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Rating: 
Summary: Ordered to Die
Review: Colonel Erickson has written an extraordinary book that provided, for the first time, a comprehensive chronicle of the often misunderstood Turkish Army of the Great War. This book belongs in the bookcase of all students of that tumultuous period. No other book exists that contains such a valuable amount of accurate information and explainations, including the much sought-after Orders of Battle with firm numbers that are unattainable elsewhere. This inside view sheds new light on famous battles, such as that of Gallipoli, often down to the last remaining artillery shells. The facination has been contageous. The cost is well worth it, in any currency.
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Summary: the best book about Turkish army and history between 1914-18
Review: I believe that Mr. Erickson had a great job by writing this book. He had made an outstanding resarch and analysis about Ottoman Empire and its army in the World War I. The strategies and combats in the war have been explained with every single detail. He also wrote about Mustafa K Ataturk, the founder of Modern Turkey, his famous quote "I don't order you to attack, I order you to die", which inspired the title of this book. I can truly say that this book is one of my favorite books. For non-native English speakers, I can easily say that it is not a difficult book to read.
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Summary: Failing to accomplish the task but the only work on subject.
Review: I have ordered the book as soon as I have seen it on Amazon`s listings in spite of its huge price. The book is alone in the field. There are no other works in English about Ottoman adventure in World War I. This book unfortunately fails to fill the gap either. The research is not comprehensive enough to be fullfilling. I am from Black Sea and have first degree information about the Russian invasion and the uprisings of Christian minorites. There is nothing new about the subject in this book either. For instance, the fact that Black Sea shore road is built by Russians is not mentioned in this book although it was in several English books I have read. The book merely and shortly repeats european comments on minorities and I still wonder about the what really happened between Turks and Christians. The same is valid with Kurds and Arabs. The book simply stays clear of real arguments by solely stating the distribution of Ottoman forces during World War I. The only success of the book is about Enver`s Sarikamis adventure. Even there failing to determine whow many soldiers lost and why???? The author does not even try to depict how was the human condition during the time in Asia Minor. The area is still virgin and I will still rely on my grand grand father`s version of human suffering in Asia Minor as my main source of information as they give more realistic picture of uman condition of the time. I advice the eager reader to Alan Moorehead`s Gallipoli for a real account of Gallipoli in particular but Turks still fail to write the history of their own except over-glorifying a single figure for what they think as history writing.
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Summary: A History of the Ottoman Army in the First World War
Review: It is easy to read. It is based on secondary sources such as Turkish official histories and staff studies. It is a useful book if you don't read Turkish.Some of the lessons from the book are very relevant today. - The best Turkish corps at the start of the war was the one that survived the Balkan Wars of 1912-13 (III Corps). It was the only one that mobilised during the time indicated in the mobilisation plan. It was also most efficient in action. Organisational structures matter; if you create new organisations it takes time for them to become as efficient as existing ones. - Because of disconnections in the Turkish railway network, troops suffered high losses to DNBI deploying from Istambul to Palestine and Iraq. Deploying troops accross European railway networks to Galicia did not result in similar losses. - The strength of the Turkish Army was in its Turkish language troops. Arabic-speaking troops recruited in Iraq, Palestine and Syria did not perform as well (the book does not explore why this was the case - though it is consistent with more recent conflicts).
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Summary: A Must for Military Historian
Review: It is the first English written military history book about WWI from the Turkish sources. So its giving the story from the other side of the front.
Even though author did not use original archives documents he still did a very good job. He managed to draw a face for the Turkish soldiers in opposition to other works.
I strongly advise it for everybody who wants to learn more than romantic Lawrence of Arabia stories.
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Summary: Simply excellent
Review: This is a really great book, superior in every aspect. For some unknown reasons, many people believe the WW1 is nothing but the Trench Warfare. However, there have been other battles on the Turkish Front, none of them being less impressive than the ones in Europe.
The book gives a good idea about the Turkish forces during the WW1. It has the honor of being the first serious review in English language and I hope it will stimulate further research.
I am glad I bought this book. The price appears to be high, but turns out to be reasonable in comparison to the value, as there is no way to reach this information elsewhere.
Congratulations and thanks to Mr. Erickson.
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Summary: A History of the Ottoman Army in the First World War
Review: What a remarkable study and research from Mr. Erickson. I gave 5 stars mainly because of the extensive research done by the author which ranks as number one on the subject. The details of every single action and battle that the Turkish Army was involved in WWI were carefully selected and tailored. Probably the most comprehensible book written on this subject except the official archives. Statistical information, references from eye withnesses, technical details of the combat units all available in this book. Do not purchase it if you are looking for a rather easy reading war memoirs. Can there be more to be said? Yes but still the book fills a gap. This is a professional work with great tactical detail. A must for every military history buff.
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Summary: Excellent Piece of Work
Review: What a remarkable study and research from Mr. Erickson. I gave 5 stars mainly because of the extensive research done by the author which ranks as number one on the subject. The details of every single action and battle that the Turkish Army was involved in WWI were carefully selected and tailored. Probably the most comprehensible book written on this subject except the official archives. Statistical information, references from eye withnesses, technical details of the combat units all available in this book. Do not purchase it if you are looking for a rather easy reading war memoirs. Can there be more to be said? Yes but still the book fills a gap. This is a professional work with great tactical detail. A must for every military history buff.
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