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{{Short description|1915–16 battles in the Caucasus Campaign}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Infobox military conflict {{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Battle of Bitlis<br>Битлисское сражение<br>Բաղեշի ճակատամարտ<br>Bitlis Savaşı | conflict = Battle of Bitlis<br>Битлисское сражение<br>Բաղեշի ճակատամարտ<br>Bitlis Muharebesi
| partof = ]
| image = ]<br>] | image = ]<br>]
| caption = | caption =
| date = July 1915 – August 1916 | date = July 1915 – August 1916
| place = ], ] | place = ], ]
| result = Russian victory | result = Russian victory<ref name=IMDA/><ref name=EA/><ref name=tucker2002/>
| combatant1 = {{flag|Russian Empire}} | combatant1 = ]
*] *]
*]<ref name="Mesopotamia, 1917-1920
⚫ | combatant2 = {{flag|Ottoman Empire}}
A Clash of Loyalties; a Personal and Historical Record"></ref>
⚫ | combatant2 = ]
*] tribesmen *] tribesmen
| commander1 = {{flagicon|Russian Empire}} ]<br>{{flagicon|Russian Empire}} ] | commander1 = ''']'''<br>]<br>]<ref name="Mesopotamia, 1917-1920
A Clash of Loyalties; a Personal and Historical Record"></ref>
| commander2 = {{flagicon|Ottoman Empire}} ]<br> {{flagicon|Ottoman Empire}} ]{{KIA}}<br>{{flagicon|Ottoman Empire}} ]
| commander2 = ''']'''<br>]{{#tag:ref|Army commander|group=cmt.}}
| strength1 = ]<br>] | strength1 = ]<br>]
| strength2 = ]<br>] Tribesmen | strength2 = ]<br>] Tribesmen
| casualties1 = Unknown | casualties1 = Unknown
| casualties2 = 34,000 | casualties2 = 34,000 captured or killed<ref name="tucker2002" />
}} }}
{{Campaignbox Caucasus Campaign}} {{Campaignbox Caucasus Campaign}}


The '''Battle of Bitlis''' refers to a series of engagements in the summer of 1916 for the town of ] and to a lesser extent nearby ], between ] and their ]. The town was the last stronghold of the Ottoman Empire preventing the Russians from entering Anatolia and Mesopotamia. The '''Battle of Bitlis''' refers to a series of engagements in the summer of 1916 for the town of ] and to a lesser extent nearby ], between ] and their ]. The town was the last stronghold of the Ottoman Empire preventing the Russians from entering Anatolia and Mesopotamia.
Part of the battle is known as ]


The first military confrontation at Bitlis occurred in July 1915, when Russian troops launched an unsuccessful assault on the town's fortifications. The second confrontation began in February 1916 and ended with the capture of Bitlis by new Russian corps, which largely consisted of the 1st Battalion of the Armenian volunteer units under the command of ]. The ] withdrawal from ] gave opportunity for Turkish forces to redeploy to the ] region. Russian commander ] intended to attack the Turks before they could organize their forces to launch an attack.<ref name="tucker2002">{{cite book |last=Tucker |first=Spencer |year=2002 |title=The Great War, 1914-1918 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v_2HAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA180 |publisher=UCL Press |pages=180–181 |isbn=1-85728-390-2 |author-link=Spencer C. Tucker |quote=But Yudenich retook both on 24 August, whereupon both sides retired into winter}}</ref> After a series of clashes in ], ], ], the Russian ] captured Bitlis on 2 March.<ref>{{cite book |last=Burg |first=David F. |year=2010 |title= Almanac of World War I|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dwhzE57Q0eUC |publisher=University of Kentucky Press |page=104|isbn=9780813127453}}</ref> The first military confrontation at Bitlis occurred in July 1915, when Russian troops launched an unsuccessful assault on the town's fortifications. The second confrontation began in February 1916 and ended with the capture of Bitlis by new Russian corps, which largely consisted of the 1st Battalion of the Armenian volunteer units under the command of ]. The ] withdrawal from ] gave opportunity for Turkish forces to redeploy to the ] region. Russian commander ] intended to attack the Turks before they could organize their forces to launch an attack.<ref name="tucker2002">{{cite book |last=Tucker |first=Spencer |year=2002 |title=The Great War, 1914-1918 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v_2HAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA180 |publisher=UCL Press |pages=180–181 |isbn=1-85728-390-2 |author-link=Spencer C. Tucker |quote=But Yudenich retook both on 24 August, whereupon both sides retired into winter}}</ref> After a series of clashes in ], ], ], the Russian ] captured Bitlis on 2-3 March,<ref>{{cite book |last=Burg |first=David F. |year=2010 |title= Almanac of World War I|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dwhzE57Q0eUC |publisher=University of Kentucky Press |page=104|isbn=9780813127453}}</ref> 1,000 more prisoners were taken in the city.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gilbert |first=Martin |author-link=Martin Gilbert |title=The First World War: A complete History |location=Moscow |publisher=Квадрига |year=2023 |isbn=978-5-389-08465-0 |page=322 }}</ref>


The Ottoman troops of ] were composed of veterans from the ]. They were to outflank the Russians in Bitlis before the end of March, but communications were terrible, and troops had to march from Ankara for a month. The ]'s (belated) offensive began on 2 August 1916 and successfully took back Bitlis (and ]) but lost other territories in the Euphrates region to the Russians.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Tucker |first1=Spencer |last2=Wood |first2=Laura Matysek |last3=Murphy |first3=Justin D. |year=1999 |title=The European Powers in the First World War: An Encyclopedia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gv3GEyB19wIC&pg=PA175 |publisher=Garland Publishing |page=175 |isbn=0-8153-3351-X}}</ref> On 24 August, the Russian forces had recaptured both Mush and Bitlis.{{sfn|Jaques|2006|p=143}}<ref name="tucker2002" /><ref>{{cite book |last=Chalabian |first=Antranig |date=1988 |title=General Andranik and the Armenian Revolutionary Movement |pages=273–275 |isbn=0962274119 |author-link=Antranig Chalabian}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Herman |first=Gerald |year=1992 |title=The Pivotal Conflict: A Comprehensive Chronology of the First World War, 1914-1919 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KAMMAQAAMAAJ |location=Westport, Connecticut |publisher=Greenwood Press |page=268 |isbn=0-313-22793-4}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=The International Military Digest Annual: A Review of the Current Literature of Military Science for 1915 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fRUJAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA224 |location=New York City |publisher=The International Military Digest |year=1916 |page=224 |quote=Noteworthy in this theater is the Russian success in recapturing Mush and Bitlis (Aug 25), which the Turks had won earlier in the month.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=] |volume=29 |location=Danbury, Connecticut |publisher=] |year=2000 |page=300 |isbn=0-7172-0133-3 |quote=In any case, Yudenich was able to recapture Mus and Bitlis on August 24.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |year=1970 |title=Encyclopedia Americana International Edition |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wKtRvM5yOZ4C |location=Danbury, Connecticut |publisher=Grolier |page=299 |quote=To the south, the Turkish Second Army took Mus and Bitlis in mid-August, but the Russians recaptured the two towns a week later.}}</ref> The Ottomans suffered 34,000 casualties, around half of which were POWs.<ref name="tucker2002" /> The Ottoman troops of ] were composed of veterans from the ]. They were to outflank the Russians in Bitlis before the end of March, but communications were terrible, and troops had to march from Ankara for a month. The ]'s (belated) offensive began on 2 August 1916 and successfully took back Bitlis (and ]) but lost other territories in the Euphrates region to the Russians.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Tucker |first1=Spencer |last2=Wood |first2=Laura Matysek |last3=Murphy |first3=Justin D. |year=1999 |title=The European Powers in the First World War: An Encyclopedia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gv3GEyB19wIC&pg=PA175 |publisher=Garland Publishing |page=175 |isbn=0-8153-3351-X}}</ref> On 24 August, the Russian forces had recaptured both Mush and Bitlis.{{sfn|Jaques|2006|p=143}}<ref name="tucker2002" /><ref>{{cite book |last=Chalabian |first=Antranig |date=1988 |title=General Andranik and the Armenian Revolutionary Movement |pages=273–275 |publisher=Antranig Chalabian |isbn=0962274119 |author-link=Antranig Chalabian}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Herman |first=Gerald |year=1992 |title=The Pivotal Conflict: A Comprehensive Chronology of the First World War, 1914-1919 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KAMMAQAAMAAJ |location=Westport, Connecticut |publisher=Greenwood Press |page=268 |isbn=0-313-22793-4}}</ref><ref name=IMDA>{{cite book |title=The International Military Digest Annual: A Review of the Current Literature of Military Science for 1915 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fRUJAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA224 |location=New York City |publisher=The International Military Digest |year=1916 |page=224 |quote=Noteworthy in this theater is the Russian success in recapturing Mush and Bitlis (Aug 25), which the Turks had won earlier in the month.}}</ref><ref name=EA>{{cite book |title=] |volume=29 |location=Danbury, Connecticut |publisher=] |year=2000 |page=300 |isbn=0-7172-0133-3 |quote=In any case, Yudenich was able to recapture Mus and Bitlis on August 24.}}</ref><ref name=EAIE>{{cite book |year=1970 |title=Encyclopedia Americana International Edition |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wKtRvM5yOZ4C |location=Danbury, Connecticut |publisher=Grolier |page=299 |quote=To the south, the Turkish Second Army took Mus and Bitlis in mid-August, but the Russians recaptured the two towns a week later.}}</ref> The Ottomans suffered 34,000 casualties, around half of which were POWs.<ref name="tucker2002" />


==References== == See also ==
*]
⚫ {{Reflist}}
*]


==Notes and references==
{{reflist|group=cmt.}}
⚫ {{Reflist}}
]


==Sources== ==Sources==
*''The Berlin-Baghdad Express: the Ottoman Empire and Germany's bid for world power'', Sean McMeekin, page 243 *''The Berlin-Baghdad Express: the Ottoman Empire and Germany's bid for world power'', Sean McMeekin, page 243
*{{cite book |title=Dictionary of Battles |first=Tony |last=Jaques |volume=1,A-E |publisher=Greenwood Press |year=2006 |quote=While Russian General Nikolai Yudenich seized Erzincan, Ahmet Izzet Pasha's Second Army advanced agains the Russian left flank, where his corps cammder Mustafa Kemal seized Bitlis and Mus. Yudenich counter-attacked and, after prolonged combat west of Lake Van, he retook Bitlis and the Turks abandoned Mus before winter ended the fighting."}} *{{cite book |title=Dictionary of Battles |first=Tony |last=Jaques |volume=1,A-E |publisher=Greenwood Press |year=2006 |quote=While Russian General Nikolai Yudenich seized Erzincan, Ahmet Izzet Pasha's Second Army advanced against the Russian left flank, where his corps cammder Mustafa Kemal seized Bitlis and Mus. Yudenich counter-attacked and, after prolonged combat west of Lake Van, he retook Bitlis and the Turks abandoned Mus before winter ended the fighting.}}
* {{Cite book |last=Öz Akçora, Kaya |first=Ergün, Mehmet |url=https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/549884 |title=The Place and Importance of Bingöl and Bitlis in the First World War |date=May 14, 2022}}


{{Ottoman battles in the 20th century}} {{Ottoman battles in the 20th century}}

Latest revision as of 05:45, 19 January 2025

1915–16 battles in the Caucasus Campaign
Battle of Bitlis
Битлисское сражение
Բաղեշի ճակատամարտ
Bitlis Muharebesi
Part of Caucasus campaign

DateJuly 1915 – August 1916
LocationBitlis Vilayet, Ottoman Empire
Result Russian victory
Belligerents

Russian Empire

Ottoman Empire

Commanders and leaders
Nikolai Yudenich
Andranik Ozanian
Agha Petros		 Mustafa Kemal Pasha
Ahmed Izzet Pasha
Strength
Russian Caucasus Army
Armenian Fedayi		 Second Army
Kurdish Tribesmen
Casualties and losses
Unknown 34,000 captured or killed
Caucasus campaign
Associated articles

The Battle of Bitlis refers to a series of engagements in the summer of 1916 for the town of Bitlis and to a lesser extent nearby Muş, between Russian Imperial forces and their Ottoman counterparts. The town was the last stronghold of the Ottoman Empire preventing the Russians from entering Anatolia and Mesopotamia. Part of the battle is known as Battle of Muş

The first military confrontation at Bitlis occurred in July 1915, when Russian troops launched an unsuccessful assault on the town's fortifications. The second confrontation began in February 1916 and ended with the capture of Bitlis by new Russian corps, which largely consisted of the 1st Battalion of the Armenian volunteer units under the command of Andranik Ozanian. The Allied withdrawal from Gallipoli gave opportunity for Turkish forces to redeploy to the Caucasus region. Russian commander Nikolai Yudenich intended to attack the Turks before they could organize their forces to launch an attack. After a series of clashes in Koprukoy, Erzurum, Muş, the Russian IV Caucasian Corps captured Bitlis on 2-3 March, 1,000 more prisoners were taken in the city.

The Ottoman troops of Ahmed Izzet Pasha were composed of veterans from the Gallipoli campaign. They were to outflank the Russians in Bitlis before the end of March, but communications were terrible, and troops had to march from Ankara for a month. The Turkish Second Army's (belated) offensive began on 2 August 1916 and successfully took back Bitlis (and Muş) but lost other territories in the Euphrates region to the Russians. On 24 August, the Russian forces had recaptured both Mush and Bitlis. The Ottomans suffered 34,000 casualties, around half of which were POWs.

See also

Notes and references

  1. Army commander
  1. ^ 1931, p. 35
  2. ^ The International Military Digest Annual: A Review of the Current Literature of Military Science for 1915. New York City: The International Military Digest. 1916. p. 224. Noteworthy in this theater is the Russian success in recapturing Mush and Bitlis (Aug 25), which the Turks had won earlier in the month.
  3. ^ Encyclopedia Americana. Vol. 29. Danbury, Connecticut: Grolier. 2000. p. 300. ISBN 0-7172-0133-3. In any case, Yudenich was able to recapture Mus and Bitlis on August 24.
  4. ^ Tucker, Spencer (2002). The Great War, 1914-1918. UCL Press. pp. 180–181. ISBN 1-85728-390-2. But Yudenich retook both on 24 August, whereupon both sides retired into winter
  5. Burg, David F. (2010). Almanac of World War I. University of Kentucky Press. p. 104. ISBN 9780813127453.
  6. Gilbert, Martin (2023). The First World War: A complete History. Moscow: Квадрига. p. 322. ISBN 978-5-389-08465-0.
  7. Tucker, Spencer; Wood, Laura Matysek; Murphy, Justin D. (1999). The European Powers in the First World War: An Encyclopedia. Garland Publishing. p. 175. ISBN 0-8153-3351-X.
  8. Jaques 2006, p. 143.
  9. Chalabian, Antranig (1988). General Andranik and the Armenian Revolutionary Movement. Antranig Chalabian. pp. 273–275. ISBN 0962274119.
  10. Herman, Gerald (1992). The Pivotal Conflict: A Comprehensive Chronology of the First World War, 1914-1919. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. p. 268. ISBN 0-313-22793-4.
  11. Encyclopedia Americana International Edition. Danbury, Connecticut: Grolier. 1970. p. 299. To the south, the Turkish Second Army took Mus and Bitlis in mid-August, but the Russians recaptured the two towns a week later.

Sources

  • The Berlin-Baghdad Express: the Ottoman Empire and Germany's bid for world power, Sean McMeekin, page 243
  • Jaques, Tony (2006). Dictionary of Battles. Vol. 1, A–E. Greenwood Press. While Russian General Nikolai Yudenich seized Erzincan, Ahmet Izzet Pasha's Second Army advanced against the Russian left flank, where his corps cammder Mustafa Kemal seized Bitlis and Mus. Yudenich counter-attacked and, after prolonged combat west of Lake Van, he retook Bitlis and the Turks abandoned Mus before winter ended the fighting.
  • Öz Akçora, Kaya, Ergün, Mehmet (May 14, 2022). The Place and Importance of Bingöl and Bitlis in the First World War.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
Ottoman Empire Ottoman battles in the 20th century
Italo-Turkish War (1911–1912)
Balkan Wars (1912–1913)
First World War (1914–1918)

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