Battle of Shipka Pass

Vasily V. Vereschagin. Battlefield near Shipka Pass

Four battles were fought between the Russian Empire aided by Bulgaria volunteers known as Opalchentsi, and the Ottoman Empire for control over the crucial Shipka Pass during the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878).

First Battle of Shipka Pass

First Battle of Shipka Pass
Part of the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878)
Date July 17–19, 1877 Location Shipka Peak, Bulgaria Result Russian-Bulgarian victory
Belligerents
Russian Empire Bulgaria	Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Joseph Gourko	Suleiman Pasha
Strength
5000	30 000
Casualties and losses
211 on the first day	?

In July, 1877 four Russian corps had crossed the Danube River and were moving into Bulgaria. To precede the main Russian army Joseph Vladimirovich Gourko led a detachment to capture the vital Balkan Mountain passes. Gourko approached Shipka Pass, which was held by a Turkish garrison of 4,000-5,000 soldiers under Suleiman Pasha.

On July 17, Gourko attacked from the north with four divisions. The two flank divisions captured mountain positions but the two divisions in the center were repulsed. On the 18th Gourko attacked from the south. Again the main attack on the pass was repulsed but the Russians carried some of the trenches. Gourko planned a combined attack from the north and the south on the 19th. The next day however the Turks evacuated the pass and Russia took possession of it.

In just over two weeks Gourko had captured three important mountain passes but the main army would become held up the day after Shipka Pass fell in the Siege of Pleven. The Turks would make two major attempts to retake the pass in 1877 and then in 1878 Gourko delivered a final blow to the Turks in the Shipka Pass area.

Second Battle of Shipka Pass

Second Battle of Shipka Pass
Part of the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878)
Date August 21–26, 1877 Location Shipka Peak, Bulgaria Result Russian-Bulgarian victory
Belligerents
Russian Empire Bulgaria	Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
General Stoletov	Suleiman Pasha
Strength
7,500 27 guns	30,000
Casualties and losses
?	10,000 killed

The Second Battle of Shipka Pass took place in August 1877.

After taking the pass in July, 1877 the Russian forces built up a defensive position there. Russian General Stoletov placed his 7,500 defenders (4,200 Bulgarians, 3,300 Russians) on three positions at St. Nicholas (today: Peak Stoletov), Central Hill and the reserves in between these two points.

Suleiman Pasha gathered 38,000 Turks and was determined to retake the pass instead of simply bypassing it. On August 21, the Turks bombarded Russian positions and then made an attack against St. Nicholas. The attack was repulsed and the Turks dug in 100 yards (91 m) away. The next day the Turks moved their artillery up the mountain side and bombarded the pass while the infantry moved around the Russian flank. On August 23, the Turks attacked all Russian positions with the main effort again at St. Nicholas. One Russian unit began to retreat on Central Hill but rallied when the 4th Rifle Brigade arrived and all Turkish attacks were repulsed. On the 26th, a Turkish attack on St. Nicholas reached the Russian trenches but was repulsed by a bayonet charge. More Russian reinforcements arrived and on the 26th, an attack was made against the Turkish position but driven back to Central Hill. This ended the battle for all practical purposes.

The Russians and Bulgarians had made a gallant stand. Suleiman would attempt to retake the pass one more time in 1877.

Third Battle of Shipka Pass

Third Battle of Shipka Pass
Part of the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878)
Date September 13–17, 1877 Location Shipka Village, Bulgaria Result Russian victory
Belligerents
Russian Empire	Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Fyodor Radetzky	Suleiman Pasha
Strength
8,000	25,000
Casualties and losses
4,000	10,000

Suleiman Pasha made a second attempt to retake Shipka Pass from the Russians after a failed attempt in August. The Russian defenses had continually been worked on since August but reinforcements were limited due to the siege of Pleven. On September 13, Suleiman began to shell the Russians. The bombardment continued in earnest until the 17th when Suleiman launched a frontal assault against the St. Nicholas position. Capturing the first line of trenches, the Turks moved towards the summit. General Fyodor Radetzky, now commanding the defenses, brought up reinforcements and a Russian counterattack drove the Turks from all captured ground. Secondary Turkish assaults to the north were repulsed as well. This would be the last attempt the Turks made to retake Shipka Pass.

Fourth Battle of Shipka Pass

Fourth Battle of Shipka Pass
Part of the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878)
Date January 5–9, 1878 Location Shipka Village, Bulgaria Result Decisive Russian victory
Belligerents
Russian Empire	Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Joseph Gourko	Vessil Pasha
Strength
66,000	40,000
Casualties and losses
?	4,000 killed or wounded 36,000 surrendered

The Fourth Battle of Shipka Pass from January 5–9 was the final battle for Shipka Pass and a crushing Turkish defeat.

Background

In December, 1877, the fortress of Pleven surrendered to the Russian Army, freeing a significant number of Russian troops. General Gourko now had as many as 65,000 soldiers to contend with the Turks. First Gourko forced the Araba Konak Pass and took Sofia. From Sofia, he moved south through the Balkan Mountains to cut off the Turkish army fronting Shipka Pass.

The battle

General Radezky, commanding the garrison, made preparations to attack from the pass on January 5 while Gourko brought up two columns under Generals Mikhail Skobelev and Nikolai Mirskii to cut off the Turkish retreat. On January 8, Radezky's attack began but Skobelev was held up by unsuspectedly heavy resistance and Mirskii attacked unsupported, making little progress. On January 9, Mirskii faced a Turkish counterattack, but Skobelev was able to move forward in support and defeat the Turks. Completely surrounded, the remaining Turks under Vassil Pasha surrendered the same day.

Results

Russian forces under Gourko were able to crush Suleiman's army at the Battle of Plovdiv several days later and threaten Constantinople.

Sources

• http://members.aol.com/balkandave/shipka.htm
• http://abvg.net/Shipka/
• Compton's Home Library: Battles of the World CD-ROM
• http://www.russianwarrior.com/STMMain.htm?1877_militaryhist.htm&1
• Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1911 ed.

See also

• Battles of the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878)
• Shipka Memorial
• Epic of the Forgotten by Ivan Vazov
• History of Bulgaria
• City of Gabrovo
• Etar Architectural-Ethnographic Complex