Murder of Hilmi Beg, Mutasarrıf of Eskişehir

Many urban leaders of the Turkish National War of Independence were sequeezed between national forces and the İstanbul Governmont in their fight against enemy forces. Soon afterward, however, most of them recognized the very nature of the situation and participated in national forces, with little supporters left in favor of İstanbul Governmont. One of the advocates of İstanbul Government was Hilmi Beg, Mutasarrıf (local governor) of Eskişehir. Appointed to this position during his post in the IVth Damat Ferit Cabinett, he was an ardent opponent of national forces. After the British set out to occupy the regions along the railway route in accordance with the stipulations of the armstice in force, Eskişehir, due to his strategic location, was subjected to occupation. During this occupaation, Hilmi Beg cooperated both with Kiraz Hamdi Pasha and his recently founded 5th Army corps and the commander of the occupants in the town, against national forces. Hilmi Beg even promulgated a martil law, an act beyond his official authority. On October 4, 1919, He was murdered on his way to home for lunch. Ottoman Government assigned civil and official inspectors to inquire the incident. The commandery of national forces in the region and the Representative Committe also protested against the incident but, in spite of extensive inquiries, the perpetrator could not be detected.