Fevzi Çakmak

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Mustafa Fevzi Çakmak (1876 – 1950), was a Turkish soldier (Field Marshal), prime minister, and a close companion-in-arms of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

[edit] Early life

Mustafa Fevzi was born on January 12, 1876 in Istanbul. He was schooled at the age of five. After graduating from Kuleli military highschool, he entered Pangaltı military school on June 29, 1893. He successfully completed military school on December 25, 1898 and joined the Ottoman military as a Lieutenant.

[edit] Political life

At the age of 42, in 1918 he became Minister of War and Commander of the Ottoman Army. In 1919, he followed Mustafa Kemal to Samsun, and supported him throughout the Turkish War of Independence. His support provided Mustafa Kemal with the full support of the Army, which was reduced to two brigades after the cease of fire. The armies were under the command of Kazım Karabekir and Ali Fuat Cebesoy). He was the key figure of the Turkish War of Independence. After the Battle of Dumlupinar, on August 31, 1922, he was promoted to rank of Field Marshal (Turkish: Mareşal) with Mustafa Kemal.

Before the establishment of the republic, he was the prime minister of the government of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey from January 24, 1921 until July 9, 1922. He left political life resigning from the parliament in 1924.

Fevzi Çakmak served as the Chief of the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces from March 3, 1924 until his retirement on January 12, 1944.

Fevzi Çakmak died on April 12, 1950 and was laid to rest in Eyüp, İstanbul. He has a memorial burial place in the Turkish State Cemetery in Ankara.

Preceded by: Ismet Inönü	Chief of the General Staff of Turkey 1924–1944	Succeeded by: Kazım Orbay
Preceded by: Mustafa Kemal Atatürk	Prime Minister of Turkey 1921–1922	Succeeded by: Rauf Orbay

	Chiefs of the General Staff of Turkey	Image:Flag of Turkey.svg
	İnönü \| Çakmak \| Orbay \| Omurtak \| Gürman \| Yamut \| Baransel \| Tunaboylu \| Mengüç \| Erdelhun \| Gümüşpala \| Sunay \| Tural \| Tağmaç \| Gürler \| Sancar \| Evren \| Ersin \| Üruğ \| Torumtay \| Güreş \| Karadayı \| Kıvrıkoğlu \| Özkök \| Büyükanıt