Some Important Letters Regarding the Gangs Established by the Executives of the Trakya Paşaeli Cemiyeti after their Defection to Bulgaria and the Communication between them and the Members of the Organization

The executives and members of the Trakya Paşaeli Cemiyeti (Thracian Paşaeli Society) relocated to Bulgaria following the occupation of Edirne on July 25, 1920. Under the guidance of Kasım Yolageldili in Kızanlık and Eski Zağra, they established militias and coordinated assaults against the Greek military and police outposts. They hindered the Greek army's progress from Thrace to Anatolia and bolstered the National Struggle spearheaded by Mustafa Kemal Pasha. While in Bulgaria, the leadership of the society, organization members, and militia leaders corresponded and shared intelligence with one another. Some of these letters were encrypted. From the correspondence, it is clear that the society members effectively utilized their established intelligence network and garnered support from local Greeks in their actions against the Greek army. In several letters, ongoing differences of opinion among the society members are evident, even during their stay in Bulgaria. In one letter penned by Kasım Yolageldili, he firmly addressed these disagreements, asserting, “No matter what anyone says,I am loyal to Anatolia, to Ankara.” The gang commanders consistently reported their past and planned activities to Kasım Yolageldili, the director of the Thracian PaşaeliSociety, through their written correspondence, highlighting their challenges and needs. As the Greek army began its retreat, the leaders and gang members of the Thracian Paşaeli Society, who had sought refuge in Bulgaria, worked to maintain stability in the villages. Their efforts persisted until the Turkish Gendarmerie entered Edirne on November 24, 1922, and other occupation forces withdrew. Following the pivotal victory in Anatolia and the liberation of Thrace from Greek control, the Turkish gendarmerie entered Edirne on November 24, 1922, restoring order. Following the formal surrender of Edirne onNovember 25, 1922, society membersreturned from Bulgaria, and the gangs subsequently disbanded their operations.

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