He was born in Istanbul, in 1881. In 1899 he was graduated from the Military School, and in 1912 he was graduated from the Academy of War. He had been very successful in 2^nd Gazze War fought in the Palestine Front during the First World War.

His mission in the National Independence War had begun after he went to Samsun with Mustafa Kemal. Refet Bele was appointed as the commander of the 3^rd Army-corps. He joined Erzurum and Sivas Congresses as Samsun delegate. He was sent to Aydin and its province to repress the revolts. He stopped the “Cerkez Ethem Revolt”. He was promoted with General rank and appointed as the Minister of the Internal Affairs and Commander of the Western Fronts. In 1922, he was commissioned to recapture Trace.