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Bitlis offensive
Part of Caucasus Campaign
Map representing the Bitlis Offensive, (William Edward David Allen.)
Date 2 - 8 August 1916 Location Bitlis, Turkey Result Ottoman Empire victory. Bitlis re-captured
Belligerents
Ottoman Empire	Russian Empire Armenian volunteer units
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

1. (Mango 2011, p. 118) "The Russian division which moved south of lake Van and occupied and supported by Armenian volunteer."
2. (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..."
3. Kinross, Patrick (2012-05-03). Ataturk. Orion. ISBN 978-1-78022-444-2. Kemal recaptures Bitlis and Mush from Russians
4. (Mango 2011, p. 118) "The Russian division which moved south of lake Van and occupied Bitlis was commanded by an Armenian, General Nazarbekov"
5. (Allen 2011, p. 422) harv error: no target: CITEREFAllen2011 (help) "NAZARBEKOV ABANDONS BITLIS"
6. (Allen 2011, p. 421) harv error: no target: CITEREFAllen2011 (help) "General Nazarbekov had 6000 infantry..."
7. ^ (Allen 2011, p. 421-422) harv error: no target: CITEREFAllen2011 (help)

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.