Lieutenant General Osman Erbaş (20 March 1962 – 4 March 2021) was a Turkish army officer. He was a keen proponent of the use of unmanned aerial vehicles by the Turkish Army in anti-terrorism operations. In 2015 he was appointed commander of the 6th Mechanized Infantry Division and ordered his officers to remain loyal during the 15 July 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt. Erbaş later testified as a witness at the trial of soldiers accused of joining the coup attempt. In 2017 he was appointed to command 8th Corps and while serving in this role was killed in a helicopter crash in 2021.
Osman Erbaş | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1962 Yerköy district, Yozgat Province, Turkey |
| Died | (aged 58) Bitlis province, Turkey |
| Allegiance |  Turkey |
| Service | Turkish Land Forces |
| Years of service | 1982–2021 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant General |
| Commands |
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| Battles / wars | |
Early career
editOsman Erbaş was born in Saray village in the Yerköy district of Yozgat Province, Turkey on 20 March 1962.[1][2] He was the only son in his family and left his home at the age of 17.[3] Erbaş graduated from the Turkish Military Academy (Kara Harp Okulu) in 1983, the Army War College (Kara Harp Akademisi) in 1997 and the Armed Forces College (Silahlı Kuvvetler Akademisi) in 2000.[1]
As a general officer
editIn 2008, Erbaş was promoted to the rank of brigadier general and was appointed to a role in the Ministry of National Defense's inspection department. In 2010, he was appointed commander of the 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade. Erbaş was a keen proponent of unmanned aerial vehicles and brought in comprehensive training in their use in anti-terrorism operations for the men in his brigade. In 2012, he was promoted to major general and appointed head of army intelligence.[1]
In 2015, Erbaş was appointed commander of the 6th Mechanized Infantry Division. He was in this role during the 15 July 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt and gave orders to his subordinates to resist the attempt. He afterwards attended ceremonies for those men of the security services who were killed in the coup attempt, stating that their killers "are not soldiers", but "murderers".[1] Erbaş was a witness in the March 2017 trial of 35 former soldiers of the 106th Artillery Regiment who were accused of participating in the coup.[4]
Erbaş was promoted to lieutenant general in 2016 and appointed commander of 8th Corps in 2017.[2] He was involved in operations against the Gülen movement which Turkey has designated as an Islamist terrorist organisation (FETO).[5][6]
Death
editErbaş was one of 11 military personnel killed in a military helicopter crash on 4 March 2021 in Bitlis.[1] Erbaş was among five men who were taken to Tatvan State Hospital with injuries, but he and two others died there.[6][2] Erbaş is buried in Cebeci Military Cemetery.[2] Erbaş was married with two children.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Şehit Korgeneral Osman Erbaş kimdir? Korgeneral Osman Erbaş aslen nereliydi, kaç yaşındaydı? İşte bilinmeyenleri..." Milliyet. 5 March 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
- ^ a b c d Merkezi, Haber (3 March 2024). "Korgeneral Osman Erbaş Kimdir? Korgeneral Osman Erbaş Neden ve Nasıl Öldü?". Kocaeli Gündem (in Turkish). Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ "Şehit Korgeneral Osman Erbaş'ın ablası konuştu: Ana baba hasreti ile yandı, vatan sağ olsun". Sabah (in Turkish). 5 March 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
- ^ "Korgeneral Osman Erbaş'ın o sözleri hiç unutulmadı FETÖ'cü hain için 'vur emri' çıkarmıştı". Hurriyet (in Turkish). 4 March 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
- ^ "Anıl Tetik'ten Osman Erbaş paylaşımı! 'Canım komutanım...'". Yasemin (in Turkish). 5 March 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ a b "8'inci Kolordu Komutanı Korgeneral Osman Erbaş şehit oldu!". Gazete Vatan (in Turkish). 5 March 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ "Osman Erbaş kimdir? Şehit Korgeneral Osman Erbaş nereli, kaç yaşında? Osman erbaş nerelerde görev yaptı?". Gazete Vatan (in Turkish). 5 March 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2024.