MSB | T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı

Tümgeneral Ahmet Zeki SOYDEMİR 1883 yılında Selânik’te doğdu. Harp Okulundan 1905 yılında teğmen, devam ettiği Harp Akademisinden 1908 yılında mümtaz yüzbaşı olarak mezun oldu. 1912 yılına kadar ordunun çeşitli kademelerinde görev aldı. Balkan Savaşı’na 28 Kasım 1912’de Çatalca mevzisindeki Akhisar Taburu 3’üncü Bölük komutanı olarak katıldı. 14 Ağustos 1914’te 3’üncü Kolordu 27’nci Alay 1’inci Tabur 2’nci Bölük Komutanlığına getirildi. 1 Eylül 1914’te kıdemli yüzbaşılığa yükseldi ve müteakiben 18 Eylül 1914’te 3’üncü Kolordu Kurmaylığına atandı. Bu görevindeyken Birinci Dünya Savaşı’na girildi. 12 Temmuz 1915’te binbaşılığa yükseldi ve 21 Kasım 1915’te kurmaylığının onanmasıyla aynı tarihte 57’nci Alay 1’inci Tabur Komutanlığına getirildi; bu görevindeyken
12 Temmuz 1915’te kurmay binbaşılığa terfi etti. 1916 yılında Anafartalarda 21’inci Alay komutan vekili, 20 Haziran 1916’da 2’nci Ordu 2’nci Kolordu Kurmaylığına, 12 Mayıs 1918’de 48’inci Tümen Kurmay Başkanlığına atandı. 10 Kasım 1920’de 7’nci Atlı Piyade Tümen komutan vekili, Aralık 1920’de Güney Cephesi Komutanlığı kurmay başkanı oldu. 1 Mart 1921’de kurmay yarbaylığa yükseldi ve müteakiben 6’ncı Tümen komutanı, daha sonra Sakarya’da Mürettep Tümen komutanı, 17 Eylül 1921’de 2’nci Süvari Tümeni komutanı oldu. 31 Ağustos 1922’de kurmay albaylığa yükseldi. 27 Aralık 1923’te Genelkurmay 1’inci Şube Müdürlüğüne, 6 Haziran 1924’te Jandarma Genel Komutanlığına getirildi. 30 Ağustos 1927’de tümgeneralliğe terfi etti. 2 Ocak 1930’da 15’inci Tümen komutanı, 18 Mart 1930’da 1’inci Süvari Tümen komutanı, 13 Şubat 1931’de 57’nci Tümen komutanı, daha sonra 1’inci Süvari Tümen komutanı, 19 Mayıs 1932’de Askerî Temyiz Mahkemesi üyesi, 1 Ocak 1933’te 1’inci Ordu Müfettişliği kurmay başkanı olarak atandı. 17 Aralık 1934’te malulen emekli oldu. Sivil yaşamında V, VI ve VII. dönemlerde Erzurum milletvekili, VIII. Dönem’de Çankırı milletvekili olarak görev yaptı. Osmanlı Devleti ve Afganistan tarafından verilen çeşitli nişan ve madalyalar ile TBMM tarafından verilen İstiklal Madalyası sahibi olan Tümgeneral Ahmet Zeki SOYDEMİR, 4 Eylül 1954’te vefat etmiştir.

Major General Ahmet Zeki SOYDEMİR was born in Thessaloniki in 1883. He graduated from the Military Academy as a lieutenant in 1905, and from the War College, where he attended, as a distinguished captain in 1908. He served in various echelons in the army until 1912. He entered the Balkan War on November 28, 1912 as the 3rd Company Commander of the Akhisar Battalion in Çatalca position. On August 14, 1914, he was appointed as the Commander of the 2nd Company of the 1st Battalion of the 27th Regiment of the 3rd Corps, He was promoted to lieutenant commander on September 1, 1914 and subsequently appointed as the 3rd Corps Staff Officer on September 18, 1914. While he was on this duty, the First World War was entered. He was promoted to major on July 12, 1915, and with the approval of his staff position on November 21, 1915, he was appointed as the Commander of the 1st Battalion of the 57th Regiment; while he was on this duty, he was promoted to staff major on July 12, 1915. In 1916, he was appointed as the acting commander of the 21st Regiment in Anafartalar, on June 20, 1916, he was appointed as the Staff Officer of the 2nd Corps of the 2nd Army, and on May 12, 1918, he was appointed as the Chief of Staff of the 48th Division. He became the acting commander of the 7th Mounted Infantry Division on November 10, 1920, and the chief of staff of the Southern Front Command in December 1920. He was promoted to staff lieutenant colonel on March 1, 1921, and subsequently became the commander of the 6th Division, then the Commander of the Dispositional Division in Sakarya, and the commander of the 2nd Cavalry Division on September 17, 1921. He was promoted to staff colonel on August 31, 1922. He was appointed as the 1st Branch Director of the General Staff on December 27, 1923, and as the General Commander of the Gendarmerie on June 6, 1924. He was promoted to major general on August 30, 1927. He was appointed as the Commander of the 15th Division on January 2, 1930, commander of the 1st Cavalry Division on March 18, 1930, commander of the 57th Division on February 13, 1931, later commander of the 1st Cavalry Division, as a member of the Military Appeal Court on May 19, 1932, as a chief of staff of the 1st Army Inspectorate on January 1, 1933. He retired due to disability on December 17, 1934. In his civilian life, he served as a deputy for Erzurum in the V., VI. and VII. terms, as a deputy for Çankırı in the VIII. Term. Major General Ahmet Zeki SOYDEMİR, who was the owner of various decorations and medals given by the Ottoman Empire and Afghanistan and the Medal of Independence given by the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA), passed away on September 4, 1954.