Balkan Wars Military Map Thrace Campaign Ottoman Empire Greece Albania

Balkan Wars Military Map – Thrace Campaign (1328–1329)

Description:

This is an original Ottoman Turkish black-and-white military map related to the Balkan Wars. The map comes from the book titled 1328–1329 Balkan Harbi Trakya Seferi: 1. Cild; Harekat-ı Harbiyenin İbtidarına Kadar, published in 1340 (1924). The author is Mehmed Nihad, and the work was printed in Istanbul by Matbaa-i Askeriye, the official Ottoman military press, underscoring its formal and authoritative character.

The map is divided into two distinct sections, each documenting a different military command situation as of 18 September 1328 (1 October 1912), at the very beginning of the Balkan Wars.

The first map section shows the position of the 2nd Inspectorate Army. It covers a wide Balkan geography including Corfu, Greece, Thessaloniki, Albania, Montenegro, and North Macedonia. Both active (muvazzaf) and reserve (redif) Ottoman military units are clearly marked, making this section particularly valuable for understanding Ottoman force deployment at the outbreak of the war.

The second map section illustrates the situation of the 3rd Inspectorate, 8th Corps on the same date. This section shifts focus to Ottoman territories in southeastern Anatolia and the Levant, including Syria, Beirut, and the Jerusalem region. Together, the two maps provide a rare simultaneous view of both Balkan and Middle Eastern Ottoman military dispositions during a critical phase of the conflict.

Printed in Ottoman Turkish using, this large-format map was intended for professional military use rather than public circulation. Its size, detail, and official origin make it an exceptional primary source for scholars and collectors focusing on late Ottoman military history and the Balkan Wars.

Key Features:

• Type: Ottoman military map

• War Context: Balkan Wars (1328–1329 / 1912–1913)

• Publication Date: 1340 (1924)

• Source Book: 1328–1329 Balkan Harbi Trakya Seferi, Volume I

• Author: Mehmed Nihad

• Publisher: Matbaa-i Askeriye, Istanbul

• Language: Ottoman Turkish (Arabic script)

• Color: Black and white

• Format: Two-part military situation map

• First Map Section:
– Date shown: 18 September 1328 (1 October 1912)
– Unit: 2nd Inspectorate Army
– Regions shown: Balkans including Corfu, Greece, Thessaloniki, Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia
– Details: Active and reserve Ottoman units clearly indicated

• Second Map Section:
– Date shown: 18 September 1328 (1 October 1912)
– Unit: 3rd Inspectorate, 8th Corps
– Regions shown: Southeastern Anatolia, Syria, Beirut, Jerusalem

• Dimensions: 82 × 57 cm

• Historical Importance: Official Ottoman military documentation from the opening phase of the Balkan Wars

• Collecting Value: Highly desirable for military history and Balkan Wars collections