Battle of Sardarapat
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| Battle of Sardarapat | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Caucasus Campaign in the Middle Eastern Theatre (World War I) | |||||||
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| Combatants | |||||||
 Ottoman Empire |
 Democratic Republic of Armenia |
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| Commanders | |||||||
| Vahib Pasha | Movses Silikian | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 100,000 [2] | 40,000 | ||||||
| Casualties | |||||||
| 30,000 | 30,000 | ||||||
| 30,000 Armenian civilian casualties | |||||||
| Caucasus Campaign |
|---|
| Sarikamis – Malazgirt – Van – Koprukoy – Erzurum – Erzincan – Bitlis – Kara Killisse – Sardarapat – Bash Abaran – Baku |
The Battle of Sardarabad was a battle of the Caucasus Campaign of World War I that took place in the city of Sardarapat, Armavir, Armenia in May 22-26, 1918.
Contents |
[edit] Background
Just two months after the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed, the Ottoman Empire attacked into what had been Russian-Armenian territory.[3] Elements of the Fourth Army crossed the border in May 1918 and attacked Alexandropol (modern-day Gyumri). The Ottoman Army intended to crush the Democratic Republic of Armenia and seize Transcaucasia. The German government objected to this attack and refused to help the Ottoman Army in this operation.
At that time, only a small area of Armenian territory remained unconquered by the Ottomans, and into that area hundreds of thousands of Armenian refugees had fled after the Armenian Genocide.
The Ottoman Forces forces began a three-pronged attack in an attempt to conquer Armenia. When Alexandropol fell, the Ottoman Army moved into the Ararat Valley – the heart of Armenia. There they ran into a large (6,000-man?) force under the command of General Movses Silikian.
[edit] Active Stage
The battle at Sardarapat (now Armavir) took place on May 22-26 1918, the middle column of the Ottoman Army was defeated and forced to retreat. However, the other two columns of the Ottoman Army were undefeated and they forced the Armenian Army to retreat in disarray after another engagement.
[edit] Aftermath
Later in May. Defeated, the Democratic Armenian Republic had to sue for peace in June, 1918. The Ottoman Empire had conquered the Armenian Republic. Worried by the Ottoman conquest of Armenia, the Democratic Republic of Georgia to the north asked for, and gained, German protection. However, with the defeat of the Central Powers in October of 1918, the Armenian Republic again declared its independence from the Ottomans.
[edit] Memorial
The Sardarapat memorial in Armavir, Armenia is dedicated to the site where the Battle of Sardarapat took place.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Genocide survivors recall victory at Sardarapat
- ^ The first republic
- ^ Source: Armenian Highland "The Battle of sardarapat : ", chronicle 225 (1997-2006)
[edit] Sources
- Source: Martin Gilbert "The First World War : A Complete History", pg. 422 (1991?)
- Source: Armenian Highland "The Battle of sardarapat : ", chronicle 225 (1997-2006)
- Source: Hrant sarkisov "Shoulder to shoulder : (May 26, 1918)
