Erzurum offensive

Erzerum Campaign
File:Russianeda.JPG Russian troops entering Erzurum.
Date 10 January-16 February, 1916 Location Erzurum, Turkey Result Decisive Russian victory
Belligerents
Russian Empire	Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Nikolai Yudenich	Kerim Pasha
Strength
Russian Caucasus Army 290,000 infantry 35,000 cavalry 150 trucks 20 planes	Third Army 78,000
Casualties and losses
10,000 killed 4,000 sick	? killed 12,000 prisoners

The Erzerum Campaign was a major winter offensive on the Caucasus front that led to the capture of the strategic city of Erzerum. Ottoman forces in winter quarters suffered a series of unexpected reverses that let to a decisive Russian victory.

Background

Russia had won a significant battle at Sarikamis (1914) and had captured parts of the Turkish Caucasus but lacked the resources to exploit their victories. In August 1915 they lost Van to the Turks (though they recaptured it one month later) and in September Grand Duke Nicholas arrived as Russian viceroy in the Caucasus. The Grand Duke kept General Yudenich in command of the army and he proved his worth in the 1916 campaigns. General Yudenich planned an offensive aimed at the fortress of Erzurum which had been the launching point for the Turkish offensive in 1914.

The Battle of Gallipoli was ending and the Ottoman victory would free some divisions for redeployment elsewhere. Eight of these divisions were designated for the Caucasus Front. Yudenich believed he could launch an offensive before these divisions could be ready for battle.

The Campaign Begins

On January 11, in the middle of winter, Yudencih moved his army out from winter quarters in secrecy. The Russian Army was split into two columns, the first column would attack Erzurum from the north, and the second column from the south. The Russian Army had been issued winter weather gear before the campaign started and was better equipped then their Turkish opponents. For three days the Russians advanced with no resistance, it wasn't until the Battles of Koprukoy and Tafta on January 14 that here was any fighting in the Erzurum Campaign.

The Battle of Koprukoy

The first Russian column advanced towards Erzurum and encountered Turkish troops outside the city of Koprukoy on January 14. The Russians immediately launched attacks against the chain of Turkish forts around Koprukoy. Most of the forts were captured by the Russians on the 14th, and the rest of the Forts were captured by the Russians on January 15. The Turks retreated from the town, but were surrounded by Russian troops outside of Koprukoy. After three hours of intense fighting outside of Koprukoy, the Turkish troops surrendered to Russians and the Russians continued their advance on Erzurum.

The Battle of Tafta

The second column of the Russian offensive arrived at the town of Tafta on January 13. The Turkish troops had retreated from the town when the Russians arrived, and now the Turkish troops were gathering for an attack on the Russians in the town. The Turkish attack began on January 14 with the Turks beginning a bombardment of the town. during the night of January 14 the Russians slipped out of the town and encircled the Turkish forces. On January 15 the Turks found themselves surrounded by Russians. After a two hour battle where the Turks attempted to break out of the Russian encirclement, the Turks surrendered to Russians, who resumed their march against Erzurum.

The Battle of Semirum

The Second Russian column arrived on the outskirts of Erzurum on January 17. The entrance to the city was guarded by the fortress of Semirum. The Russians began bombarding the fort on January 17, and on January 18 the Turks advanced from the fort to the Russian lines, only to cut down by machine gun fire. After the failed Turkish attacks the Russian were able to easily storm the fort and resume their advance on Erzurum.

The Capture of Erzurum

After taking Semirum (January 18), the second Russian column camped outside the city of Erzurum. The Russians decided to wait for the first column to arrive before attacking the city. When the first Russian column arrived outside Erzurum on January 19, Kerim Pasha, the commander of the ottoman forces inside Erzurum, lost his nerve and decided to retreat from Erzurum rather than risk a battle with the superior Russian forces. The Russians marched into Erzurum unopposed on January 20.

The limit of the Russian advance into Anatolia

Results

During the nine days of fighting and conquest the Russians captured some 13,000 prisoners and 323 guns. As a result of the Erzurum Campaign, the Ottomans lost an important fort, supply base and strategic position. With the Third Army once again broken and demoralized the Russians were able to advance deep into Anatolia. In the southern area of Armenia, Muş and Bitlis were captured in early March. In the north, Trebizond fell in April. As a result of this defeat, Kerim Pasha was replaced by a new commander Vehib Pasha.

Sources

• Tucker, Spencer The Great War: 1914-18 (1998)
• Compton's Home Library: Battles of the World CD-ROM
• Pollard, A. F. (1920). A Short History of the Great War (chapter 10).
• Chronology of Russian Military Actions in World War 1