Kâzım Özalp

Kâzım Özalp (17 February 1882 – 6 June 1968) was a Turkish military officer, politician, and one of the leading figures in the Turkish War of Independence.

Biography

Born in Köprülü (now Veles, North Macedonia), in the Kosovo Vilayet of the Ottoman Empire. Kâzım Fikri graduated from the Ottoman Military College in 1902 and completed the College of War in 1905. Kâzım Özalp was involved in the 31 March Incident in 1909. He was a military commander of the Ottoman forces during the Balkan Wars. In 1917, he was promoted to the rank of the colonel during World War I. He was one of the military commanders who organized resistance groups against the occupation of Izmir by Greek forces. During the Turkish War of Independence, he fought at several fronts. In 1921, Kâzım Özalp was promoted to the rank General for his success at the Battle of Sakarya. After the Kurdish Sheikh Said Rebellion was subdued, he contributed to the Report for Reform of the East, which advised to establish Inspectorates General in the eastern provinces of Turkey and crush the Kurdish rebels in the region.

Already a member of the first term of the parliament of the newly established Republic as an MP from Balıkesir Province, Kâzım Fikri served as the Minister of Defense in several cabinets from 1921 to 1925, and later from 1935 to 1939. He was elected Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly from 1924 to 1935. In 1950, he was elected to the parliament as an MP from Van Province. He retired from active politics in 1954. He was rumored to have been a Bektashi possibly because of his opposition to the decision to close Bektashi centers (Tekke).

Kâzım Özalp wrote his memoirs in his book Milli Mücadele ("National Struggle"). He died on 6 June 1968 in Ankara. His remains were transferred to the Turkish State Cemetery.