Halit Karsıalan
Halit Karsıalan, commonly known as "Deli" Halid Pasha (1883 in Beshiktaș, Istanbul, Ottoman Empire – 14 February 1925) was a Turkish career officer and politician.
Halit Karsıalan 1319-P. 257 | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1883 Beşiktaş, Istanbul, Ottoman Empire |
| Died | 14 February 1925 (aged 41–42) Ankara, Turkey |
| Buried | Edirnekapı Şehitliği-İstanbul-1925 State Cemetery, Ankara-1988 |
| Allegiance | Ottoman Empire Turkey |
| Years of service | Ottoman: 1903–1919 Turkey: 1919 – 14 February 1925 |
| Rank | Mirliva |
| Commands held | Mürettep Teşkilat-ı Mahsusa Regiment, Independent Artvin Detachment, Çoruh Detachment, Western Dersim Area Command, 3rd Caucasian Division 9th Caucasian Division, Kocaeli Group, 12th Group, Kocaeli Group |
| Battles/wars | Italo-Turkish War First Balkan War First World War War of Independence |
| Other work | Member of the GNAT (Ardahan) |
After graduating from Military School in 1903, he joined the Ottoman Army as a lieutenant. He took his place in several military campaigns, starting from Yemen in 1908, the Italo-Turkish War in 1911 and the First Balkan War (1912-1913). Halit Bey was appointed to the Caucasus Front during the First World War. He led successful campaigns against the Russians in Kars, Sarikamis and Ardahan, however the Ottomans lost the war. During the war, Ottoman troops under his command carried out the massacres of 7,000 Armenians in the regions of Artvin and Ardanuç.
After the war, Halit Bey joined Mustafa Kemal Atatürk for the Turkish Independence War. In the beginning, he served in the Eastern Front against the Armenians, but after the Gumru Agreement, he was sent to the Western Front against the Greeks. Due to his daringness and courage in the battlefield, he was nicknamed "Mad" (Deli). After the war, he was honored with the War of Independence Medal.
Halit Bey became Ardahan Deputy in the Turkish Grand National Assembly. However, he was shot on 9 February 1925 and died on 14 February. It was alleged that Ali Çetinkaya had shot him in the Turkish Parliament but the murder was not prosecuted since attorneys claimed that it was self-defence.