Caucasus campaign

The Caucasus campaign was a major series of armed conflicts during World War I. It took place in a mountainous region spanning from the South Caucasus to the Armenian Highlands.

The fighting involved the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire. Over time, many other groups joined the struggle. These included Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and the German Empire. The British Empire also sent forces to the region. Land battles were supported by naval engagements in the Black Sea. This campaign was a critical part of the Middle Eastern theatre of the war.

Strategic goals drove the actions of the major empires. The Ottoman Empire wanted to recover territory lost during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78. Their forces aimed to retake specific areas like Artvin, Ardahan, Kars, and the port of Batum. Ottoman War Minister Enver Pasha also hoped to reach Tiflis through a revolt of Caucasian Muslims. Another major goal was to cut Russian access to hydrocarbon resources near the Caspian Sea. Russia viewed this front as secondary to the European Eastern Front. However, they feared an Ottoman advance into Kars and Batum.

The conflict began on November 1, 1914, with a Russian invasion of Turkish Armenia. This was known as the Bergmann Offensive. The Russian forces used 25 infantry battalions and 120 artillery guns to start the movement. They aimed to capture Doğubeyazıt and Köprüköy. The Ottoman 3rd Army responded with an offensive on November 7.

The war saw intense fighting in harsh winter conditions. These early movements set the stage for years of complex territorial shifts and military maneuvers.

A tragic chapter of the campaign was the Turkish genocide of the Armenians. This began in April 1915 when 250 Armenians were arrested. The official reason given was that Armenians might serve as a fifth column for Russia. The genocide continued until 1918.

This period caused immense suffering for the Armenian population. It remains one of the most serious and somber aspects of the region's history during the Great War.

Armenian forces played a vital role throughout the fighting. Initially, Armenian volunteer units were established under the Russian armed forces. These units were led by commanders like Andranik Ozanian and Drastamat Kanayan.

These forces often operated as partisan guerrilla detachments known as the Armenian Fedayee. By the beginning of 1918, the Armenian National Army consisted of approximately 21,000 soldiers. This included 17,000 former Russian troops and 4,000 local volunteers. Despite being outnumbered at times, they were often well-equipped and highly trained.

Military numbers and international support shifted as the war progressed. At the start, Ottoman forces ranged from 100,000 to 190,000 men. By 1916, they sent massive reinforcements, including 445 battalions and 12,000 Kurds. Russia began with 100,000 men but had to move many to the Prussian front. This left only about 60,000 troops in the Caucasus. Japan also provided significant support to Russia. They supplied about 300,000 6.5 mm caliber rifles to the Caucasus and Northern fronts.

The Russian Revolution in February 1917 changed everything. The Russian Caucasus Army began to disintegrate as regular regiments deserted. This led to the creation of the Transcaucasian state.

In 1918, new political entities emerged, such as the Central Caspian Dictatorship and the Republic of Mountainous Armenia. The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk on March 3, 1918, ended the conflict between Russia and the Ottoman Empire. Later, the Treaty of Batum allowed Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia to gain independence. The campaign finally concluded with the Armistice of Mudros on October 30, 1918. These events fundamentally redrew the map of the Caucasus region.