Battle of Kara Killisse (1915)
Battle of Kara Killisse | |||||||
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Part of Caucasus Campaign | |||||||
Caucasus Front 1916 | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Russian Empire | Ottoman Empire | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Nikolai Yudenich | Abdul Kerim Pasha | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
140,000 Caucasus Army | 60,000[2] Third Army | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
Unknown |
16,000–20,000[a] 12 guns |
The Battle of Kara Killisse (Lit. Black church, Turkish: Karakilise Muharebesi), also known as the Battle of Malazgirt, was fought on the Caucasus front in July 1915 after the Battle of Manzikert.[5] In Russian historical literature, this engagement is considered as a part of "Alashkert defensive operation" (9 July-3 August). Previously in the summer of 1915 the Russians attacked Turkish positions northeast of lake Van but they underestimated the size of their enemy. They were defeated at the Battle of Manzikert. This success encouraged the Turks under Abdul Kerim Pasha to advance towards the Russians in the Eleşkirt valley while the Turks were pursuing the remnants of Oganovki's army across the Ağrı mountains they spread out and Russian general Yudenich took the opportunity to counterattack from the west with some 20.000 reinforcements, which were mostly Cossack units, to encircle them. in the following battles between 5–8 August the Turks retreated south, but the Russians only partially succeeded. The Turks lost some guns, a large amount of provisions and 10.000 killed and wounded, while 6.000-10,000 became prisoners.[6] Due to difficulties the Russians could not gain total advantage and retreated from the town of Van, and the Turks occupied it on 3 August.
Effect on Russian morale
[edit]While the battle was indecisive, and the ground situation changed little, the Russians perceived the battle as a victory, and it boosted national Russian morale. This minor victory provided some respite to the continuing losses on the Eastern Front.
References
[edit]- ^ World War I: encyclopedia, Ed. Spencer Tucker and Priscilla Mary Roberts, (ABC-CLIO, 2005), 740; "...Yudenich's accomplishment at Malazgirt proved to be the sole victory of the year for Russian troops."
- ^ Kernosovsky 1938, p. 546.
- ^ Spencer Tucker, The Great War, 1914-1918, (University College London Press, 1998), p.179
- ^ Oleynikov 2016, p. 257.
- ^ Clodfelter, Micheal (2002). Warfare and Armed Conflicts: A Statistical Reference to Casualty and Other Figures, 1500-2000. McFarland. p. 460. ISBN 0-7864-1204-6.
- ^ Spencer Tucker, The Great War, 1914-1918, (University College London Press, 1998), p.179
Spencer Tucker,The Great War, 1914–1918, page 179
- Köprüköy (Bergmann)
- Sarikamish
- Ardahan
- Suez Canal
- Naval operations
- Katya
- Seddülbayır (Cape Helles)
- Kumkale
- 1st Arıburnu (Anzac Cove)
- Baby 700
- 1st Kirte
- Battle of Dilman
- 2nd Arıburnu (2nd Anzac Cove)
- 2nd Kirte
- No.3 Post
- 3rd Arıburnu (3rd Anzac Cove)
- 3rd Kirte
- Zığındere
- Manzikert
- Kara Killisse
- Kirte Bağları (Krithia Vineyard)
- Kanlısırt (Lone Pine)
- Anafartalar
- Conkbayır
- Sarıbayır
- Kılıçbayır (The Nek)
- Hill 60
- Yusufçuktepe (Scimitar Hill)
- Selman’ı Pak (Ctesiphon)
- 1st Kut
- Sağ Sahil
- Erzurum offensive
- Wadi
- Felahiye (Hanna)
- Sabis
- Trebizond
- Mecca
- Erzincan
- Aqaba
- Bitlis
- Romani
- Bir el Abd
- Yanbu
- Magdhaba
- Rafa
- Nekhl
- Bir el Hassana
- 2nd Kut
- Samarrah
- Jebel Hamlin
- 1st Gaza
- 2nd Gaza
- Istabulat
- Aqaba
- Ramadi
- Wadi Musa
- Beersheba
- Khuweilfe
- 3rd Gaza
- Baghdad
- Hareira and Sheria
- Wadi el Hesi
- Huj
- Mughar Ridge
- Ayun Kara
- Jerusalem
- Jaffa
- Jericho
- Tell 'Asur
- Khan Baghdadi
- Hijla
- 1st Amman
- Berukin and 1st Arara
- 2nd Transjordan
- Abaran
- Sardarabad
- Karakilisa
- Goychay
- Aghsu
- Kurdamir
- Binagadi
- Baku
- Arsuf
- German Expedition
- Abu Tellul
- 2nd Arara
- Megiddo
- Tabsor
- Tulkarm
- Afulah and Beisan
- Nazareth
- Jenin
- Haifa
- Samakh
- Tiberias
- Irbid
- Jisr Benat Yakub
- Kaukab
- Damascus
- Kiswe
- Jisr ed Damieh
- Sharqat
- Aleppo
- Khan Ayash
- 2nd Amman
- Haritan
- For the battles before 1900 see List of battles involving the Ottoman Empire
Bibliography
[edit]- Oleynikov, Alexei (2016). Россия-щит Антанты [Russia-Shield of Entente]. Foreword by Nikolai Starikov. St.Petersburg: Piter. ISBN 978-5-496-01795-4.
- Kernosovsky, Anton (1938). История русской армии: Борьба на Кавказе [History of the Russian army: Struggle in Caucasus].