Kuva-yi Seyyare
Force of Circassian volunteers in Anatolia / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kuvâ-yi Seyyâre (Ottoman Turkish: قواى سياره, lit. 'The Traveling Forces'), also known as the Green Army Society (Turkish: Yeşil Ordu Cemiyeti) or the People's Branch (Turkish: Halk Zümresi) was a force of Circassian and Abkhazian volunteers led by Çerkes Ethem against the Allied invasion forces during the Turkish War of Independence.[1] The group saw themselves as a force to fight against "those who caused disturbance to the greater good of Anatolia".[2][3][4] The forces put down several rebellions and played a big role in significantly slowing down the Greek army during the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922). In time, as Ethem's Islamic Socialist views clashed with the Turkism-nationalism of Mustafa Kemal's Turkish National movement, he eventually cut ties with them, and was declared a traitor due to clashes with İsmet İnönü.[3][5][6]
Kuvâ-yi Seyyâre | |
---|---|
Active | 1919-1921 |
Country | Ottoman Empire |
Allegiance | Turkish National Movement (1919-1920) Independent (1920-1921) |
Type | Field Army |
Nickname(s) | Green Army Anatolian Army |
Engagements | Turkish War of Independence
Revolt of Ahmet Anzavur |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Çerkes Ethem |