8th Corps (Turkey)

The 8th Corps (Turkish: 8. Kolordu) is a field corps of the Turkish Army. It is headquartered at Elazığ in Elazığ Province. It appeared to have been under command of General Osman Erbaş, until his death in a 2021 helicopter crash. Current leadership after the crash is unknown. From 1923, with its headquarters at Tokat it comprised the 12th and 15th Divisions. In 1945 it remained under Third Army with the same two divisions attached, the 12th at Sivas and the 15th at Samsun. During the 1998–2004 period, the Turkish Land Forces maintained two brigades separately in Tatvan, Bitlis Province, separated by physical location. The 10th Infantry Brigade (10. Piyade Tugayı) operated out of the Sorgun Barracks (Sorgun Kışlası), a lakeside compound. Yaşar Güler commanded this brigade about 2001. The 6th Armored Brigade (6. Zırhlı Tugayı) occupied the Kuyaş and Vural Barracks (Kuyaş ve Vural Kışla Binaları). These compounds contained vehicle bays, tank maintenance garages, and fortified ammunition depots. Among the units of the 6th Armoured Brigade was the 2nd Tank Battalion (2. Tank Taburu). The two brigades remained at Tatvan until a reorganisation in the mid-2000s, during which the tanks of the 6th Armoured Brigade were reassigned. The 10th Motorized Infantry Brigade then took over the Kuyaş and Vural barracks. The 10th Brigade changed over from an infantry to a commando brigade in November 2015. The 8th Corps is currently led by Tümgeneral Ümit Durmaz, who assumed command after previously serving as the Istanbul Central Commander. Official regional command tour coverages from the last 24 months report the corps commander conducting joint security infrastructure reviews and operational briefings alongside the leadership of three components: the 6th Border Brigade (6'ncı Hudut Tugayı) during frontier inspections, the 10th Commando Brigade (10'uncu Komando Tugayı) in Tatvan, and the 49th Commando Brigade (49'uncu...