Editing Özel Harp Dairesi (section)

===Shared Objectives and Tactics:===
Like other Gladio branches (e.g., Italy’s Gladio, Belgium’s Glavia), the ÖHD aimed to prevent communist influence through covert operations, including false-flag attacks and support for militias. The 1955 Istanbul Pogrom and the 1970s violence against leftists and Kurds mirror Gladio’s “strategy of tension” in Europe, designed to create fear and justify authoritarian measures.

The ÖHD’s civilian arm, known as the White Forces, included “patriotic volunteers” who were secretly armed and trained, similar to Gladio’s civilian networks in other countries. These volunteers were implicated in political assassinations, such as that of journalist Abdi İpekçi, and the escape of his killer, Mehmet Ali Ağca, linked to the Grey Wolves.

The ÖHD’s involvement in the 1971 and 1980 military coups, led by figures like General Kenan Evren (head of Counter-Guerrilla), reflects Gladio’s role in supporting “anti-communist” regimes. High-ranking ÖHD officers, including Memduh Tağmaç, Faik Türün, and Sabri Yirmibeşoğlu, were key coup plotters.