Battle of Lovcha

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Battle of Lovcha

Date	1–3 September 1877
Location	Lovech, Bulgaria
Result	Russian victory

Belligerents

Russian Empire

Ottoman Empire

Commanders

Alexander Imerentinsky

Mikhail Skobelev

Osman Pasha

Ali Pasha

Strength

20,000

15,000

Casualties and losses

1,500 killed wounded or captured

5,200 killed wounded or captured

Russo-Turkish War, 1877–1878

Kızıl-Tepe – Simnitza – Svistov – Nikopol – 1st Shipka Pass – 2nd Shipka Pass – Lovcha – 3rd Shipka Pass – Gorni-Dubnik – Kars – Pleven – Tashkessen – 4th Shipka Pass – Plovdiv

The Battle of Lovcha, or Loftcha (today Lovech), was a battle of the Russo-Turkish War, 1877–78 which occurred during the siege of Pleven. Russian forces successfully reduced the fortress at Lovcha which had protected Pleven's communication and supply lines.

In July, 1877 shortly after the siege of Pleven began, the garrison commander Osman Pasha, received 15 battalions of reinforcements from Sofia. Osman choose to use these reinforcements to fortify Lovcha which protected the communication and supply lines running from Orchanie to Pleven.

After the failure of the first two attempts to storm the city of Pleven, the Russians brought up significant reinforcements and the investing army now totaled 100,000. Intent on cutting Osman's communications and supply lines, General Mikhail Skobelev was sent out with 20,000 Russian troops with the intention of reducing Lovcha.

On September 1 Skobelev reached Lovcha and attacked the city. Fighting continued on for the next two days. Osman marched out of Pleven to the relief of Lovcha but before he could reach to city it fell to the Russians on September 3. Survivors of the battle withdrew into Pleven and were organized into 3 battalions. After the loss of Lovcha, these additional troops brought Osman's force up to 30,000; the highest it would get during the siege. After the fall of Lovcha, the Russians settled on the strategy of a complete investment of Pleven, and with the loss of its major supply route the fate of Pleven was inevitable.