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, also known as the Battle of Erzerum 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

Main articles: Armenian Genocide and Battle of Sarikamish

After the defeat at the Battle of Sarikamish, the Ottomans tried to reorganize. Armenian persecutions made supplying their forces a problem. Trade by Armenians, which had supplied the Ottoman Army, was disrupted. Dismissal of Armenian soldiers into labor battalions and their massacres further worsened the problem. However,throughout 1915, the northern sectors of this front remained quiet.

At the same time, end of the Gallipoli Campaign would free up considerable Turkish soldiers. Yudenich knew this and prepared for an offensive. He hope to take main fortress of Erzerum in the area followed by Trebizond. It was a difficult campaign as Erzerum was protected by a number of forts in the mountains.

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.

Russian preparations

For the operations, Russians had 130,000 infantry and 35,000 cavalry. Further, the had 160,000 reserves, 150 supply trucks, and 20 planes of Siberian Air Squadron. Facing them were 78,000 Turkish troops.

The battle

The first engagement was the capture of Azankai village and its mountain crest of Kara Urgan in mid January. The main town on the road to Erzerum, Koprukoy, fell on January 17th. Hassankale was taken on January 18th, and Kargabazar Dag on the 23rd. Hinis, located further south, was taken on February 7th to prevent reinforcements from Moush from coming in. The Deve-Boyun Ridge, an important artillery platform was taken on February 11. Fort Tafet was taken on the 14th. By the 15th remaining forts surrounding Erzerum were evacuated. On morning of February 16th Russians entered the city. Russian cossacks were among the first to enter the city.

On the same day, Russian forces captured Mush, seventy miles from Erzerum.

Results

During the nine days of fighting and conquest the Russians captured some 9 standarts, 12,000 prisoners and 323 guns. The lost 10,000 killed and 4,000 became affected with frostbite. As a result of the Erzurum Campaign, Trebizond fell in April. As a result of this defeat, Kerim Pasha was replaced by a new commander Vehib Pasha.

External Links

• [http://www.greatwardifferent.com/Great_War/Russian_Battery/Erzerum_02.htm The Great War’ vol. 6, edited by H.W. Wilson, Chapter 109

'The Renewed Russian Offensive and the Fall of Erzerum' by F. A. McKenzie]

• [http://www.greatwardifferent.com/Great_War/Russian_Battery/Erzerum_Advance_01.htm The Children’s Story of the War’ vol 5

'The Advance on Erzerum' by Sir Edward Parrott, M.A. L.L.D. ]