38 Facts About Topal Osman

Topal Osman was the commander of Mustafa Kemal's special Bodyguard Regiment.

Topal Osman showed usefulness in the War of Independence, but in 1923, when it was decided that he was the instigator of Trabzon Deputy Ali Sukru Bey's murder, he was detained.

Topal Osman was born in Giresun in 1883 and was of Turkish origin, more particularly the Chepni tribe.

Topal Osman refused to have his leg amputated, so the doctors only took out the shrapnel from his knee without anesthesia, causing him to become lame.

Topal Osman joined the 37th Division in Bayburt, which eventually retreated to Harsit.

Topal Osman Aga returned to Giresun to recruit more soldiers and went back to fight with 1500 young volunteers.

Topal Osman was known to have been responsible for massacres against Armenians and Greeks in the Pontus region where he was stationed during World War I and post-war years.

Topal Osman made similar attacks on Pontian Greeks after the war.

Topal Osman's band abducted many women and girls as they left the town.

Topal Osman later traveled to Trebizond and began robbing houses, but was driven off by a Turkish gangster called Yahya.

Topal Osman executed the Greek man who raised the Pontic flag, as well as one of his collaborators.

Topal Osman continued his acts by raiding the Greek cinema for insulting Turks inside, attacking Mavridi Mansion to destroy the "Hacika gang", preventing Pontic irregulars coming from various places, including Batum and Ukraine, from entering Giresun.

Topal Osman made Coast Guards more organized to prevent other Pontics to enter.

An assassination attempt against him was plotted by pro-Ottoman governor Badi Nedim, but Topal Osman Aga learned about this plan and had him out from Giresun.

Topal Osman cut their hair off and forced them to leave Giresun.

In January 1920, Topal Osman Aga started publishing the newspaper Gedikkaya.

British commander invited him to ship to meet, but Topal Osman Aga understood that it was a trap and didn't go.

In March 1920, Topal Osman Aga captured a powerboat coming from Greece and took everything inside; which was 1800 Turkish liras, 700 Russian silvers, 600 American dollars and 400 jerry cans.

Topal Osman later executed a pro-Pontic agency clerk named Yorgi as well as two Greek doctors solidifying his legacy as a formidable brute.

Topal Osman took part of shipping weapons from Soviet Union and sending these to the Greco-Turkish War.

Topal Osman sold hazelnut and wine to Soviets and bought weapons from them.

Topal Osman received an order to go to Amasra due to the ongoing revolt in Duzce.

Topal Osman sent a battalion, consisting of 1050 men from Ordu, Giresun, Gorele, Tirebolu and Akcaabat, to Eastern Front but the battalion joined at the end of the fight.

Topal Osman was however refused arms and cooperation by the government and inhabitants of Trabzon.

Topal Osman commanded the 47th Regiment during the Battle of the Sakarya.

On 8 June 1922, by the Orders of National Taxes, Topal Osman Aga attempted to sell all his real estate to fund the army, but was prevented by the wealthy people of Giresun who said he "served enough" by joining the fight and all he has done.

Topal Osman joined the Great Offensive as the commander of the 47th Regiment, which was reinforced after the Battle of Sakarya.

Topal Osman's forces captured a front, which Greeks claimed Turks couldn't capture even in 7 years, in 2 days.

Topal Osman Aga stayed in Istanbul for a while, where a failed assassination attempt committed against him.

Topal Osman was greeted with great enthusiasm in his hometown Giresun, when he returned on 21 December 1922.

Topal Osman Aga was invited to Rize to the opening of a secondary school.

Topal Osman got the information by Mustafa Kaptan that in the Grand National Assembly, there were heated discussions about the Lausanne Conference and Ali Sukru was opposing Mustafa Kemal.

Topal Osman Aga said he will talk to Ali Sukru and persuade him to give up his opposition.

Topal Osman was held responsible for the murder of deputy Ali Sukru Bey, who suddenly disappeared on 27 March 1923 in Ankara.

Topal Osman Aga said to her that his two men were drunk and he punished them by beating.

Many have claimed that Topal Osman's men killed Ali Sukru.

Ali Sukru's son Nuha Doruker as well claimed that it wasn't Topal Osman who killed his father.

Topal Osman's body was buried on the top of Giresun Castle by the order of Ataturk in 1925, where he still rests.