MSB | T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı

Orgeneral Kâzım ÖZALP 1882 yılında Köprülü’de doğdu. Harp Okulundan 1902 yılında teğmen, devam ettiği Harp Akademisinden 1905 yılında mümtaz yüzbaşı olarak mezun oldu. 1911 yılına kadar ordunun çeşitli kademelerinde görev aldı. (Kurmaylığı 28 Mart 1911’de onaylandı.) 5 Kasım 1911’de kurmay kıdemli yüzbaşılığa terfi etti. Balkan Savaşı’nda Vardar Ordusu kuruluşundaki 5’inci Kolordu Kurmaylığına getirildi. 25 Haziran 1913’te Çatalca Ordusu Sol Cenah (Kanat) Komutanlığı Kurmay Heyetinde görev aldı. 9 Kasım 1913’te 1’inci Kolordu Kurmaylığına atandı. 17 Mart 1914’te kurmay binbaşılığa yükseldi ve aynı tarihte Van Jandarma Alay Komutanlığına getirildi. Bu görevinde iken Birinci Dünya Savaşı’na girildi. 26 Mart 1915’te Seyyar Jandarma Tümen komutanı olarak atandı. Bu Tümen ile Dilmen, Rumiye, Hoy, Saray ve Van yakınlarında Ruslarla giriştiği muharebelerde başarı elde etti. 20 Mayıs 1915’te kurmay yarbay oldu. 15 Ağustos 1915’te 36’ncı Tümen komutanı olarak atandı. 1 Eylül 1917’de kurmay albaylığa terfi etti. 11 Ocak 1918’de 37’nci Kafkas Tümen komutanı oldu. Bu görevde iken 10’uncu ve 3’üncü Kafkas Tümenleri de emrine verildi, Trabzon ve Batum’un kurtarılmasıyla görevlendirildi. 31 Aralık 1918’de 60’ıncı Tümen komutanı, 9 Ağustos 1919’da 61’inci Tümen komutanı olarak tayin edildi. Heyet-i Temsiliye kararıyla Kuzey Cephesi Komutanlığına atandı. Bu görevdeyken Kuvayımilliye ile birlikte Anzavur Ayaklanması’nı bastırdı, 6 Nisan 1921’de Kocaeli Bölge komutanı ve sonra Mürettep Kolordu komutanı, 7 Eylül 1921’de 3’üncü Kolordu komutanı oldu. 12 Eylül 1921’de tümgeneralliğe yükseldi. 14 Ocak 1922’de Millî Savunma bakanı olarak atandı. 25 Eylül 1922’de korgeneralliğe terfi etti. 22 Kasım 1924 tarihinde Millî Savunma Bakanlığı görevi sona erdi. 26 Kasım 1924’te TBMM Başkanı olarak göreve başladı. 30 Ağustos 1926’da orgeneralliğe terfi eden ÖZALP, 6 Temmuz 1927’de kendi isteği ile emekliye ayrıldı. 1920-1946 yılları arasında Balıkesir milletvekili ve aynı zamanda 1924-1935 yılları arasında TBMM Başkanı, 1935 yılında tekrar Millî Savunma bakanı, VI, VII, VIII. dönemlerde Balıkesir, IX. Dönem’de Van milletvekili seçildi. Osmanlı Devleti ve Alman İmparatorluğu tarafından verilen çeşitli nişan ve madalyalar ile TBMM tarafından verilen İstiklal Madalyası sahibi olan Orgeneral Kâzım ÖZALP 6 Haziran 1968’de vefat etmiştir.

General Kâzım Fikri ÖZALP was born in Köprülü, in 1882. He graduated from the Military Academy as a lieutenant in 1902 and from the Military Academy in 1905 as a distinguished captain. He served at various levels of the army until 1911. (His staff was confirmed on March 28, 1911.) On November 5, 1911, he was promoted to staff senior captain. In the Balkan War, he was assigned to the 5th Corps Staff founded in the organization of the Vardar Army. On June 25, 1913, he took part in the Staff Committee of the Çatalca Army Left Wing Command. On November 9, 1913, he was appointed Chief of Staff of the 1st Army Corps. On March 17, 1914, he was promoted to staff major, and on the same date, he was also appointed commander of the Van Gendarmerie Regiment. While in this position, the First World War broke out. On March 26, 1915, he was appointed commander of the Mobile Gendarmerie Division. With this division, he achieved success in the battles he fought against the Russians near Dilmen, Rumiye, Hoy, Saray, and Van. On May 20, 1915, he became a staff lieutenant colonel. On August 15, 1915, he was appointed commander of the 36th Division. On September 1, 1917, he was promoted to staff colonel. On January 11, 1918, he became commander of the 37th Caucasian Division. While he was in this position, he was tasked with the liberation of Trabzon and Batumi; to this end, the 10th and 3rd Caucasian Divisions were given at his orders. On December 31, 1918, he was appointed commander of the 60th Division, and on August 9, 1919, he was appointed commander of the 61st Division. He was appointed as the Commander of the Northern Front by the decision of the Council of Representatives. While in this position, he suppressed the Anzavur Uprising together with the Kuvay-i Milliye, became the Kocaeli Regional Commander on April 6, 1921, and then the commander of the Territorial Corps and the commander of the 3rd Corps on September 7, 1921. On September 12, 1921, he was promoted to major general. On January 14, 1922, he was appointed Minister of National Defense. On September 25, 1922, he was promoted to lieutenant general. On November 22, 1924, his duty as Minister of National Defense ended. On November 26, 1924, he took office as the Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly. He was promoted to general on August 30, 1926, and retired voluntarily on July 6, 1927. He was elected Member of Parliament from Balıkesir throughout the Parliamentary General Elections held between 1920 and 1946 and served also as the Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly between 1924 and 1935. In 1935, he was appointed Minister of National Defense. He also served as a Member of Parliament, representing Van the IX Term Parliamentary General Elections held in 1950. General Kâzım Fikri ÖZALP was conferred various orders and medals by the Ottoman State and the German Empire, and the Medal of Independence was given by the Turkish Grand National Assembly. General ÖZALP passed away on June 6, 1968, in İstanbul.