Military and administrative precautions implemented in Edirne and adjacent provinces in the context of the Cyprus Peace Operation

This thesis examines the military and administrative measures implemented along Turkey's northwestern border, particularly in Edirne and surrounding provinces, within the context of the 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation. Although geographically outside the immediate combat zone, the Thrace region gained strategic priority due to its anticipated role as the main frontline in the event of a potential Turkish-Greek conflict. In this framework, the Turkish Armed Forces carried out comprehensive command and control activities in the region to respond effectively to possible threat scenarios. The study systematically addresses the establishment of new military units, the modernization and redeployment of existing forces, as well as the security and preparedness measures undertaken by civil authorities. The research is based on primary sources such as the Republic Archive, official histories of military units from the period, academic publications, and relevant master's and doctoral theses. The collected data are evaluated through a holistic approach to analyze the indirect impact of the Cyprus Peace Operation on the Thrace region and to contextualize the military defense doctrines developed in this framework. The findings demonstrate that, as of 1974, the Turkish Armed Forces maintained conventional war readiness not only in the Cyprus theater but also along the Thracian front. In this regard, the establishment of new units, the reinforcement of existing elements, and the significant strengthening of regional defense capacity in Thrace were clearly observed.