---
title: Bekir Sami Günsav
slug: bekir-sami-gunsav-3ccfc
url: /detay/bekir-sami-gunsav-3ccfc
type: biography
language: English
entity:
  primary: Bekir Sami Günsav
  type: biography
  categories:
    - name: Intelligence, Security, and Defense
      slug: istihbarat-guvenlik-ve-askeri-calismalar
      url: /kategori/istihbarat-guvenlik-ve-askeri-calismalar
  tags:
    - Bekir Sami Günsav
    - War of Independence
    - National Struggle
    - Ottoman Empire
    - Çanakkale
author: Yunus Emre Sağlam
created_at: 2025-12-01T10:54:08.697797+03:00
updated_at: 2025-12-01T10:54:08.697813+03:00
image: https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2025/07/11/wD81C8zLvnPmIgBhVOejbr5LvReRCQQP.png
---

# Bekir Sami Günsav

> Bekir Sami Günsav, who held various positions in the Ottoman Army and later took on various services during the National Struggle, is particularly known for his military activities during the Çanakkale and Liberation Wars.

<!-- CONTEXT: KURE Information Cards for "Bekir Sami Günsav" -->

## KURE Information Cards

![18.jpg](https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2025/07/11/sM6kDgHzaMYVhJY35lPtQ9fWn3TPoBKc.jpg)
*Bekir Sami Günsav*

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Birth | 1879, Ottoman Empire |
| Death | 1934, Türkiye |
| Ethnic Origin | Circassian |
| Rank | Major of the General Staff |
| Years of Service | Early 1900s – Late 1920s |
| Notable Positions | 56th Division Command, National Struggle (1919) |
| Works / Documents | Military memoirs and reports dated 1919 |
| Campaigns Participated In | Western Anatolia (Soma, Balıkesir) |

<!-- CONTEXT: Article Content for "Bekir Sami Günsav" -->

## Article Content

[Bekir Sami Günsav](/en/detay/bekir-sami-gunsav-9e91c/llms.txt) was a Circassian officer who held significant military roles during the final period of the Ottoman Empire and the founding process of the Republic of Türkiye, particularly known for the responsibilities he assumed during the Gallipoli Campaign and the [War of Independence](/en/detay/journey-to-independence-the-national-struggle-peri/llms.txt). His military service and memoirs have shed light on the military-political atmosphere of his era.

### **Years at the War College and Early Military Career**

Bekir Sami Günsav, born in 1879, served in various units after graduating from the War College. In his early career, he gained experience through service in different provinces of the Ottoman Army. At the beginning of his officer years, he held various postings in the Balkans and Anatolia.

### **Roles During the National Struggle**

Bekir Sami Günsav assumed a key role during the National Struggle, which began in 1919. In May–June 1919, following the occupation of [İzmir](/en/detay/canakkale-6ea77/llms.txt), he took responsibility for organizing the emerging regular forces in Western Anatolia. He commanded the 56th Division, one of the first regular units established in support of the National Struggle. Activities conducted around [Balıkesir](/en/detay/balikesir-province-bef7e/llms.txt) and Soma were shaped under his leadership.

### **Memoirs and Documents**

Günsav compiled his military notes into a book, leaving behind an important source on the organizational process of the National Struggle. In these notes, he provided detailed accounts of the front-line conditions in 1919, the status of units, and relations with the civilian population. The documents and reports he personally authored are regarded as primary sources in Turkish military historiography.

### **Retirement and Death**

After the War of Independence, Bekir Sami Günsav retired from active service and died in 1934. He is regarded as an important figure for understanding the spirit of his era, both as a soldier and as a memoirist.

<!-- CONTEXT: Academic Sources and References for "Bekir Sami Günsav" -->

## Academic Sources and References

1. Gürler, Hamdi. \*Albay Bekir Sami (Günsav), Mayıs-Haziran 1919\*. Genelkurmay Başkanlığı, Askerî Tarih Arşivi Yayını. Accessed July 10, 2025.
2. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı. "Kurmay Albay Bekir Sami Günsav (1879–1934)." \*ATA-MSGB\*, Accessed July 10, 2025. https://ata.msb.gov.tr/Genel/icerik/bekir-sami-gunsav
3. Ünal, Muhittin. "Bekir Sami Günsav (1879–1934)." \*Atatürk Ansiklopedisi\*, July 10, 2025. Accessed July 10, 2025. https://ataturkansiklopedisi.gov.tr/detay/708/Bekir-Sami-G%C3%BCnsav-(1879-1934)