, on the plain to our
left. It was especially fierce at night. I left the 3rd Battalion (which is
located next to the 17th Division) and went to the commander’s tent
200 meters on the left to get a report. Then we suddenly heard rifle fire
from the right, our side of Danagöl. It continued for a while and then
stopped. Then Major Abdullah summoned me and I came. The enemy
took Danagöl and our soldiers spilled into the river. We gathered the
soldiers who came right away. I left the command post to go to the
newly-designated line, accompanied by the 1st Battalion. I walked
quite a way with Şerif and Hakkı. We walked until morning. There’s
fog and light snow falling. We can see the mountains in the light of the
three beams the enemy has projected. Near morning we reached
Çeperli village and moved a bit beyond. Morning came and we
waited there.
13 February 1916
The regimental commander had me running hither and yon again in
the morning. It was mid-day. While I was taking an order to the 3rd
Battalion commander my horse could not keep its footing and I
rolled on an ıcy spot. My left foot was badly hurt. With great
difficulty I found the 3rd Battalion commander, passed the order to
him and came back. I began to rest and to bandage my foot. It was
really hurting…calamity upon calamity. The remainder is in the
other notebook.
Fuad Bey finished the first notebook of his diary at this
point and began the second, which he would continue
writing in until March 1917. Fuad Bey returned to Istanbul
from Russia in September 1918.
Fuad Bey finished the first notebook of his diary at this
point and began the second, which he would continue
writing in until March 1917. Fuad Bey returned to Istanbul
from Russia in September 1918.
14 February 1916 Monday
Morning came. A bit after breakfast I dozed off lightly. Noontime
came. There were neither any doctors nor a veterinarian in this
shabby house on this sullen day. All of a sudden someone came
into where I was and shouted that the Russians had struck.
Startled, I got up and limped outside. I saw that the Russians had
taken Yıkık mountain. Our cannons opened fire fiercely on them.
The Russians fled but we didn’t retake it. Evening came. When
I lay down I was thinking that we would pass this night under great
peril. There were two hours until morning when the battalions
gathered. Sectors were defined. Together with the headquarters,
we evacuated this Çeperli village. Since the horse I was riding was
so weak it couldn’t carry me up the hill. I had to walk on my
wounded leg. It hurt badly and no one helped me. With great
difficulty I made it to the earthwork at the hollowed-out summit.
A bit later morning came.
//END of PART XI//
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