Seizure of Erzurum by Russian troops

3 (16) February 1916, in the course of the Erzurum operations of the World War I, Russian troops took the Erzurum Fortress.

Within a few months after the outbreak of the First World War, Turkey remained neutral. However, in October 1914, the Turkish fleet in the Black Sea shelled the Russian ports of Sevastopol, Odessa, Novorossiysk. In response, 2 (15) November, Russia declared war to Turkey, and opened a new Caucasian front. In winter, the Turkish troops began the offensive there, but suffered a complete defeat.

In August 1915, Grand Duke Nicholas, the former Supreme Commander, took the commandment over the Caucasian Front. In January 1916 the Russian troops assumed a successful offensive. Having made the most difficult passage over the icy steep mountain slopes, the Russian troops led by General Nikolai Yudenich came to the Turkish fortress of Erzurum. The possession of the fortress provided domination over all areas of eastern Turkey. Located at the altitude of 3 km, well protected by forts, the fortress was considered impregnable.

All storm preparations, such as the necessary maneuvers to safely provide the main operation, not allowing the Turks to pull all forces from other directions to Erzurum, regrouping of forces, the occupation of the basic positions, study of approaches, intelligence of the enemy, preparing the home front, the concentration of military and food supplies, had taken 21 days. Particular difficulties were caused by the delivery of siege weapons with platforms and their munitions, which were necessary for the preparation of attacks against the forts of Choban-dede and the Dalan-gez.

Russians began the storm of Erzurum January 29 (February 11). Advancing from the north was the 2nd Turkestan Corps, and from the east – the 4th Infantry Division and the Caucasus 1st Caucasian Corps. On the whole, for the assault were intended 78 battalions, 54.5 Cossack squadrons, four companies of sappers, and 180 guns, 16 of which were heavy ones, delivered from Kars by autos. The Russian offensive was successful. Already on 30 January (12 February), Russian forces captured the two forts at the important sectors, which allowed them to go north to the rear of the Turkish positions. 3 (16) February Russian troops stormed the Erzurum, and the Turks were driven back by 70-100 km to the west. Upon reaching the milestone of Memahatun on 13 (26) March and Hibonsi on March 25 (April 7), the Russian army ceased the pursuit, and stopped because of the difficulty of supply of food and ammunition by unprepared winter mountain roads.

During the storm the Russian troops had lost two thousand and three hundred men killed and 13 thousand wounded; the enemy had lost 40 thousand wounded and dead, 13 thousand prisoners, and 325 guns.

Due to the capture of Erzurum, the Turkish advance towards the Suez Canal and Egypt was stopped, and the British expeditionary force in Mesopotamia gained more freedom of action.

However, the Brest Treaty, signed in March 1918, wiped out these gains. Moreover, under the peace treaty Turkey received Kars, Ardahan and Batum. Before the war these cities belonged to Russia, and Turkish troops never entered them in the course of the battles.

Lit.: Керсновский А. А. История Русской армии. Т. 4. М. 1994; Корсун Н. Г. Эрзерумская операция на Кавказском фронте Мировой войны в 1915-1916 гг. М. 1938; Масловский Е. В. Мировая война на Кавказском фронте 1914-1917 гг. Париж, 1933; Рутыч Н. Н. Белый фронт генерала Юденича. Биографии чинов Северо-Западной армии. М. 2002; Штейфон Б. А. Штурм Эрзерума // Военный сборник № 10. Белград, 1929.

Based on the Presidential Library’s materials:

World War I (1914-1918): [digital collection];

Korsun N. G. Erzerum operation: on the Caucasian front of the world war in 1915-1916. Moscow, 1938.