Erzerum Campaign

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Erzerum Campaign


caption=Russian troops holding captured standards at Erzerum.
date=10 January, 1916 – 16 February, 1916
place=Erzerum, Turkey,
result=Decisive Russian victory
combatant1=flag|Russian Empire|size=25px
combatant2=flag|Ottoman Empire|size=25px
commander1=Nikolai Yudenich
commander2=Kerim Pasha
strength1=Russian Caucasus Army
290,000 infantry
35,000 cavalry
150 trucks
20 planes
strength2=Third Army
78,000
casualties1=10,000 killed
4,000 sick
casualties2= ? killed
12,000 prisoners

The Erzerum Campaign, also known as the Erzerum Offensive and 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 led to a decisive Russian victory.

Background

After the defeat at the Battle of Sarikamish, the Ottomans tried to reorganize. The Armenian Genocide 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. cite book
last = Walton
first = Robert
author link =
title =The Fall of Erzerum. Marshall Cavendish Illustrated Encyclopedia of World War I, vol iv
publisher = Marshall Cavendish Corporation
year =1984
location =New York
pages = pp.1262-1264
isbn = 0-86307-181-3] However,throughout 1915, the northern sectors of this front remained quiet.

At the same time, the end of the Gallipoli Campaign would free up considerable Turkish soldiers. Yudenich knew this and prepared to launch an offensive. He hoped to take the 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, the Russians had 130,000 infantry and 35,000 cavalry. Further, they had 160,000 troops in reserve, 150 supply trucks, and 20 planes of the Siberian Air Squadron. Facing them were 78,000 Turkish troops.

The battle

The first engagement was the capture of Azkani 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 the remaining forts surrounding Erzerum were evacuated.On morning of February 16th the 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 fighting and conquest the Russians captured some 9 standards, 12,000 prisoners and 323 guns. They lost 10,000 killed and 4,000 became affected with frostbite.As a result of this defeat, Kerim Pasha was replaced by a new commander Vehib Pasha.As a further result of the Erzerum Campaign, Trebizond fell in April.

References

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.]