| Revision as of 17:42, 4 July 2023 editMovaigonel (talk | contribs)180 edits ←Created page with '{{infobox military conflict | conflict = Bitlis offensive | place = Bitlis, Turkey | date = 2 - 8 August 1916 | image = Bitlis_offensive.png | caption = Map representing the Bitlis Offensive, ''(William Edward David Allen.)'' | result = Ottoman Empire victory.<ref>{{harv|Mango|2011|p=118}} "On 6 August, Mustafa Kemal's 16th corps recaptured Muş. The following day, '''his troops...'Tags: harv-error Visual edit | Revision as of 17:50, 4 July 2023 edit undoActivelyDisinterested (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users50,362 edits Resolving Category:Harv and Sfn no-target errors. All authors in the cite must be used in the refNext edit → | ||
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| | partof = ] | | partof = ] | ||
| | commander1 = {{flagicon|Ottoman Empire}} ''']''' | | commander1 = {{flagicon|Ottoman Empire}} ''']''' | ||
| | commander2 = {{flagicon|Armenia}} ] ] <ref>{{harv|Mango|2011|p=118}} "The Russian division which moved south of lake Van and occupied Bitlis was '''commanded by an Armenian, General Nazarbekov'''"</ref> <ref>{{harv|Allen|2011|p=422}} "NAZARBEKOV ABANDONS BITLIS"</ref> | | commander2 = {{flagicon|Armenia}} ] ] <ref>{{harv|Mango|2011|p=118}} "The Russian division which moved south of lake Van and occupied Bitlis was '''commanded by an Armenian, General Nazarbekov'''"</ref> <ref>{{harv|Allen|Muratoff|2011|p=422}} "NAZARBEKOV ABANDONS BITLIS"</ref> | ||
| | campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Caucasus Campaign}} | | campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Caucasus Campaign}} | ||
| | strength2 = {{flagicon|Armenia}} 6,000<ref>{{harv|Allen|2011|p=421}} "General Nazarbekov had 6000 infantry..."</ref> | | strength2 = {{flagicon|Armenia}} 6,000<ref>{{harv|Allen|Muratoff|2011|p=421}} "General Nazarbekov had 6000 infantry..."</ref> | ||
| | strength1 = ''Not specified'' | | strength1 = ''Not specified'' | ||
| }}The '''Offensive of Bitlis''' in August 1916 was a military campaign during ], where the 5th Turkish Infantry Division launched an attack on the strategically important city of Bitlis, held by the Russian forces under the command of ]. This offensive resulted in a Turkish victory, as General Nazarbekov made the decision to withdraw from Bitlis, ultimately abandoning the city to the advancing Turkish forces. | }}The '''Offensive of Bitlis''' in August 1916 was a military campaign during ], where the 5th Turkish Infantry Division launched an attack on the strategically important city of Bitlis, held by the Russian forces under the command of ]. This offensive resulted in a Turkish victory, as General Nazarbekov made the decision to withdraw from Bitlis, ultimately abandoning the city to the advancing Turkish forces. | ||
| == Offensive == | == Offensive == | ||
| On August 4th, ] received information that enemy forces, including askers and Kurds, were operating in the nearby valley of ] Fearing isolation and being aware of the risks, ] made the decision to withdraw his troops after dark, skillfully utilizing rear-guards to cover their retreat. They relocated to a strong defensive position five miles northeast of Bitlis, in front of the village of Başan, in the upper defile of the ].<ref name=":0">{{harv|Allen|2011|p=421-422}}</ref> | On August 4th, ] received information that enemy forces, including askers and Kurds, were operating in the nearby valley of ] Fearing isolation and being aware of the risks, ] made the decision to withdraw his troops after dark, skillfully utilizing rear-guards to cover their retreat. They relocated to a strong defensive position five miles northeast of Bitlis, in front of the village of Başan, in the upper defile of the ].<ref name=":0">{{harv|Allen|Muratoff|2011|p=421-422}}</ref> | ||
| During the 6th, the Turkish forces did not engage ] troops, seemingly content with the recapture of ]. However, on the evening of that day, news arrived that the 261st Regiment had lost Muş. Consequently, on the 7th, Nazarbekov deemed it necessary to move further north to Tatvan, situated at the southwestern edge of Lake Van. However, even in Tatvan, he still felt vulnerable and decided to continue his retreat to Ahlat, located at the northwestern end of the lake.<ref name=":0" /> | During the 6th, the Turkish forces did not engage ] troops, seemingly content with the recapture of ]. However, on the evening of that day, news arrived that the 261st Regiment had lost Muş. Consequently, on the 7th, Nazarbekov deemed it necessary to move further north to Tatvan, situated at the southwestern edge of Lake Van. However, even in Tatvan, he still felt vulnerable and decided to continue his retreat to Ahlat, located at the northwestern end of the lake.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
Revision as of 17:50, 4 July 2023
| Bitlis offensive | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Caucasus Campaign | |||||||
 Map representing the Bitlis Offensive, (William Edward David Allen.) | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Ottoman Empire | |||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Mustafa Kemal Pasha |
 Tovmas Nazarbekian  | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Not specified |
6,000 | ||||||
The Offensive of Bitlis in August 1916 was a military campaign during World War I, where the 5th Turkish Infantry Division launched an attack on the strategically important city of Bitlis, held by the Russian forces under the command of General Nazarbekov. This offensive resulted in a Turkish victory, as General Nazarbekov made the decision to withdraw from Bitlis, ultimately abandoning the city to the advancing Turkish forces.
Offensive
On August 4th, General Nazarbekov received information that enemy forces, including askers and Kurds, were operating in the nearby valley of Güzel-çay. Fearing isolation and being aware of the risks, Nazarbekov made the decision to withdraw his troops after dark, skillfully utilizing rear-guards to cover their retreat. They relocated to a strong defensive position five miles northeast of Bitlis, in front of the village of Başan, in the upper defile of the Bitlis-çay.
During the 6th, the Turkish forces did not engage General Nazarbekov's troops, seemingly content with the recapture of Bitlis. However, on the evening of that day, news arrived that the 261st Regiment had lost Muş. Consequently, on the 7th, Nazarbekov deemed it necessary to move further north to Tatvan, situated at the southwestern edge of Lake Van. However, even in Tatvan, he still felt vulnerable and decided to continue his retreat to Ahlat, located at the northwestern end of the lake.
Despite suffering considerable losses, the Turkish forces, supported by attached auxiliary formations who possessed local knowledge and mobility, proved to be instrumental in achieving victory. General Nazarbekov's decision to withdraw from Bitlis demonstrated his concerns about isolation, but also reflected his lack of adaptability to the specific challenges of his mission.
In less than a week of fighting, Mustafa Kemal's right flank, led by the 5th Turkish Infantry Division, successfully secured Bitlis, thereby achieving a significant Ottoman victory.
Notes and References
- (Mango 2011, p. 118) "The Russian division which moved south of lake Van and occupied and supported by Armenian volunteer."
- (Mango 2011, p. 118) "On 6 August, Mustafa Kemal's 16th corps recaptured Muş. The following day, his troops entered Bitlis and pushed on to the south shore of lake Van. It was an important success which earned Mustafa Kemal..."
- Kinross, Patrick (2012-05-03). Ataturk. Orion. ISBN 978-1-78022-444-2.
Kemal recaptures Bitlis and Mush from Russians
- (Mango 2011, p. 118) "The Russian division which moved south of lake Van and occupied Bitlis was commanded by an Armenian, General Nazarbekov"
- (Allen & Muratoff 2011, p. 422) "NAZARBEKOV ABANDONS BITLIS"
- (Allen & Muratoff 2011, p. 421) "General Nazarbekov had 6000 infantry..."
- ^ (Allen & Muratoff 2011, p. 421-422)
Books
- Mango, Andrew (2011-06-23). Ataturk. John Murray Press. ISBN 978-1-84854-618-9.
- Allen, William Edward David; Muratoff, Paul (2011-02-17). Caucasian Battlefields: A History of the Wars on the Turco-Caucasian Border 1828-1921. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-108-01335-2.