Battle of Sarıkamıs
Quick Summary
The Battle of Sarıkamış was a disastrous military engagement during World War I between the Russian and Ottoman armies in the Caucasus region. In December 1914, the Ottoman 3rd Army, led by Enver Pasha, launched an offensive against Russian positions near Kars and Ardahan. The Ottoman forces, ill-equipped for the harsh Caucasian winter, suffered immense losses not only from combat but also from exposure and exhaustion. Their army was drastically reduced in size within a month. This defeat contributed to subsequent events, including the Ottoman government's decision to deport Armenians, which resulted in widespread atrocities. The Russian forces, under Grand Duke Nicholas and General N.N. Yudenich, later launched successful offensives in Turkish Armenia.12
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
- Armenian GenocideGenocide
…back the Russians at the battle of Sarıkamış, only to suffer the worst Ottoman defeat of the war. Although poor generalship and harsh conditions were the main reasons for the loss, the Young Turk government sought to shift the blame to Armenian treachery. Armenian soldiers and other non-Muslims in the…
Read More…back the Russians at the battle of Sarıkamış, only to suffer the worst Ottoman defeat of the war. Although poor generalship and harsh conditions were the main reasons for the loss, the Young Turk government sought to shift the blame to Armenian treachery. Armenian soldiers and other non-Muslims in the…
Read More 
Enver Paşa…defeat in December 1914 at Sarıkamış, where he lost most of the 3rd Army. He recovered his prestige, however, when the Allied forces withdrew from the Dardanelles (1915–16). In 1918, following the Russian Revolution of 1917 and Russia’s withdrawal from the war, he occupied Baku (now in Azerbaijan). After the…
Read More…defeat in December 1914 at Sarıkamış, where he lost most of the 3rd Army. He recovered his prestige, however, when the Allied forces withdrew from the Dardanelles (1915–16). In 1918, following the Russian Revolution of 1917 and Russia’s withdrawal from the war, he occupied Baku (now in Azerbaijan). After the…
Read More