Battle of Sarikamish (1920)

The Battle of Sarıkamış was a conflict between the First Republic of Armenia and the Eastern Front of the Army of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey which was on September 29, 1920, at Sarıkamış.

Battle of Sarıkamış
Part of Turkish-Armenian War
DateSeptember 29, 1920
Location
Sarıkamış (present-day Kars Province, Turkey)
Result Turkish victory
Belligerents
Armenia Armenia Ankara Government
Commanders and leaders
Armenia Simon Vratsian
Armenia Dr. Artashes Babalian		 Kâzım Karabekir
Osman Nuri Koptagel
Halit Karsıalan
Strength
2,500 infantry
400 cavalry
70 machine guns and 18 cannons[1]		 Elements of the 12th division[1]

Background
Main article: Turkish-Armenian War

In late September 1920 the Armenians initiated several attacks against Turkish forces in the area. On 24 September an Armenian force of at least 800 men, supported with nine machine guns, began an unsuccessful attack against the weak Turkish entrenchments in Bardız Şenkaya.[2] The attack was repulsed and cost them 47 killed and several wounded.[2] Additionally, two machine guns and ammunition were captured by the Turks. The Turks suffered eight killed and ten wounded during the attack.[2] These attacks gave the Turkish commanders an insight into Armenian military capabilities.

Active Stage

The Turkish forces quickly defeated the Armenian troops in the town. The remaining Armenian forces retreated to the Kötek-Selim-Göle line and stayed there until 30 September.[1]

Results

By September 29, Karabekir's forces had retaken Sarıkamış and the following day Kağızman.

References
  1. Mehmet Saray: Kafkas araştırmaları, İstanbul Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi, 1996, page 101. (in Turkish)
  2. Ajun Kurter: Türk Hava Kuvvetleri tarihi], Hava Kuvvetleri Komutanlığı, 2009, page 407. (in Turkish)


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