Farewell to Kâzım Karabekir
A close friend of Colonel İsmet, Kâzım Karabekir was appointed on March 13, 1919 as the commander of the 15th Corps based in Erzurum. Karabekir had previously been stationed as the commander of the 14th Corps in Tekirdağ on December 25, 1918, but when he realized that he could not be as effective there, he had asked for an assignment in the East. Indeed, Kâzım Karabekir would earn the title “The Conqueror of Armenia” during his post in Erzurum.
In his journal, İsmet Bey made the entry, “I had dinner with Kâzım Pasha. He is leaving tomorrow,” on April 11, 1919.
His note on April 12th reads, “Kâzım Pasha boarded Gülcemal today. He was supposed to leave today, but the date of his departure is now unclear… He said at the office that it he were to be an advisor at the peace conference, then he would recommend me.”
On April 13th, he simply wrote, “Kâzım Pasha’s boat left today.”
