Azerbaijani Armed Forces mark its 91 years on Friday. First military unit – the special corpse was established by the decision of the government of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic on June 26, 1918. Then army call up decree was signed.
The Ministry of Defense was established on August 1, 1918 and first de facto Minister of Defense of ADR was Khosrov bey Sultanov. When the Ministry was formally established General Samed Bey Mehmandarov, who passed glorious way in Russian tsar army, became the minister, and then Lieutenant -General Ali-Agha Shikhlinski his deputy. Chief of General Staff was Habib Bey Salimov.
Azerbaijan formed 30 thousands troops in a short time. The National Army together with the Caucasian Islamic Army of the Ottoman Empire liberated Baku from the Armenian-Bolshevik occupation on September 15, 1918 and the national government of Azerbaijan moved from Ganja to Baku on September 17, 1918.
High-ranking officers of the Azerbaijani Army – Huseyn Khan Nakhchivanski, Ibrahim Agha Usubov, Hamid Gaitabashi, Kazim Gajar, Javad Bey Shikhlinski, Habib Bey Salimov and other made significant contributions to these achievements. After the occupation of Azerbaijan by the Bolshevik Russia in April 1920 and fall of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, the National Army was abolished by the Bolshevik government. 15 of 21 army generals were shot dead by Bolsheviks and most of commanders faced with repressions and were killed.
71 years later, when Azerbaijan restored its independence, the Defense Ministry was established on September 5, 1991 and Lieutenant – General Valeh Barshadli was appointed the minister. Azerbaijan Supreme Soviet adopted a law on the establishing of Armed Forces on October 9, 1991. By the decree issued by the President of Azerbaijan on May 22, 1998, the Day of National Army of Azerbaijan is marked on June 26 every year.
APA
