Tahsin Yazıcı

Tahsin Yazıcı (1892 in Monastir, Ottoman Empire (Now: Macedonia) – February 11, 1971 in Ankara, Turkey) was an Ottoman Army officer, a Turkish Army general and politician.

He was born to his father Ali Bey and his mother Ganimet Hanım in Monastir (present-day Bitola) in 1892. He was recorded in Kefçedede wards, Üsküdar District of Istanbul Province. He entered to the Ottoman Military Academy on November 1, 1909 and graduated from academy as Second Lieutenant on March 1, 1912. After graduation, he served during the First World War at Gallipoli and he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on March 1, 1916. He then served during the Turkish War of Independence and was promoted to the rank of Captain on October 10, 1920. In 1925, he participated in quelling the Sheikh Said rebellion. He married Nezahat Hanım (1904-1996) in 1929. They had a son Ahmet Bali (1931-). He was then sent to France to learn cavalry warfare. After returning to Turkey, he was appointed to the teaching staff of the Cavalry School in 1927 and was promoted to the rank of Major on August 30, 1931. In 1935, he was assigned the commander of the Tank Battalion that was first tank unit of Turkey. In 1937, he returned to the Cavalry School and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel on August 30, 1938, and then Colonel on August 30, 1943.

He commanded the Turkish Brigade during the Korean War. His brigade saved Americans in Battle of Kunuri. Though it was initially placed as reserve for the U.S. 8th Army, the collapse of the front in the face of massive Chinese attacks on 26 November 1950, meant that it soon found itself in the thick of battle.

Having retired from the Army in 1952, he served as a member of parliament in the ruling Democratic Party from 1954. After the 1960 military coup his party was suppressed, and he spent five years in prison before being released.