Enver Paşa (ca. 1881–1922)

Although Enver Paşa (ca. 1881–1922) came from humble origins, he had a successful career in the army and became war minister of the Ottoman Empire during the Balkan wars in 1914. He was involved in the Young Turk Revolution of 1908 and fought enthusiastically on behalf of the Pan-Turkist movement. After the end of the First World War in 1918, Enver Paşa lost his ministerial post and, facing imminent arrest, fled abroad. After a stay in Germany, he joined the Basmatschi in Central Asia and fought alongside them against the Bolsheviks.

Enver Paşa (ca. 1881–1922), black-and-white photograph, undated, unknown photographer; source: Library of Congress LC-USZ62-77293.